Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-08-04
AS TO ADJOURN MENT
No Date Can Be Set for the Departure of
Congress.
1t VIII BE When the Tariff Bill is
Passed, bat 1t is Uncertain
When That Will BE.

Were 1t not for the tariff bill the end of
the session would be certainly very near
at hand. The Senate last evening finished
the last of the regular appropriation bills
the general deticiency-and there is now
very little work left to be DONE except on
the great revenue bill. The appropriation
bills are all in a very forward state, and
the record that has been made on them in
the Senate in point of tme has been very
gratifying to the democratic leaders of both
houses. On the 1st of July the House had
passed every bill, and the Senate had not
passed one. In five weeks the entire lot
has been run through the senatorial MILL
and this would doubtless have been accom-
plished in less time had 1t not been for the
delay incident to the first report of the con-
feIees on the tariff.
The AppropriR ton bills.
Seven of the fourteen bills have received
the approval Of the PresIdent-the fortfica-
tons. pension, Military Academy, postal,
diplomatic naval and legislative. The army
kill is ready to be signed by the President.
The conference reports on the District and
agricultural bills have been agreed to by
both houses and are now being enrolled for
the signatures of the presiding officers.
The conference reports on the river and
harbor ana Indian bills have been agreed
to in part, and The Senate will probably
today finish the former. The remaining
two bllls-the sundry civil and the general
deIiclency-are :low III conference The ma ~
ayers OF the former bill met this morning
ana started to wcrk, expecting to be able to
cCrclude in time TO report to the houses on
Monday. On that day the confereeS on the
deficiency bill will get together and il is
ho ped that they can agree in time to make
report on Tuesday. By that time it is
more than likely that all the other appro-
hoo Sa,,t ha
President, if they have net been finally ap-
proved by him. and SO there appears TO be
little reason why Congress should not ad-
journ some time next week. if il were not
Tor the tariff bill, which blocks the way
most effectually.
No Definite Prediction as to Adjourn
ment.
All present prophecies of the time of ad-
Journment are arranged on the order of
movable feasts. The wisest ones merely
admit that Congress will adjourn lust as
soon as the tariff question is settled 1t is
to be roted that they do not say when the
bill passes for that Is taking long chances
on an uncertainty. No one is now rash
enough to predict the date of that event
Fore telling has given place to hoping and
so the situation stands today. 1t may
change at any hour, and where at this
time the final adjournment really seems a
louS way oil, tomorrow there may come the
tGings OF such a taiiff agreement as will
insure the speedy dissolution of Congress-
May BE Delayed in the Senate.
But it must not be expected that the reach
ing of an agreement on this most compli-
Gated matter in confesencs will be the signal
for immediate or even quick adjournment.
for. although by virtue of the cloture rule,
the conference report can be hurried
through the House in few days, or
even few hours, there is always the
prospect of long, tedious AMI appar-
entity interminable debate in the Sen
ate. This was eXemplified by the reception
accorded to the first report from the con-
ferees, which precipitated a weeks discus
sion. To be sure, much depends upon the
character OF the report that Will be made
but In almost any event there will be free
talking, as there Is hardly a basis of COM
promise that will not arouse antagonism
On the other hand, a failure on the bill and
an attempt to adjourn without taking furth-
er action would be the signal Of one of the
hottest fights of the session.
Meanwhile, the cool wave Is here and the
situation might be infinitely verse.