The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-28
THE WEEK IN CONGRESS-.
Outline OF Coming Legislation In Each
Branch.

WASHINGTON, ID. o., May N.--Bills Tor
the 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 on Monday or
Tuesday 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 matter Of
dominant interest in the Senate and prom
ises to displace the special orders and all
other business except appropriation bills
until II is acted upon. The course OF
events, however, depends largely upon the
action Of the Democrats in caucus 10 be
held tomorrow morning. They have the
power to delay action indefinitely upon
the motion 10 consider the treaty with
open doors, which is the pending question,
but actual fillibustering, though so long
threatened, has not yet begun. There are
other matters OF executive business OF
great importance before the Senate,
OF its committees, in respect to which
the Democrats desire early action, among
them the nomination OF Mr.. Fuller to be
chief justice, and all OF these must prob
ably be delayed as consequence OF any
| dilatory movements in connection with
the motion TO take up the treaty. The
| belief Is expressed by senators OF both
parties that at the next secret session a
vote will be reached, and that the Demo-
Gratis will content themselves with voting
| in the negative. They will thus help
make quorum, and will allow the major.
ity to be responsible for admitting the
public TO hear the discussion. Should all
this take place, however, IL will still re-
main in the power OF any two senators,
under rule which is applicable TO legis-
lative as well as executive business, 10
eject the public and close the doors at
will.
The rule has boon invoked In recent
years only 10 summarily shut of some SEN
ators who wished 10 have an open vote on
proposition 10 admit the public 10 the
executive sessions, and II seems 10 have
been invented for use in Just such cases
But II is well adapted 10 other uses, and
innsmuch m n strong minority OF senators
are bitterly opposed 10 the present pro
posed innovation, II is apprebended that
its use may become common during tho
fisheries debate. Only one session with
open doors can be recalled by men Whose
memories cover the proceedings OF the
Senate for period OF more than forty
years. This was a session OF two or three
minutes, held on the last day OF President
Observation-Disclosures on which occasion
the message nominating Gen. Grant fol
general on the retired list OF the army wal
received and acted upon. The cxceptiona
course was recommended by the President
and adopted In defiance OF rules by the
Senate, as an extraordinary mark Of re
spect TO the nominee.
The House tomorrow viii probably con
tinue the consideration Of the Legislative
executive and judicial bill. The tariff bil
will then be taken up for consideration
debate under the five minute rule being II
order.
The Republicans will doubtless pursuC
the caucus policy OF opposing every para
graph OF the bill by Offering amendment
and demanding votes upon them, 10 tina
the end OF the week Is not likely 10 show
any material progress towards final dis
position Of the bill.
The state OF the appropriation bills doe
not compare fayonbly with their condi
ton during the last long session, although
the business then was much below th'
average. Up 10 the present date but tw'
Of the fourteen appropriation bills hav
passed both houscs-,he military acadcm.
and pension bills. Five more have passe'
the fIouse. namely The postofiice, diplo
matte, District ol Columbia, Indian, an,
, river and harbor bills; one (the Legislative
Is pending. Six bills have not yet been rc
J ported from committees. They are: Tn
, sundry civil, army, naval, fertilization, ap
I ricultural and general deficiency bills. A
n corresponding period In the Forty-nlnt
Congress, nine Of the appropriation bill
had passed the House and three Ia
, passed the Senate, which was Just on,
, third more than have been similarly dii
posed this session.