The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-02-02
CONGRESS- FAR BEHIND.
Not One of the Regular Appro-
priation Bills Passed.
SHIPPING BILL IN DOUBT
The Silver Men May Precipitate q
Fight With Speaker Reed.
SHIPPING BILL IN DOUBT.
Senator Stewart Attacks President Har-
rison-Public Land Surveys in Wash
Acknowledgements for the Fu-
neral of Secretary Window.

A4iO bNialC IL its DuSlIccS WITH d
firm determination to adjourn March 4
without leaving behind it anything for an
extra session. The steering committee of
the Republican majority had alrea ly ar
ranged programme that would of itself
occupy the attention of the Sen ate for two
weeks. The arrangement, however, is not
final, as it must be formally approved by
the Republican caucus, and is, besides,
subjectto interruption in its working by
appropriation bills. The fortiheation APP
preparation bill comes up tomorrow
rs unfinished business, and the pension
appropriation bill, on the calendar, and
the District of Columbia appropriation bill
soon to be reported, will follow in order
In the morning hours an effort will be
made to pass the Indian depreciation
claims bill, and sandwiched between the
above named appropriation bills will
probably he the eight-hour bill and the
copyright bill. An attempt is also being
made to secure action upon the House
bankruptcy bill.
Although the House has been engaged
practically the whole past week in con-
sideration of the regular annual appropri-
alton bills, these measures are still in an
unusually backward state, and it is the
intention of the majority to permit sub
stantially no legislation except the ship
ping bill to engage attention until the
scene of action on appropriations
is very generally transferred from
the House to the other wing of
the capitol. 1t is the purpose
of the committee on merchant marine to
make an effort to call up the shipping bill
and press it to hnal vote as soon as the
consular and diplomatic appropriation
bill, now under consideration, is passed,
but, in view of t e determined opposition
heretofore made to the shipping bill, there
is some question as to the ability of it's
friends to carry out their expressed inten-
ton, especially as it is almost certain to be
antagonized by one or more appropriation
bills. The Indian and legislative, execu-
tive and judicial appropriation bills are on
the calendar awaiting action, and will be
called up at the first favorable oppor-
tunity.
Bland and other silver men are growing
more concerned at the failure of the COM
age committee to act on the silver bill,
and have announced their determination,
If the committee does not settle the mat
ter at the regular meeting Wednesday, to
precipitate hight on the floor of the
House without waiting for committee
report.
Only four weeks and three days remain
of the Fifty-first congress, and not single
one of the thirteen appropriation bills has
been finally passed by both branches of
congress and sent to the president. But
one of these bills has passed the Senate
the army bill. While The present con
dition of the appropriation bills is not en-
couraging as compared with their state of
progress in previous congresses, no doubt
is entertained by the members of the
House or Senate of the ability of congress
to complete its necessary legislation before
the 4th of March.
Representative Farquhar, who has
that he thought the bill would come up on
Tuesday. He said:
The bill is unfinished business, and has right
of way. had a talk with Mr.. Cannon Thurs
dac, and he said nothing about opposing this
bill. The general feeling is that we will get the
bill up on Tuesday ! am going to talk with
some of the opponents on the other side of the
House, and see If some agreement cannot be
made regarding the time for closing debate and
taking vote. | see no necessity for the COM
mittee on rules to bring in any special orders.
special orders always provoke debate, and much
valuable time is therefore lost / believe we
can dispose of the shipping bin without any
special order.
Representative Cannon said he did not
know what the House would do ON Tues
day. He said:
II may b. that the shipping bill viii be called
up; but there are several important appropria-
tion bills that ought to be considered, and per-
haps the House win give the preference to ap-
preparation bills
Representatives Carter of Montana, and
Bartine of Nevada. the Republican mem
bers of the House coinage committee, are
hopeful that hearings on the silver bill will
cease next Tuesday and that the bill will
be nnally acted upon in committee next
Wednesday. Senator Teller and Represen-
tatiye Townsend OF Colorado are also
hopeful that this result Will be reached,
but their belief is not a very sanguine one.
Senator Teller said yesterday that he
would not object if the bill was adversely
reported, as the main desideratum was a
report of some kind. 1t is believed that
Representative Vaux will vote. in the COM
mittee to take action, but the position of
Representative Tracy is not so certain.
Chairman Wickham is inclined TO think
that the committee has had sufficient hear
measure. The attitude of Representative
Walker, the most ardent gold standard man
on the committee, has caused considerable
friction at the hearings. 1t is believed
that he will go 10 any extent to stide the
bin in committee, and this charge was
made against him al recent committee
meeting. Representative Bland has al
ready introduced a resolution, which is in
the hands of the committee on rules, TO
discharge the coinage committee from
further consideration of the silver bill, but
no attempt viii be made TO press this reso-
luton until the developments of next
wednesday are seen. If no report is then
made and an attempt TO call up the reso-
luton follows Speaker Reed viii decide
that it is not privileged matter and viii
sustain his position by lengthy decision,
This will show that motion 10 discharge
committee Is not privileged
when the matter al issue is general
legislation, and that 10 entertain
such a notion would be 10 open
the door for Llibustering beyond prece-
dent, as the hiibusters could call up every
one of the hundreds of measures which are
still unreported by committees. Ii is ex-
peeted that this decision, backed as il will
be by a strong presentation of the case,
viii. for the sake of party policy, be sus-
tanned by the majority. The plan which
Mr.. Bland will then pursue is already
marked out. When the substitute bill is