Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-02-16
DOINGS IN CONGRESS.
An Extra Session no Longer Probable
The Appropriation Bills.

WASHINGTON, Feb. l5.
Judging from the expressions of many of
the members of Congress when speaking for
themselves alone, and to some extent from
the course Of events during the last week,
that an extra session of Congress is no longer
probable, but the fact remains that, under
the long existing rules of the House, the road.
to enlargement are many and short, while
the ways to the solution of possible psrlia-
mentary difficulties are few and involved
Five of the most important of the regular
annual appropriation bills are yet to be acted
upon by the House, and these, in addition to
the post-office bill, which passed the House
yesterday, must yet be considered by the
Senate committee on appropriations. Men,
bers OF this committee assert their ability to
get through their work seasonably, if the
bills are promptly sent over from the House.
AT the close of the proceedings in the
House Of Representatives last evening re-
cess was taken until ten o'clock tomorrow
forenoon, when further consideration will be
given to the legislative, executive and Judi
eial appropriation bill. 1t was generally un-
derstood that the recess was taken in order
to permit the execution of the regular order
for tomorrow; namely. the reception of mo-
tions from committees to pass specific
measures under suspension of the rules
An effort will probably be made, however to
adjourn the House before II o'clock, so tha:
the order may be observed. If the effort
succeedes the committee on military affairs
will first be called.
Gen. Slocum will endeaver to secure the
consideration of bill providing for the re-
tirement of Gen. Grant
The other committees are to be called in
turn, including the naval affairs, post-offices
post-roads and public lands will ask that vari-
GUS evenings be set aside for the considera-
tion of the business heretofore reported by
them.
The general impression is that the House
will refuse to adjourn, and in this event the
consideration of the legislative appropriation
bill will be continued until it is frished 1t
is believed that the bill can be completed be-
fore the adjournment on the legislative day
of Saturday, which may continue until
evening.
The appropriation committee intends to
report either the sundry civil or naval bill
tomorrow, and to call up on the following
day the one that is reported. The other will
be in readiness for action Immediately after
wards.
The river and harbor committee will an
tagonize the appropriation bill with the river
and harbor bill whenever opportunity offers
1t is proposed to hold night sessions during
the week and if the sundry civil and naval
appropriation bills are disposed of before its
close the appropriation committee expect then
to bring forward the fortifcation bill.
Saturday afternoon has been set apart for
the exercises in the hall of the House of
Representatives in connection with the ded-
cation of the Washington monument, the
chief features of which will be the orations
of Hon. Robert c. Winthrop (to be read by
Representative Long of Massachusetts) and
Hon. John w. Daniel of Virginia,
In the Senate the consideration of the
Indian appropriation bill will be continued
and probably concluded tomorrow. The
agricultural bill will then be disposed Of
The unfinished business of the Senate in
the morning hour is the Des Moines river
lands bill and after the morning hour the
central labor bill.
The Texas Pacific forfeiture bill, anti-slver
bill and bill for the admission of Tacoma are
measures most likely to be pressed for con-
sideration when the labor bill is disposed of,
if no appropriation bills are ready for dis
Gu ssion.