The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-02-11
LAST DAYS or congress
Fifty-Third Has Less Than a Month
to Complete Its Work.
BRIEF FORECAST OF THE WEEK
Proposition Leading to the Government
Control OF Railroads viii Meet Oppo.
neutrality-suspicious. VIII Encourage
Financial Relief Measures.


so near but one of the thirteen appro-
priation bills that provide for the gov
ernmental expenditures for the year
ending June 80, 1896, has become law
and received the signature of the pres
ident-the Military academy bill. There
is now on the senate calendar the post
Office and the Indian bills and Chair
man Cockrell expects to report the ag-
ricultural bill tomorrow. The two bills
now before the senate will be sub
jected to much debate, but the degree
to which it may be protracted depends
entirely upon the attitude of those in
charge with regard to the Withdrawing
of certain Objectionable amendments
that have been made. The first bill
to be called up is the postoffice appro-
priation bill. AT the solicitation of Mr..
| Villas the committee has reported an
amendment to this bill providing that
| the government shall own the postal
cars i'm use on the different roads carry
ing the fast mails. The Republicans
look upon this as the first step in the
direction of government ownership of
railroads and will antagonize the
amendment.
Another and a far more important
amendment, more Objectionable from a
| political standpoint, is one that places
the expenditure of the $4,000, 900 appro-
priated for the support of the special
fast mail facilities, at the absolute dis
erection of the postmaster general. This,
Republicans say, is contrary to all pre-
ccdents. They maintain that congress
itself should stipulate where and how
this money should be spent. So long as
this amendment is permitted to remain
as a part of the bill Republican leaders
say they will not permit it to pass.
Fight on Agricultural Bill.
1t is immaterial whether the agricul-
tural or the Indian bill comes up next.
Changes in both of them will be de.
manded by the Republicans. At the
last session the Republicans, against
the opposition of the Democrats, had
1000, 900 appropriated for the extermi-
nation of the Russian thistle this ap-
! preparation going onto the agricultural
bill as all amendment, but was stricken
out in conference. Now the bill carries
an amendment reported by the commit
tee appropriating the same amount for
the determination of the gypsy moth
which will be fought by the Republi-
cans.
Mr.. Allen will take the first oppor-
tunity that presents itself this week to
call up his resolution providing for the
appointment of committee to investi
gate the Alabama election; and Mr.
Call, If he Is able to amend his lottery
resolution so as to make it acceptable
TO the Republicans, will do likewise
There is a good chance of the Republi.
cans assisting in the passage of both
these resolutions and thus setting two
investigating committees at work. In
any event they will be useful in con.
suming time and preventing the discus
sion of other measures to which the Re.
publicans are opposed.
The Republicans may precipitate q
discussion of financial affairs by the in
PRODUCTION of some sort of a resolution
1t is apparent that the finance commit
tee will do nothing, although the presl
dents message will doubtless be dis
cussed at the meeting next Tuesday
Should nothing come out of it, the mes
sage will, it is understood, be brought
| ItlOIt tllt StIltitt loI ulStuSSlOH t1lTOuSI
some other channel. The Republican:
are willing that a financial measur,
should receive ample consideration, ant
will lend all the assistance needed t,
get some scheme, practicable in thei
estimation, before the senate at an,
time when the Democrats will indicat,
their Willingness to cooperate will
them. A financial debate this week 4
not among the improbabilities.
; No Special Bill to he Considered.
Immense pressure is being brought
to bear upon the committee on rule.
for orders for the consideration of this
or that measure, which it's advocate:
deem to be of rarest Importance, bu
members of the committee said yester
day that until the appropriations bill,
were out of the way no arrangements
would be made for the consideration
of special bills. OF course this decision
; of the committee is not inflexble, ant
should the committee on ways ant
means come to the improbable conclu
sion to recommend the passage of
bill giving the secretary of the treasur.
authority to issue per cent. gol,
. bonds, in accordance with the sugges
tion contained in President Cleveland
:. last financial message, doubtless q da,
would be granted for its discussion
The programme outlined for thl
: week contemplates the passage of tn
: legislative, executive and judicial ap
u propriation bill before adjournment oi
Monday. The session of the house to
morrow will begin at l1.SO o'clock an,
{ that Is likely to be the rule from thi
time forward. BY unanimous consen
Tuesday has been set apart for tn
consideration of measures affecting tn
interests of the District of Columbia
: The naval appropriation bill, which ha
been on the calendar for two weeks
d will be called up ON Wednesday and tn
: debate on some of it's provisions vii
! probably exhaust the remainder of tn
week.
Opposition to the Naval dill.
The provisions for the new ships ar
@ sure to meet the determined If not ag
g gressive opposition of several of tn
IS Democratic leaders, interested In keey
!. ing the total of appropriations by thi
II congress down to the lowest possibl
II figure. But the declaration of Mr.. Wi
'. son. chairman of the committee o
Il ways and means, supplemented b
If those of President Cleveland, in hi
It message to congress and of Secretar
n Carlisle In his letter the other da,
& that there would be q surplus of r,
x ceipts over expenditures In this ca
d endar year, have undoubtedly strength
e ened the ranks of the advocates of tn
proposed increase of the navy, and on