Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1891-02-13
WASHINGTON LETTER
CONGRESS HARD AT WORK UPON
APPROPRIATION BILLS.
Democrats Urging the Necessity OF
Silver Legislation.
A Summary OF the Happenings OF
the Past Week.


The two branches Of congress have made
rapid progress during the past week in the
transaction OF public business, but there
is general disposition at the capitol TO do
even more worK daily henceforth. The
lengthening OF the legislative day in the
senate is expected to result in final action
before the 4th of March not only upon all
the annual appropriation bills, but also
upon the rather long list of measures
selected by the republican caucus FOR adj
vancement because Of their public i'm
portance. So the week IN the senate Will
probable be devoted to the consideration of
the appropriation bills made ready in time
for action, and such measures upon the
caucus program as can be reached. The
naval appropr alton bill it is sad, will be
called up after final action is reached on
the eight hour bill, and the District OF
Columbia and diplomatic and consular APP
preparation bills will be reported from com
mittee during the week. The other meas
ures that will probably intervene are the
copyr ght bill, the Indian depredations
bill and the Nicaragua canal bill. IL is
within the bounds of possibility that an
effort will be made TO attach "a free silver
co mage rider TO one of the appropriation
bills i'll which case delay in carrying out
the remainder of the program may result
The appropriation bills WI probably con-
tinue u absorb nearly all the time Of the
house for some days 10 come, and the
prospect for any general legislation this
week is not bright The District of Col
umbia committee, under the rules, is
entitled 10 the floor Monday. and is
! ho
day for local legislation, but Mr.. Cannon
does not intend TO permit anything to
intervene while the sundry civil bill is
pending in the housed if he can helpit. The
other appropriation bills are on the calen-
dar awaiting action. and il is likely that
Their consideration will consume practically
the whole of the week. There are a mum
Der of other matters. including the ship
ping BIZ and sundry election contests on
which action by the house is very earn
estly desired. but it is the understanding
among republicans that the appropriation
bills shall have right Of way at all times.
The silver bill and the report of the Raum
investigating committee are subjects which
may be preciptated upon the house during
the week, but in what form it is impossible
TO predict.
500 CAN Al LOOK CONTRACT. 4
The contract for the new 500 canal lock
has been awarded by Secretary of War
Proctor 10 Hughes Brothers & Bangs OF
Buffalo and Rochester for 81. 2es. 800 which
includes furn shing all the material and do
ing all the work in the construction of the
new lock. The firm Of Zimmerman, TruaX
* Co. Of Duluth put in a bid OF 81 30s, $50,
which was the third lowest bid. The Dr.
luth firms bid was based on Mankato stone
at S22 per cubic yard for II asonry, as
against Ohio stone at 500 per yard by the
successful bidder. The New York bid was
lower than the Duluth bid in the aggregate
on account of the difference in the b DIS for
doing the masonry work. The New York
firm offered TO do il for s.. 80 per yard,
whereas the Duluth firm asked 81. 40.
There was also considerable difference in
other minor details, SO that the lowest Du-
luth bid on masonry in the aggregate was
such that the award necessarily hal TO so
To New York. There were number o1
other bids made, but they all exceeded the
bids made by the Rochester people.
DEMOCRATIC Caucus.
The caucus Of democratic members OF
the house Saturday night, callel at the
| suggestion of Mr.. Bland. was slightly at
tended, only siXty-On3 members being
present. The silver b II was the sole topic
of consideration. and after several resolu-
tions had been Tered and withdrawn the
| following. offered by Mr.. Rich .rdson al
| Tennessee, was unanimously adopted IRE
| solved, That it il the sense Of this caucus
| that the senate silver bill which was re
| ferrel by the house 10 the committee on
| coinage weights and measures nearly one
month ago, is. in our opinion, an importan
/ public measure deserving due consideration
| by the house. and we earnestly request III,
committee TO which the same was referret
TO report it to the house without delay.
THE Sun SAYS so.
The following appeared in..double leads a
the head of the editorial page Of the New
| York Sun Saturday morning: I'VE ar
not speaking from mere probabilities W hel
we inform the public that a procla matiol
] from the President may be expected, prob
| ably before the 10th or 25th of this mon tn
! calling an extra session of the Unitet
| States senate &c meet in Washington .
| March 4, or Immediately afterward. !;
may also be presumed that the business I,
| be brought before this called session will
be OF more than ordinary Importance.
| NOTES.
A new postoffice has been established a
the 500 Junction, Luce Co.
Mail messenger service 10 Yorkvlle
Kalamazoo county. has boon discontinued
Senator Stockbrdge is one Of the mem
| bers of the senate committee that attcndel
the funeral of the late Representa- tiv
Phclan Of Tennessee.
Representative Aucn has prepared = bill
10 pension Isaac Jones. and Representative
! ODonnell has introduced one to pension
Harriet n. Real.
Caledonia, n. Y, had a SIS, 900 fir
! Friday.