The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-12-19
NATIONAL LAWMAKERS.
Little Progress Looked for Before
the Holidays. #..=.
THE ANTI-oPTION BILL STILL HANGS

II Is Not Likely That a Vote VIII be
Reached Before the Recess-The
McGarrahan Claim, Too, Still in
Allegiance in the Upper House.
WASHINGTON, Dec. l9.-With the ap-
prodch Of the holidays the Attendance in
both houses of congress is diminish
ing. and it is doubtful whether a
quorum can be maintained in either the
senate or the house during the few days
that remain before the Christmas re-
cess begins. In this state of the case it
is improbable that any business that
promises to arouse opposition will be
undertaken, which negatives the posi-
bility of action on any subject of large
popular interest. In the senate an ad-
journment was taken Immediately after
prayer this morning, as mark of re-
spect to the memory of the late Senator
Gibson, of Louisiana.
In the morning hour tomorrow the
McGarrahan bill will be further dis
cussed This measure has been allowed
to occupy the morning hour by unani-
nous consent as long as any one cared to
speak upon it. Senator Wilson, of Iowa,
has entered the lists, and as he is under
stood to have made thorough study of
tine famous claim, his remarks, together
with the rejoinders that will doubtless
be made, may prevent the senate from
reaching n vote on the proposition to
pass the bill over the veto until after the
holidays.
The anti-option bill still hangs over the
heads OF the senators as the unfinished
business, and will come up for further
discussion after the morning hour on
each of the three working days remain
ing before the recess, but it is not ex-
pected that yotecan be reached in time.
The House Programme.
The programme of the house has been
definitely outlined for three of the four
days on which congress will be in ses-
sion before the holiday recess. This is
committee suspension day, and the roll
OF committees will be called and an op-
portunity given each committee to pass
one bill, provided it can secure a two
thirds vote and escape point OF mo
quorum by even one member.
Tomorrow is made a special order for
bllls from the committee on public lands,
and Wednesday has been similarly al.
lotted to the commerce committee.
SilAil ltttii -NIIihdt vi IIlt lOElntE COIN
mittce, would like very much to pass
his swamp lands bill, but if he finds the
opposition to it strong he may conclude
that half loaf is better than no bread
and attempt to pass the timber culture
bill, the Des N1Oines river land grant
bill, or bill for classification of lands
along the Pacific railroads
The committee on commerce will meet
this afternoon to decide on the list or
measures it will attempt to pass. 1t
gives preference in framing the list to
bills that apparently have little opposi-
ton to fear. The most important ill
the committee wishes to pass is the om-
nibus light house bill appropriating
more than 100000 for new and neces-
sary light houses on the great lakes and
the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. II is
also anxious to pass bill for the con-
struction of several additional revenue
cutters.
g The Appropriation Bills.
Thursday is chiefly set apart for ad-
journing over the Christmas recess, and
appa emily will not bo otherwise note
worthy. After the holidays the appro-
pr1ation bills will begin to monopolize
the time Of the house. Thus far the
army bill, reported by the military COM
mlttee, Is the only one of the regular an
nual appropriation bills on which action
by the house has been had The appro-
priations committee had expected to pass
the Notifications and District of Colum-
bia appropriation bills before the holi-
days, but the necessity of rigid economy
in their preparation delayed them. The
Notifications appropriation bill was
placed on the calendar Saturday, but
will not be taken up for the present, be-
cause of the absence of its manager,
Representative Breckinridge, of Ken
tucky, WHO'S one of the members of the
congressional committee to attend the
funeral services over the body of the
late Senator Gibson.