The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-05-28
A WEEK OF BUSINESS
Being Mapped Out by Both the
Houses Of Congress.
THE ALL-ABSoRBING TOPIC
Among All the scnators-Will tho
Fisheries Treaty be Discussed
In Open sessIon-Thc Pro-
gramme In the House.

WASHINGTON, u. u, May 2.-bllls lor
admission of North Dakota, Montana
and Washington Territories are Especial
orders on the Senate calendar for the
coming week.
The Indian appropriation bill will
probably be called up Monday or Tues
day, and will consume day or more /;
and the River and Harbor bill, which
will be reported tomorrow, may be
called up before the end OF the week.
The Fisheries treaty remains the mat
ter OF dominant interest in the Senate,
and promises to displace the special
orders and all other business except
appropriation bills, until it is acted
upon. The course OF events, however,
depends largely upon action of the Dem
ocrats in a caucus to be held tomorrow
morning. They have the power to de-
lay action indefinitely upon the motion
to consider the treaty with open doors,
which is the pending question, but act
nal iilibustering, though so long threat
ened, has not yet begun. There are
other matters Of executive business
OF great importance before the Senate,
or its committees, in respect 10 which
the Democrats desire action-amOng
them the nomination OF Mr.. Fuller to be
Chief Justice.
The belief is expressed by Senators Of
both parties that at the next secret ses-
sion vote will be reached, and that
Democrats will content themselves with
voting in the negative. They will thus
help make n quorum and will allow the
majority to be responsible for admitting
the public to hcarthc discussion. Should |
all this take place, however, it will still
remain in power Of any two Senators,
under rule, which is applicable to the
legislative us well MS executive business,
to eject the public and close the doors at
will. The rule has been invoked in re-
cent years, only to summarily shut off
some Senator who wished to have ar !
open vote on proposition to admit the |
public TO the executive sessions, and it
seems to have been invented for use in
Just such cases. But it is well adapted |
to other uses, and inasmuch MS Il strong
OF Senators are bitterly opposed
to the present proposed innovation it is
that its use may become
common during the fisheries debate.
Only one executive session with open
doors can be recalled by men, whose
memory covers the proceedings OF the
Senate for a period OF more than forty
years. This was session oftwo or three
minutes, held on the last day OF Presi-
dent Arthur's administration, oil which
occasion the message nominating Cen
eral Grant for General on the retired list
OF the army was received and acted upon.
The exceptional course was recommend
ed by the President and adopted in de-
iiance of rules by the Senate us an ex-
mark Of respect to the nom
ince. The House tomorrow will prob
ably continue the consideration OF the
legislative, executive and judicial ap.
bill. The tariff bill will then |
be taken up for consideration, debate
under the five minute rule being in
order.
The Republicans will doubtless pur-
sue the caucus policy of opposing every
OF the bill by offering amend
ments and demanding votes upon them,
so the end OF the week is not likely to
show any material progress towards
final disposition OF the bill. The slate
Of the appropriation bills does not com
pare favorably with their condition dur
ing the last long session, although the
business was then much below the
average.
Up to the present date but two OF the
fourteen appropriation.bills have passed
both Houses-the Military Academy and
Pension bills. Five more have passed
the House, namely, the postoilice, diplo-
matte, District OF Columbia, Indian and
river and harbor bills; one (the lcgis-
lative) is pending Six bills have not
yet been reported from committees, they
are, the sundry civil, army, naval, forti-
fcation, agricultural and general def
cheney appropriation bills. At cor
responding period in the Forty-ninth
Congress nine of the appropriation bills
had passed the House and three had
passed the Senate, which was just one
third more than have been similarly dis
posed OF this session.