The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-05-31
The Appropriation Bills.

WASHINGTON, May 80.
Following is statement of the present po-
sition of the fourteen annual appropriation
bills. The Indian bill has become a law. the
District of Columbia and Post Office bills
have passed both Houses, and are in the
hands of conference committees. The con-
sular and diplomatic, army, pension, militia
ry academy agricultural and river and harbor
bills have passed the House of Representa-
tives and are before the Senate The legislative
and naval bills are on the House calendar
awaiting saction. The fortiication, sundry
civil and general deficiency bills have not
yet been reported from the House commit
tees The pressure upon the time of the
Senate for the consideration Of bills yet un-
touched is very great, while no less than five
important measures which have ben consld-
erably discussed are in an unflnl5hed condl-
ton. These are the bankruptcy, railroad,
land taxation, Northern Pacific forfeiture
and Chinese bills, and the resolution con-
cerning open executive sessions, The
friends of these various measures are jost-
ling each other for the floor, while the spon-
sors for number of other measures on the
calendar are pleading with the Republican
caucus for chance. The caucus of last
week accomplished nothing The caucus
committee has resumed the work of fixing
the order of business for the Immediate fu-
ture. While its programme is yet incomplete
it is conceded that the pending unfinished
measures except the resolution concerning
open sessions, Shall be carried to the point
of action before any new business OF Import
ance is entered upon.
Senator Platt is making struggle to pre-
vent further postponement of the res0lu-
tion for open sessions, but with Indifferent
prospects. This resolution is apparently
doomed to defeat, notwithstanding the fact
that all the arguments made upon it, backed
by a unanimous public opinion, have been in
its favor; and some even of its friends
are therefore urging a postponement on the
fban1-xr hat tba tima aar Eha 1lrOfta hlxr
spent upon measures which have chance of
passing at least one of the Houses.
The Senate committee on appropriations
expect to report the consularsand diplomatic,
agricultural and army bills, and hope to Sc
cure the passage of two ii not all OF them be-
fore the end of the week.
After having occupied the entire week OF
the time of the House, the oleomargarine
bill will again be brought to the front, when
that body reasSembles on Tuesday. Tne
friends of the measure are hopeful of secur-
ing final action upon it Sin one day, despite
the vigorous and determined opposition of
the minority
Mr.. Holman stands ready under instruc-
tions from his committee to call up the legis-
latiYe appropriation bill Immediately after
the final disposition of the ole0margarine
bill. The appropriation bill contains several
provisions affecting the operation of the
existing civil service rules, which undOubt-
edly will give rise to long and animated de-
bate tits therefore probable that the remain
der of the week after action upon the oleo-
margarine measure, will be consumed by the
legislative appropriation bill.