Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1885-02-16
MATTERS IN CONGRESS.
AN EXTRA SESSION IMPROBABLE.
Plenty of Time 10 Pass All Appro-
priations-The Grant Retire
ment Bill on Deck.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Feb. l5.-Another
week passed in House and the passage of the
Post-otiiee Appropriation bill Is about all
that can be placed 10 the credit of its mem
bers. Under the new rule 20 permit an hour
10 be devoted To the consideration bills un-
objected To by less than ten merabers, some
bills for public buildings have been passed
and few minor matters disposed of. The
River and Harbor bill consumed much time
and at last an order has been secured fixing
the limit for dt bate, after which MIR. Willis
(kentucky) who Is IN charge of the bill,
hopes by throwing overheard his deckload
of Objectionable features, the Hennepin
canal, Galveston Harbor and Captain Eads,
to save the rest. As TO this. there seems 10
be considerable doubt, as this course II
likely TO take some support from the bill.
The House has taken recess urtll 10
O'Clock tomorrow, when an effort VIII be
made TO conline Saturdays Legislative day
through Monday SO 10 shut out any op-
portunity for motions 10 suspend the rules.
The Republicans are very anxious 10 do this
for the reason that the Military Committee
is first to be called, and Gen. Socum has
given notice that he will move TO suspend
the rules and pass the first Senate bill TO
place Gen. Grant on the retired lat. If this
passes II will place the President In an EN-
barrasslng position, for as the two cases are
precisely similar he must veto the Grant bill
or stultify himself on the FItz John Porter
bill. For this reason there is desire TO
avoid an issue, hoping that the Edmund's S
bill, which passed the Senate, at later day
may in some way be considered and passed
On Tuesday, and perhaps on Monday, II
Saturdays session IL continued, the House
will 90 on with the Legislative appropriation
BILL over which there is likely to be little
controversy and will soon be gotten out OF
the way and be followed by the Sundry Civil
bill. There seems to be an understanding
between the two committees that the River
and Harbor bill shall have such odd times as
can be picked up for IL. TO the exclusion of
other busin7 save the hour, under the new
rule, which wl,.- sisted upon, as nearly
every member has one or more bills OH the
! calendar which .can have no
hope of passing otherwise. If
the Legisl ltlve aud SundSy Civil bills are
passed and the River and Harbor bill is got
ten out of way either, by passage or strang-
ulation. this week, it will be red letter
week for the House, exceeding any that has
preceded il this session. This leaves Naval
Deficiency and Forti6cation bills to be dis
posed of in the remaining eight days of the
session. There Is likely to be contest on
the Naval bill III the matter of the new navy,
the OOlllulltltc Ou appropriations hoNiiiS
not yet agreed upon recommends
tion as 10 this - but probably
the present scheme of leaving the construc-
tion of new ships open to competition by
private shipyards. As to tho fortiication
bill, the old fight of last year is likely to be
renewed. The longer it is kept out of the
House, the stronger the probability that the
| Committee report, adopted by majority of
one, including all the Republican members,
will be over ridden, and In its stead lump
sum for repairs and preservation voted. The
| Deficiency bill opens the door for political
debate, and Ia likely to consume some time.
Still there Is plenty of time TO pass all the
appropriation bills if the two Houses are
disposed to do so, but the feeling grows
stronger that those who control legislation
are not anxious to await an extra session.
| The fact that member of Congress has
more influence in the matter of appoint
ments and patronage when Congress is in
session than when In recess, may have some
weight in determining the question. The
coming week will be likely to give the ques-
| ton of an extra session more definite shape.