New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-02-26
THE LAST WEEK OF CONGRESS.
IMPORTANT MEASURES TO be ACTED UPoN-IHE
APPROPRIATION BILLs-sIISsIssIPPI RIVER IN
TROVEMENTs
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE tribune

PRovEMENTs.
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WAsInNGToN Feb 25.-lhe last week Of the
XLVIIth Congress will he its most busy one, of
course and, willis the tariff will continue to be- the
leading subject, It will by no means preclude
vigorous efforts to push other measures
The General Deficiency bill must he passed by the
House. ana ts consideration will occupy one day
probably The amount to be appropriated is about
81. 800 900, only one-Gfth of which, however will
be on account of the current year. small sum as
compared with similar bills during the past few
years. When the Democrats controlled the House
one OF their favorite methods 10 deceive
the country with their sham economy to cut
down all the regular appropriation bills 10 the very
lowest notch and afterward to make up for 1t. par
tally by large deficiency appropriations. They left
large balances from year to year, however, and tins
Congress has been obliged TO clear up large arrear-
ages which had accrued durng tho SIX years of
Democratic control.
On some of tho large appropriation bills which
have passed both Houses much work still remains
to be done by conference committees whose bur
deus grow heavier year by year. for a reason which
is easily explained. The rules of
the House virtually deprive tho majority.
if Il number less than two-thirds,
Of the control of legislative measures except such
as are reported by the Committees on Appropria-
tions, Ways and Means. Elections and one or two
other favored committees; hence, about the only
way 70 secure legislation affecting the Army, the
Navy, and the Indian Service. the pablo lands
etc. etc is to engraft il upon of the appropra-
tion bills. The Senate uniformly insists upon
cutting out Of such bills all new legislation aud
this creates disagreements whioh can only DC au-
iusted by conference action.
Some very important legislation has been en-
bodied in the Sundry Civil bill which passed the
House yesterday Among its propositions is sec
tiou repealng the preemption laws and modifying
the homestead laws. In regard to the former. Mr..
RYAN. OF Kansas, who has given much attention to
the subject, said TO n TRIBUNE correspondent: ::
Under the prc-emption laws tho public domain is
being gobblod up by spectators right
and left and the manner IN which
they do it is such that at least 90 per cent
of the pre-emption claims filed arc fraudulent
Mr. RYAN says that the homestead laws nave also
been 80 evaded as to change their benefcent pro-
visions to the advantage of spectators. Chairman
Hiscock worked hard to carry through the House
the provisions changing tho land laws and no Will
do his best to secure tho concurrence Oh t"o
Senate.
TIE RIVER AND HARBoR BILL
There il another appropriation bill upon which
tbe House will be urged to act-the River and iiar-
bor bill. The measure will provoke a very animated
discussion especially upon the items for tho lower
Nissssinpi The conclusions of tho Mississippi
River Select Committee were not unanimous ahu
tho r,inoritv will make a strong fight III favor OF
tbe levees and also in favor of more liberal appro-
nriations for works like those begun at Plum Point
and AXE Providence The wisdom Of the recon-
mcpdation that tho plan of tho Mississippi River
Co,onission shall not be carried out in works. OK
cent at the two places mentioned, until tue
efficacy and durability of these works shall
have been fairly tested, has been already
vindlcated by the intelligence received Yesterday
IN the effect that per cent of the Plum Point work
has been destroyed by the recent rise OF the Msss
sippi. Mr.. Robinson, of Massachusetts, who is
member of the Select Committee on the mississippi
Improvement, gave notice yesterday. when propo-
sition was made to begin tho consideration OF the
River and Harbor bill under the hve-nlnute rule,
that II could not be DONE aud that time Tor general
dehote must be allowed. Tho bill contains an
onnropriation of ST 800, 900 for work under the
Mans of the Mississippi River Commission.
II il bv no means certain that any River and Har-
Lor bl will become a law this session, although 1t
"a nrobable that some money ought to be gwen for
certain works that are of National Importance.
OTHER IMPORTANT MEASURES.
Resides the appropriation bills there are seVerai
other matters that demand and will claim attenton
One day at least will be required to dispose Oh tno
fonr or five contested election cases upon "hich
the House has not yet found time TO act MT CooA'
Greenbackcr of Iowa, IL to be given the soao no"
held by Mr.. Cults, Republican; MI
E,ost Democrat OF Missouri 70