The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-05-28
FIGHTS OF THE sOLoNs.
Open Sessions and the Tariff to Max g
1t Lively.

1t Lively.
WASHINGTON, May 27.-The bills for the
admission of North Dakota, Montana and
Washington Territories, are tho Especial
orders" on tho Senate calendar for the COM
ing week.
The Indian appropriation bill will proba-
bly, be called up Monday or Tuesday, and
will consume a day or more; and the river
and harnor bill, which will be reported to-
morrow, may be called up before the end of
the week
The fisheries treaty remains the matter of
dominant interest in the Senate, and prom
ises to dispace the special orders ana all
other business except appropriation bills,
until it is acted upon.
POWER OF THE DEMOCRATS.
The course of events, however, depends
largely upon tho action Of the Democrats
in the caucus to be held tomorrow morn
ing. They have the power to delay action
indefinitely upon the motion to consider the
treaty with open doors, which is the pend
ing question; but actual hlibustering,
though SO long threatened, has not yet be-
gun. There are other matters of executive
business of great Importance before the
Senate or its committees, in respect TO
which the Democrats desire early action,
among them the confirmation of Mr.. Fuller
TO be Chief Justice, and all these must
probably be delayed as consequence of
any dilatory movements In connection with
the motion to take up the treaty.
THE PROBABLE ACTION.
The belief is expressed by Senators Of both
parties, that at the next secret session u
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 majority TO be
responsible for admitting the public TO hear
tine discussion. Should all this take place,
however, 1t will still remain the power Of
any two Senators under the rule which is
applicable to Legislative as well as execu-
tive business, to eject the public and close
the doors at will.
A REGULAR GAG.
The rule has been invoked in recent years
only to summarilY shut Off some Senator
who wished to have an open vote on
proposition to admit the public TO executive
sessions, and 1t seems to have been invented
for use in just such cases. But 1t Is well
adapted TO other uses, and, inasmuch as a
strong minority of the Senators are bitterly
opposed to the present proposed innovation,
1t Is apprehended that its use may become
common during the fisheries debate.
ONLY ONE OPEN EXECUTIVE SESSION.
Only one executive session with open
doors can be recalled by men whose mem
ory covers 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 Arthur's ad-
ministration, on which occasion the message
nominating Gen. Grant was received and
acted upon. The exceptional course was
recommended by the President, and adopted
in defiance of the rules Of the Senate as an
extraordinary mark of respect to the nom
Inee.
WHAT THE HOUSE WILL DO.
The House, tomorrow, will probably
continue consideration Of the legislative,
executive and judicial appropriation bill.
The tariff bill will then be taken up for
consideration, the debate under the five
minute rule being in order. The Republi-
cans will doubtless pursue the caucus policy
of opposing every paragraph Of tho bill, by
offering amendments and demanding votes
upon them, 80 that the end Of the week is
not likely to show any material progress
toward the.dnal disposition of the bill.
STATE OF THE APPROPRIATION BILLS.
The state Of tho appropriation bills does
not compare favorably with their condition
during tho last long session, although bust
ness 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 post office, diplomatic, District Of Co
lumbia, Indian and river and harbor bills.
One the legislative) is pending.
SIX NOT REPORTED.
Six bills have not yet been reported from
their committees. They are the sundry
civil, army, naval, fortihcation, agri-
culture and general deficiency bills.
At the corresponding period in the
Forty-ninth Congress, nine Of the appro-
priation bills had passed the House and
three had passed the Senate, which was
just one-third more than have been similarly
disposed of this session.