New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1876-08-12
fer TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE


The SENATE.
Ter TELEGRAPH THE TRIBrSEl
WASHINGTON Aug. 1.-THE House indicated to-
day its desire for the immediate close Of the present
session Of Congress by passing a resolution fixing
Monday next at o'clock the time for final adj
jOurnmcnt. Whatever action the Senate may take
upon this resolution, it seems very probable that
there will be no quorum III the House ait tO-nor-
row. Already about 100 members absent, the
most of them on leave and it will be difficult 10
tain a quorum in the House tomorrow.
Should the House find itself without a quorum be-
fore the Senate passes the resolution of final adj
journment, the result viii he that no business
be transacted without unanimous consent and that
Congress will be obliged to remain in session until
sufficient number of membcrs return to make a ma
jointly of the whole.
Ii has been the almost unanimous opinion of mem
bcrs of Congress until to-day that Congress would
finally adjourn on Monday next. 1t now seems
possible that more of several things may
prevent them For instance, there has been some
talk among leading Senators in favor of remaining
in session until the Blaine constitutional amend
uncnt, which is the subject of discussion at the
evening session tonight, has been disposed Of If
the Senate should adopt this amendment, as 1t was
scpOrted from the Committee on the Judiciary, il
would necessitate the appointment of a conference
an agreement could be reached. 1t is very certain
that the House will not agree to the amendment az
proposed by the Senate Committee. Numerous
defects in it are pointed out by leading Representa-
tives, who, while admitting that it may be well to
make verbal changes III the Blaine amendment as 1t
passed the House, think that it is i'll substance much
preferable to that proposed by the Senate Mr..
Blaine before introducing this resolution, spent
considerable time in the study of the subject, and
consulted some of the ablest lawyers in the country
in regard to its language
Another matter which may cause delay in the
final adjournment of Congress is the request sent to
Congress to-day for additional troops for the Indian
service during the vacation The House docs not
disposed to act upon this request and THIS IN
difference is explained by influential Democratic
members who say that long as the number OF
troops stationed in the South is great as now
they are unwilling to increase the strength of the
army They do not desire that this refusal, which
was foreshadowed by the defeat of motion To refer
the Presidents message to the COMMITTEE on MILL
tary Affairs he interpreted Indicative of an I'M
willingness ON their part to furnish the AdmnstTa
ton with all necessary means to bring the Indian
war to a successful conclusion. If the War Depart
ment had utilized all the troops which 1t now has
available they say they would not hesitate to au-
thcrze the enlistment of as many more men as the
General OF the Army should tnlnk necessary W cdiI
for
There was danger at one time this morning that
the House would be thrown into fiibustering dead
lock by attempt the part of the Democrats TO
break through the spirit of the new rule which pro-
vides that investigating committees may report to
| the House at any time under certain conditions.
This rule was understood to apply only to the results
of the Investigations, and not to general matters.
If it was not subject to this limitation, 1t would
throw open the door to all sorts of jobs and obJec-
tionable legislation. 1t would only be neces-
sary, for instance, to refer one of the silver
| bills to some committee which bad been engaged
| in making an investigaton-and this could be done
| by a majority vote-and then that committee could
report it back at any time bringing 1t before the
! House for its immediate action. The Committee on
Military Affairs undertook TO report under this rule
to-day resolution permitting it TO sit during the
recess forthe investigation of the soldiers homes
! throughout the country The Republicans had no
objection to the investigations but they did object
to that Interpretation of the rule. A compromise
was agreed to by unanimous consent.