Democratic Sentinel, Volume 21, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 December 1897 — CONGRESS AT WORK. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CONGRESS AT WORK.

OPENING SCENES OF THE LONG SESSION. Important Acton May Be Taken Early In Both Uonses-Hawaii Is Likely to Be Annexed-Friends of Cuba Are Hopefnl. Annual Grind Begins. Washington correspondence: THE regular or long session of Congress, as it is called, be-

cause there is no constitutional limitation upon the period of its duration, opened nt noon Monday. The leaders aud a very large majority of the meiu- , bers of both houses I participated in the opening ceremonies, and President McKinley made the journey to Washington from the bedside of his dyiug mother

tliat his absence might not delay the national legislature at its assembling. The extra session robbed the opening of the regular session of the excitement and interest which usually nttneh to it. As the House was completely organized at the extra session, ami all the committee assignments were made then, beyond the natural stimulus produced by the returning statesmen and the outlining of schemes by members of the “third house” or lobby, Washington on the night preceding the opening was tranquil. The ceremonies attending the opening of Congress, though comparatively of a routine eharaeter, make n spectnele which in some respects is regarded ns the greatest official event of the year at the national capital. Monday the weather was propitious. The sun shone brilliantly from n cloudless sky, mnkihg a glorious, bright December day, with a tinge of frost iu the air to invigorate the lungs and a breeze just strong enough to keep the stars and stripes snapping from the flagstaffs. At the capitol the crowd swarmed into the corridors at nil early hour nnd choked the marble steps ns they ascended to the gnlleries from which they were to view the show. As is usual on such occasions, the reserved galleries were carefully guarded on both the House nnd Senate sides, admission being only by card, nnd the public had great difficulty in wedging itself into the limited space set aside for it. The Ilnll of Representatives presented an animated appearance long before the hour of noon arrived. The surrounding corridors were tilled with jostling, moving crowds, and before 11 o’clock the encircling galleries whieli overlooked the floor were with people. The hall buzzed with the subdued hum of conversation ns the members exchanged greetings and chatted in groups. The floral tributes for the members were numerous nnd in some instances imposing. The program nt the House Monduy was very Himple. The House was called to order by the Speaker, who, after the chaplain’s invocation, directed the Clerk to call the roll. This having been accomplished, nnd the presence of n quorum demonstrated, the clerk was directed to notify the Senate that the Honsc wns ready for business, and a committee wns appointed to wait on the President. After that there was a recess to await the arrival of the President’s annual message, which was rend upon its reception and was followed by an adjournment until Tuesday. It is the intention of the House lenders to proceed with the business of the session as rapidly ns possible. The committees will all begin their labors nt once. The appropriations committee has been at* work for ten days, and Chairman Cannon expects to pnss two of the regular budgets before the holidays. Among the early general measures to receive consideration will be the bankruptcy bill. Whether it will be the Nelson bill, which passed the Sennte nt the last session, or a modification of the Torrc.v bill depends on the temper of the .Tudieiary Committee, which will submit the measure to the House. Beyond doubt there will be several resolutions of inquiry during the first week which mny be more or less sensational, and some of the radical pro-Cuba members will attempt to get consideration for n Cuban resolution before the Foreign Affnirs Committee can net, but owing to the nature of the House rules nil these hasty efforts will prove abortive, nnd they probably will take their regular course. Simultaneously with the full of Spenker Reed’s gavel in the House, Vice President Hobnrt called the Senate to order. Half nil hour before (he Sennte convened the public nnd executive nnd reserved galleries were filled with spectators to witness the opening of the session. The handsome costumes rtf the Indies added much to the brightness of the scene. The Senate chamber at the opening wns a veritable conservatory. The floral display was unusually rich and beautiful, and the odor of flowers was heavy in the hail. Seventy-seven Senators responded to their names on the roil call. The Senate to start with had a calendar of about 300 bills reported from the committees during the special session. The indications on the opening day were for a little more activity than usual during the pre-holiday session. This is largely due to the fact thnt the supporters of the administration and advocates of annexation are very anxious to secure the eiirliest possible consideration of the treaty with Hawaii. Senator Davis, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations, announced his purpose of pressing annexation at the earliest possible moment. One point which the committee will be called upon to decide is whether to proceed to ratify the treaty of annexation or to annex the islands by resolutions. The annexationists have lost some votes during the vacation, and there is now apprehension that the two-thirds vote necessary to assure the ratification cannot be secured. Some members of the Foreigns Relations Committee who favor annexation advocate this course because they say they set* no reason for traversing the same ground twice, as they would be compelled to do in case the matter should be first considered in executive session, fail there, and then be taken up in the form of a resolution in open Senate nnd House. Despite all opposition, it is not doubted Hawaii will be brought under the stars and stripes. No act of the American Congress in many years past has attracted as much attention throughout the world as the annexation of a distant island is sure to ! attract. What Congress will do concerning the President’s presentation of the State of our relations to Spain and Cuba only the future can determine. Unless some turn of events rouses public opinion nnd finds response in Congress it may be regnrded ns fairly certain the peace policy of the President will be supported by both houses of the national legislature. The President's message, rend between the lines, does not indicate that he has abandoned Cubn, bill rather that he hopes iu the future to achieve the practical j

pendence of that island should Spain** present efforts to restore peace proYe fruitless, and by methods which will be the fruits of natural causes, and which will not necessarily bring on war between the United Btates and Spain. Other topics which will be sure to cause much talk throughout the world, nnd some of which may be the subject of actual legislation, are revision of the immigration laws, bankruptcy, pooling by railways, rehabilitation of the interstate commerce commission, prevention of scalping of railway tickets, the Central Pacific Railway’s debt to the Government and the revenues of the Government under the Dingley law. The immigration bill, for which Senator Lodge stands sponsor, is practically nt the head of the Senate legislative calendar, and wiH be considered early iu the session. Senator Lodge has repented hi» intention of pressing the bill, but he will not antagonise the Hawaiian treaty with it. The first bill on the calendar is Senator Gear’s measure providing for the adjustment of the Pacific Railroad debt, but the sale of the Union Pacific doubtless will have the effect of causing the temporary withdrawal of this bill and the substitution of others. Of the SIX) hills on the calendar about 200 are private pension bills, and nil of those probably will he disposed of nt one sitting when tnken up. There are also several hundred recess appointments to be considered iu executive session.