Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1894-07-18
CONGRESS IN A RUSH.
Trying to Leave Fairly Clean Docket
for Next Session,
Great Mass Of Bills Disposed oi-President
Opposes Senate Tariff Amendments.

ton bills in one day, and on that and tho
following day the house put through bust
ness SO rapidly that 1t eutran its commit
tees and had to adjourn at p. IN. for
want of something to do. In the enormous
mass Of bills and resolutions thus rapidly
disposed of there was very little of national
interest and very much that has been on
hand a long time and Is of supreme i'm
portance to individuals. How many wild
ows were helped, how many old claimants
satisfied, how many had various disabilities
removed and how many others were re-
lieyed in various ways 1t would take a
long time to count up, but in the aggre-
gate several hundred people were made
happy. That John Henry Smith of Muh-
lenburg county, KY, got the 81, 900 he has
claimed ever since the soldiers took his
hogs In 1861 Is not of much consequence
to nation of 65, 600, 900 people, but it is
n powerful big thing and right smart
chance of money" to John Henry.
The Appropriations.
The senate has been unusually moder-
ate, with possibly three exceptions, in
adding to the house bills. The big addi-
ton Is to the river and harbor bill, which
is increased by one third, or about 49, 000,-
600, but n sort Of understanding has
grown up between tho two bodies that the
house snail be extremely economical, that
the senate shall then raise the deal and
the house allow itself to be forced. There
is also big increase for tho District of
Columbia. The commissioners asked for
$1,000, 1863. The house appropriated $5,
COG, 473,. and tho senate has added $G4S, 065.
No matter what tho conference committee
NAV t1n Ia nnyu cyi1npt hot tba re1nc.
tions will about equal the increase, the pen
sion Office having announced that it will
not need all the amount appropriated, so
that the total cost of government for the
year now just begun will not exceed $751;
900, 900, or about $3S, 900, 600 less than last
year.
Delegate Rawlins managed his little bill
SO adroitly that the house concurrcd in the
senate amendments without discussion,
and, as he puts it, the region that was
called Mormondom will come In as the
forty fifth state with nearly 300, 600 people
and resources for million, and she will
come warmly welcomed by men of all par
ties and BIO one of the fairest and most pro
gressiyo Of the sisterhood after having had
the most romantic and varied territorial
childhood Of any state since Massachusetts
and Virginia.
1t is impossible for tho committee to say
with any certainty what arc the chances
of tho other two territories. Chairman
Faulkner says, 1--WE shall probably report
for Arizona and possibly for New Mexico,
but t'sgctting pretty late in the season, and
both measures would undoubtedly cause
prolonged debate, SO the senate will feel
like letting them 60 over to tho short scs
pin ~ L hot hnt
well ms do" So far us can be judged by
precedent, the chances would be against
their admission next winter, for bushes.
crowds, and reasons for exclusion are ap,
to multiply during tho vacation and politi
cal campaign. Much the same may b.
said of the numerous proposals in regard
to the Pacific railway indebtedness. After
many meetings, with no apparent prog
ress, tho chairman of tho house commit.
tee announced that positive action for this
session must be taken and after pro
longcd session the committee decided t,
consider the Reilly funding bill as tn,
basis for final action. No conclusion, how
ever, was arrived at, and SO fur o3 MON
bers of the committee will express an opin
ion IL is to tho effect that they will no
have timo to act dccisivcly at this session
All this timc alternating reports O.
progress and delay camo from tho confer
enco committee OH tho tariff bill in thu
morning to tho effect that the senate wa
to have everything its own way, and IL
tho evening that tho house bill would
como out ON top, Historically tho cours
of things may he given with tolcrablc Ger
tainty on n few points. Ii is known tina
In tho consultation Mt the White Hous
Mr.. Cleveland took ground against many
of the senate amendments, that his infiu
enco has been of como weight in strength
ening the house conferecs, that they have
gained much moro than was expected,
and that tho senate conferees have shown
great anxiety 10 como to an agreement,
but that, after all, tho fight will bc, rs was
expected, from tho start ON iron ore, coal
and sugar, especially sugar, All this was
mado known while only tho Democratic
confcrees were in session, but they took up
SO much timo that the Republicans in the
senate got impatient and insisted, by res
olution, upon fun committee action. In
managing the Mckinley bill. tho Repub
lican confcrces met first at Senator AL
drich's house and then ut Mr.. Mcliin-
ley's room, after which the whole commit
ly till tho Republicans had agreed, but it
was all done very pleasantly, and there
was no great delay.
A Question of Honors.
Echoes OF tho strikes and riots are still
heard in both houses, and much dis
cussed question is, Who has carried off the
honorsp Much is said in praise of General
Miles and some others, but there is a prac
tically unanimous vote for the president,
Senator Davis and Governor Matthews of
Indiana. Il want TO do n little talking
on that resolution" said General Sickles,
referring to the resolution for committee
of inquiry. Il have congratulated Senator
Davis, but / want an opportunity to do it
publicly. OF course / liked General Cor
don's speech, and it was eloquent and full
of southern fire and all that, but believe
liked Davis speech all the better because
there was no show of eloquence, no fire
works in 1t. 1t was just hard, solid,
American common sense and the pure
metal of answering patriotism. 1t braces
fellow up just to read it. Every SEN
tence is full of courage. Let him have the
thanks of the whole people as the Romans
thanked that old fellow after the battle of
Gamma, because he had not despaired of
the republic -