The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-17
REPUBLICANS FAVORABLE
They Will Not Interfere with COnsid-
Grafton of Many Bills.
ARMY BILL APPROPRIATION
Forecast Of the Business Of the Week in
Congress-Number of Measures TO
BE Brought Up-Holiday Ad.
journmcnt on Friday.
BY the United Press,

ny tue OHlteu 1TeSS.
Washington, Dec. 16.-The Nicaragua
canal bill holds its place as the un-
finished business on the senate calen-
dar. Mr.. Morgan said yesterday that
he intended, if possible, to have the
final vote taken before the holiday re-
cess comes on and if he succeeds in this
the vote will necessarily have to be
taken this week.
If this important bill should be dis
posed of before the holiday recess the
bankruptcy bill will probably be given
the right of way until the appropriation
bills begin to come over from the house.
The prompt consideration of these bills
will not be interfered with by the Re-
publicans who assume the attitude OF
favoring their early consideration, but
permitting no serious discussion of any
OF the other subjects that have been en-
dorsed by the Democratic caucus save
perhaps the Nicaraguan bill.
The routine proceedings Of the week
will be broken on Thursday by the cere-
monies attending the presentation to
the United States by the state of New
Hampshire of the statues of its two dis
tinguished citizens-Daniel Webster
and John Stork-both of which will on
that day be unveiled in statuary hall.
Mr.. Hoar will deliver a speech on this
occasion and other members from New
England will also participate,
Appropriations and currency promise
to exhaust what time remains to the
house prior to the holiday recess.
Proposed Army Bill.
Mr.. Cultivate, chairman of the COM
mittee on military affairs will demand
consideration of the army bill, which
will shut out the district committee.
There are several propositions of new
legislation in the army bill which will
probably draw out considerable discus
sion. Two of these provide for re-
duction of the number Of majors in the
pay department from twenty-five to
twenty and of the number of captains
In the subsistence department from
twelve to eight. Both these changes
were strongly urged by Secretary La
mont in his annual report. The cost
of paying the troops in the last fiscal
year was 2la per cent Of the amount
disbnrsed, and in this connection the
secretary said: Already a number of
posts are paid by check, and with the
mail, express and banking facilities of
the present day and the proximity of
troops to towns and cities this plan
sould we'll be extended to cover the en-
the service, the actual distribution of
the funds being devolved on the COM
mandants of garrisons and their sub
ordinates."
A trade proposition is the transfer Of
the military prison at Fort Leaven-
worth, Kan, to the control of the de-
partment of justice for the ncarcera-
tion of federal prisoners. The prison
can accommodate $50 convicts and is
said to be in excellent condition. Most
of the military prisoners could be con-
fined at the large military posts and
the saving of expense to the govern
ment by the proposed transfer would
be large on account Of both classes of
prisoners. Notwithstanding this usual
provocation to debate, however, it is
believed that the bill can be disposed of
at one sitting of the house.
1t was announced Saturday that an
understanding had been reached by the
leaders of the two houses of congress
that the holiday recess should begin
with the adjournment on Friday next
and expire on Jan. 8, Thursday.