Daily Kennebec journal., 1894-12-10
IN CONGRESS-.
General Democratic Inactivity
Until After the Holidays.
Mr.. Morgan viii Force Consideration
of Nicaraguan Canal Bill.
Mr.. Patterson Will Try to Push Railroad Pool
ing Bill Through House.

Washington, Dec. 9.-There will be nc
well defined business policy in the Senate
until the Democratic steering committee
has carried out the instructions of the re-
cent caucus. This will probably be done
early this week, but no real effort will be
made TO get down 10 persistent work until
after the holiday recess. Without wait
ing for the steering committee, Mr.. Nor
gan will begin the consideration of the
Nicaragua canal bill and will address the
Senate upon that measure, tomorrow His
remarks doubtless will call out Others, as
he proposes to keep the subject actively
before the Senate until some action il
taken.
Wednesday, Mr.. Morrill, will submit
some remarks on several bills introduced
by Mr.. PETER and others, relating to the
proposed financial legislation, and Mr..
Hunter has given notice that on the next
day he will call up the bill To establish n
national university The order in which
the measures of proposed legislation en-
dorsed by the Democratic caucus may be
presented to the Senate will be agreed to
at an carly date as the steering commit
tee can get together, and a prominent
for the statement that it has been practi-
cally agreed that the bankruptcy bill shall
have precedence over all others.
The policy of the Republicans is causing
the majority some concern and the fear
has been expressed that system of fill
clustering may be inauguratcd. This is
denied by Republican leaders. 1t is I'M
derstood that they will not make any OBJ
lection to an appropriation for the enforce
ment of the income tax, for the reason
that they believe that its enforcement
will only result in making the law more
unpopular. The Republicans have as
sumcd the position of favoring the pass
age of the various appropriations bill and
adjourning; but beyond this they will
lend their opponents no assistance.
In the House, although Mr.. Patterson
Dem. of Tennessee, in charge of the rail
road pooling bill, has given notice that he
will ask the House SO vote upon its pas
sage, Tuesday afternoon, the fate of the
bill primarily depends upon the action OF
the appropriations committee. If the ur-
gent deficiency bill, which the committee
is now working upon, shall be ready to
report to the House when it meets on
Tuesday, Chairman Sayers says that he
will present il and then urge immediate
consideration.
1t is believed that such request will
be seconded by the House, and the pool
ing bill will be laid side But if the ap-
preparation bill is not ready, a vote on the
pooling bill may be taken, Tuesday. The
general opinion is that it will pass, possi-
bly, so amended as to give the interstate
commerce commission final jurisdiction
of the proposed contracts between the
companies.
Tomorrow, under the rules, is to be
devoted to the consideration of the affairs
of the District of Columbia, and unless
the rules are suspended, local legislation
for Washington city will be taken up.
Mr. O'Neil, Dem of Massachusetts, has
announced his intention to call up on
Wednesday, the pension appropriation bill
for 1886. This will evoke discussion of
the pension policy of the administration,
and may occupy the time of the House for
more than day
In that case it will meet the antagon-
ism of Mr.. Brown CDem.) Of Indiana,
chairman of the committee on elections,
who will, Thursday, ask consideration OF
the Williams Settle contested election
case from the 5th North Carolian district,
which came over by agreement from the
last session. The committees report fav
ors the sitting member, Settle, Republican.
Contested election cases are matters oi
the highest privilege and it has been Gus
tomary for the. House to take them up
when called for by the committee, so if
the pension bill is not previously disposed
of, it will probably have to yield the right
Of way for the time being