Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1888-05-12
TO LAST TILL SEPTEMBER.
This Session Of Congress Cannot
End Before That Time.

TO LAST TILL SEPTEMBER.
This Session Of Congress Cannot
End Before That Time.
The prospect Of a protracted session
now engages the serious attention Of
Speaker Carlisle. A remark having
been made on the subject, he replied:
81 shall be very much pleased IL we
get away by the middle Of August
Look al the condition Of business and
see where we stand. We will not 60
back over the five months Of the ses.
sion and see whit has not been done,
but will look forward and see what we
have to do. Being on the verge Of
May, it will be four months to the Ist
Of September, or one month less time
than has already passed since the ses
sion began. and practically the greater
portion Of the labor Of the session yet
to perform"
"What reason can the majority give
for this 2" was asked.
"Well. we will have to take the re
sponsibility; but the real cause is the
unwieldiness Of the House and the
growing tendency Of both sides to
make i, field Of partisan discussion
for campaign purposes, rather than for
legislation to meet the exigencies Of
the people, the country and the gov.
ernmsnt l am not cri,icising. but
simply stating a condition Of things
which must be remedied sooner or Ia.
ter in the interests Of legislation No
one supposes that such an enormous
food Of bills, running up into thirteen
thousand, is necessary to the public in
teres,s. The time Of necessary legis,
la,ion is now consumed in pensions
and private claims. Some method
will be necessary to remedy as much
consumption Of time in these private
interests as was done in the establish
men, Of the petition and private bill
boxes.
"The situation is just this, the APP.
preparation bills must be forwarded as
speedily as possible. 1t is but sixty
days to the end Of the fiscal year. when
such legislation must be disposed of or
it becomes necessary to extend existing
appropriations, which is very PERM.
cious practice"
"Then about the conventional +"
"I'hat wa. what was about to say
No business viii! be transacted. say
from Juue to June IS. or later. There
is disposition on both sides Of the
House to come to some understanding
or arrangement to enable members
who wish to attend the conventions at
St. Louis and Chicago to do SO with.
out taking advantage Of their absence.
During that time consideration Of ap
preparation bills and other measures
can 60 on, but no action can be taken.
So We see that four or five weeks Is all
the time We have for the appropriation
bills till the end OF the fiscal year. Al
lowing each bill week, which is no
time at all on an average, and we have
more bills to dispose Of than We have
weeks a. command"
"Where is the revenue bill mean
while ?"
"Ex city so. The sentiment of the
House seems to lean towards disposing
Of the appropriation bills. and there
are other committees which will insis;
upon the House giving them some
time for reports and action upon
measures before them, say at least an
average Of two days each. There are
at leas, twenty five such committees to
he heard from. each one Of which has
some important measures before it,
Tina, would take nearly two months Of
working days.
"Now come down TO the revenue
bill and the time we must give to that.
and where do We stand? l think We
will be very fortunate to be able to adj
journ by September"
Congress might take recess over
the hottest weather." was suggested.
al doubt the willingness of the
House to do that. The re election OF
Representatives and the national cam.
paign would prelude tina, To take a
recess through August and par, OF
September and then return would
throw Us into the very mids, Of the
campaign. think the House will "a
vor holding on and finishing up before
leaving. This is the si,ua, ion, and you
can judge il the chances Of getting
away very soon are good"