Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-01-05
WASHINGTON MATTERS.
The OUTLOOK IN CONGRESS.
Little Work Likely TO be Done This
Week--Thousands OF Bills Not Like
~ to be Reached this Session.

WAsHISGIOs, Jan. 4.-lhe indications for
the coming week in the House seem 10 be
''as like az two peas" to those which pre-
ceeded the holiday recess, and that but a
small amount OF business done will stand 10
- credit at It's close. The call Of states,
whieh il the first business IN order tO-mor-
row, viii probably result IN the introduction
and reference of larger number of bills
than usual. members having loaded up in
their recent visit to their respective constitu-
encies. Il Il a nice thing to be able 10 say to
a constituent that his bill was read twice,
pro fOrma, and If there had only been a little
more time third and final reading would
have been secured. After the call of states
motions By individual members TO suspend
the rules and pass any measure that may be
designated, are IN order for the rest of the
day There are upwards of a hundred names
ia the Speakers list for recog-
milton, which came over from
the last session, headed b.
Hlscock, OF New York. The opportunity
which he sought last session has passed, and
be has given his turn TO another member, as
have also several others near the head of the
list. Speaker Carlisle il understood To look
upon tins sort of traffic IN first chances with
little favor, and II Is quite possible he Will
let last years list 20 with the last session,
and recognize only those who have measures
which no deems most urgent. tuesday
Monsieur IOnsOn" Will "cOme again" IN
the form of Re9an's Interstate Com
merce BILL which has occupied
the attention of the House since
the 2d day of December. Reagan hopes for
its passage IN the House on that day, and If
vote Il reached the bill will undoubtedly
DE passed by a much greater number of
votes than II was. There - not moral Ger
tainty that II will not be considered IN the
Senate. Other matters. notably the Naval
Appropriation Bill, may postpone final ac-
ton on the Reagan bill till later III the week,
AZ which case IOwnsheud Ills threatens an
effort 10 thrust the bill aside, to consider the
Mexican Pension Bill. At the close of the
Mexican war, many of those who served IN
that war, on their return emlgrated into a
new state where their influence IN politics is
now considerable. and who must be heard
whether the bill Is passed or not. An effort
will be- made To get the bill to a conference
committee at an early day.
The Pension Appropriation Bill, which has
been IN the Committee OF the Whole for a
long time, will probably be got out of the
way during the week. 1t simply apprOpriates
the sixty millions of dollars called for by the
estimates. It contains no other legislation
and l.. therefore. not likely 10 take up much
time III the House.
The Consular and Diplomatic, District of
Columbia, and Indian Appropriation bills
are about ready to be reported To the House,
but neither are likely 10 be considered this
week.
so far this session, no time has been given
10 the consideration of private bills, al
/ though there are thousands of just claims III
private calendar pending IN committee. with
but the slg ghtest chance of action upon them
by this Con gress, at the close of which all
LABOR and time expended upon them falls to
the ground. his treatment of the private
creditors Of the government led a Western
member TO remark recently that he would
rather trust COmanche Indian than the
United States. Mcmillan (Ienn.l who is
chairman of the Committee on Claims, viii
make strenuous effort to enforce the right
under the rules for the consideration of prI-
vate bills, but IL IA quite probable the neces-
sary twO-thirds vote to set them aside will be
found. Saturdays session will probably be
assigned, by suspension of rules tO-mor-
row. for the consideration of some sort of
special order and so weeks slip by, till the
ideS of March stare Congress IN the face.
All becomes hurry. hustle and confusion.
aud the gavel falls az the close of the ses-
sion with much that might have been done
left undoue.
The Senate, when IL meets tomorrow, has
before it. as unfinished business. the pros
pect of a dreary and interIninable debate on
the Interstate Commerce bill, not the one
introduced in the House tangled up by
OHara's equal rights amendment but the
original bill. presented by CullOn. of ILL
nois. and which Slater. of Oregon, has an
tagOnized by presenting the Reagan House
biu "a a substitute, both of which, George,
of Mississippi. has alternately damned
with faint praise" or condemned with vigOr-
Gus censure. lt has also before It. As special
orders, number OF bills forfeiting enormous
unearned land grants awarded To variOCs
railroads. on which probably there
will be more talk and no action.
For safety valve it has three important
artH. lon ff-ff
tons. still unacted on. upon which. At any
time when discussion of public business
y Is approaching a point, when n conclusion
might be inadvertently reached, any Senator
can call AN executive session. and So shut OFT
public business for the day. When Con gress
reassembles the Navy viii have been running
for i've days without any appropriation.
Comuhcations on this question are rather
increasing. The senate adjourned on the
Navy blii, making appropriations from Jan
nary % June 3o. 1850. at the rate of fifty per
cent. OF the appropriations recommended by
the House for the whole fiscal year
Randall chairman IF the House Committee
on Appropriations. has now elected from
Secretary Chandler a long letter. m which
that officer summarizes the point IN dispute
between the two houses thusly: Whether
the appropriation bill for the balance of the
fiscal year shall be framed after the cousid-
aratioo ia detail of the estimates which the
law requires - be submitted ~ Congress for
fhp special needs or tnc service Tor the year. E
ard whether specified amount % be ap-
rIi,ahia % each object OF appropriation +
sbsli 80 distinctly named I'm the bill. or. on /
ths other side. whether. without such con
s,lavation. there shall be apprOpriat- +
81 in general terms 81 per cent +
~ the amounts granted IN last +
vearts bin for various objects specifically +
s. .an,e.l tn that bill" Chandler. IN his letter +
-,+5.~ .srpifeantly says. Surely this ques-
-. i. - ! vital one. The frst method il
,,,5,,hteslv the wisest. conforming 20 = +
,~s,.ties which has never been, and never +
sbail 49, DEPARTED from. except IN an energ-
encv. l,hc second method = loose, circu- I
f......s 4,n.er,sus. taking from The treasury
.,f..- .,f Iollars with no indications on
- ss.-s ,,f the act II the specific use -
.ss,.b any dollar Il 60 BE applied He then
-, =, quote the legal mstiiu' re =