The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-02-23
A SABBATH SESSION
May be Preoipitated by the Pool
ing Bill.
SENATOR PETTIGREw'se. y-.TI0N

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23,-As the session
of the senate was about to close last night
Mr.. Pettigrow Is. d. gave decidedly
interesting turn to the otherwise tedious
debate on the Indian appropriation bill
1t has been discussed for several days, and
Mr. Call, in charge of the measure, sought
to secure an agreement for final vote to-
morrow. There were numerous objections,
and among them one from Mr.. Pettigrew,
which was emphasized by the brief but
pointed statement ho made. 1t was in the
nature of disclosure that a private mr.
rangement had been reached among
senators whereby the pooling bill would
be taken up at 8 o'clock this afternoon
and held before the senate day and night,
and over Sunday, until passed
The statement came SO unexpectedly,
and was tho sequel TO such active work
throughout the day by the friends of the
pooling bill, that 1t created something OF n
sensation among the senators and specta-
tors. Mr.. Pettigrew added to his an
nouncement that he would take effective
steps to defeat tho passage Of the pooling
bill by objecting to the disposal of the In
dian appropriation bill, or other measures
having precedence.
The contract school item Of the Indian
bill was completed in such form as to pro-
vide 90 per cent. reduction from the ex-
pendltures of last year. Mr.. Morgan (Ala.)
spoke throughout the afternoon In favor
of judicial system for the Indian terri
tory, but his amendment to that effect
was finally ruled out Of order.
The understanding created great inter
est among the opponents of the bill rs
soon as it became known, and they imme-
diately began their propositions to antag-
onizo not only the bill itself, but to, II pos
all itc hatnu takan nm The
program was Immediately construed into
decision to hold Sunday session, and
this fact WAS made the most of by those Of
the senators who oppose the bill.
The Democratic steering committee OF
the senate, after many postponements, held
meeting yesterday and decided to recon-
mend to the senate that Senator Butler
| should be permitted to move at o'clock
today for the consideration of the pooling
| bill, that this bill should continue to be
| the unfinished bill until 10 O'Clock Mon
day, and that If it should not be disposed
of by that time 1t should give place to
| other business
The advocates of tho bill did not admit
! in so many words that their purpose in
cludcd Sunday session, but they con-
fesssed that IL they should succeed in get
ting the bill up they would use their ut
| most endeavors to have 1t voted upon be-
fore the expiration of the time set for its
| consideration, and as this would include
only about three hours Of the Saturday
session and one hour Of the Monday ses-
sion, they would necessarily have very
limited time for the bill without either O
night or "a Sunday session.
When Senator Butler, who, rs chairman
of theinterstate commerce committee, will
have charge Of the bill in the senate, was
asked what his purpose was as to sun
day meeting, he said he did not want to be
quoted as saying anything that could DO
construed into threat, and that he would
only say that he would use his best en-
deavors to get the bill before the senate,
and that If he should succeed in that he
would continue his cxertions in its behalf
until a vote could be reached He said he
felt confident of the success of the bill in
case vote could be reached, and he be-
leyed a clear majority would be shown on
the vote for consideration. While Senator
Butler would name no figures, II is un.
derstood that other friends of the bill
claim that n final vote would show that
two-thirds of the members Of the senate
favor It,
The opponents Of the bill concede that II
a vote should be reached 1t would pass
but they are determined in the declaration
| Inat III snail not rehCu bne poluu Wneu but
test of its strength shall be made. The
tactics which they will pursue were fore
Swallowed in Senator Pettigrew's brie
statement in the senate just prior to ad
journment. The feeling is such as Il
make it clear that there will be very
sharp clash when the effort is made t'
take the bill up, and the indications ar'
for period of most decided parliament
airy sparring against the measure, which
will probably be led by Senator German
on the Democratic side and by Senat or
Chandler and Aldrich among the Repub
licans,
The house devoted Washington's birth
day to the further consideration Of tn
general deficiency appropriation bill. Mos
of the time was spent in the discussion Q
questions OF minor Importance relating t
extra compensation for employees of til
house of representatives and no amend
mcnts of moment We're adopted. just b.
fore adjournment the senate resolution I
postpone the time when the new reguls
tions to prevent collisions at sea should &
into force was passed.