The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-06-17

WASHINGTON, June I6,-The Advisory
Committee of the House and Senate Dem
ocratic caucus held Joint meeting this
afternoon, at which, after a brief discus
sion, it was decided to recommend to their
party friends the adoption of an amend
ment to the second section of the judicial
expenses appropriation BILL One of the
clauses of that section provides that no de-
partment or officer of the government shall
during said fiscal year ending June 80,
1880, make any contract or incur any lia.
bility for future payment of money until
an appropriation sufficient to meet such
contract or pay such liability shall
first have been made by law. The Ad-
visory Committee agreed that this clause
ought to be amended so as to embody the
exception contained in section 1882 of the
Revised Statutes in favor Of the war and
navy departments.
A call has been issued for meeting of
the Senate Democratic caucus tomorrow
to receive a report from the committee of
three Senators, Thurman, Mcdonald and
Garland. appointed Friday to confer with
Senator Bayard in regard to his preferred
resignation of the craftsmanship OF the iii
nance Committee, and TO report whether
some harmonious arrangement could not
be effected to relieve the Warner silver
bill from its present suspended position in
committee and place it upon the Senate's
calendar. The caucus committee will re-
port that Bayard is inhexibly opposed to
making any compromise or concession 10
the matter, and ne therefore absolutely de-
chnes to become party to the suggested
arrangement of reporting the bill back to
the Senate without recommendation, even
though it be stipulated that no further ac-
| tion shall be taken on the subject until
the next session. In brief he insists that
the bill should be left in the hands Of the
committee tor mature consideration at the
next session of Congress, and that if his
party colleagues deem it advisable to force
action upon the measure in opposition to
his conscientious convictions concerning it,
they must accept his resignation.
The Senate Judiciary Committee devot-
ed some time to the informal consideration
of the legal question raised IN regard to
Secretary McCrary's nomination, whether
he can constitutioually be confirmed to fill
a position not yet vacated, and which Judge
Dillon is to continue to occupy until next
September, while he himself continues tC
act under the Senate's former confirmation
as Secretary OF War. Senators Garland
Bayard, Carpenter, the subcommittee to
whom the question was recently referred
we're not prepared to submit a formal re-
port this morning, but it is understood
that they coincide in holding that the legal
obstacle is very formidable and probably
insurmountable. There seems to be very
little doubt that the full committee viii
take the same vie Us and that the appoint
ment will therefore fail of confirmation
during the present session. There was
) however, no manifestation in the commit
tee to-day Of disapproval of the nomination
on political or personal grounds. In the
! event of final decision that the President
cannot thus anticipate vacancy, Secre
J tary McCrary will be appointed wher
Judge Dillon's resignation takes effect anC
his nomination will be sent to the Senat,
upon its reassemblng. The committee tc
day reached an informal agreement to lie
s the nomination of D. T. Corbin as Chic
! Justice of the United States Court 70
a Utah 60 over without action until mex
D December.
: The House Labor Committee agreed t
e visit San Francisco and leading wester
e cities after adjournment for the purpose @
e taking further action.