Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-26
NOT IN A HURRY
Senators Taking Their Time Over
Pending Measures.
THE GENERAL DEFICIENCY BILL
The Outlook for Legislation in
This Congress.
THE GORMAN AMENDMENT

The Senate proceeded today to the con-
sideration of the sundry civil bill with the
same elaboration which has marked its
course from the beginning of the session.
Matters of comparatively small importance
excited protracted debate. Two Senators
German and Berry Of -Arkansas-got into
q contention over the appropriation for
timber inspectors, and grew irritated and
personal In their remarks. each insinuating
that what the other said was not true. and
coming as near the direct accusation Of
direct falsehood as is permitted in parlia-
mentary language. This small question
was discussed as If 1t was the only pro-
vision in the bill worthy Of consideration,
and as If the saving Of time were no OBJ
ject. This, too. before the great questions
of controversy in the measure have come
up for discussion.
A Spirit of Irritation.
There Is manifestly spirit Of irritation
or indifference affecting both houses of
Congress, and it Is hard to tell what this
spirit may lead to. The Congress is dying
as 1t has lived, only that in its closing
hours the differences of opinion. irritation
and contrariness are more pronounced.
Without there being any concerted action,
the individual display of this disposition
is tending to the balling up of the appro-
priations and confused and unconsidered
action in the closing hours Of the session.
In neither house is there much recognition
Of leadership nor devotion to a definite pol
icy. The party policy OF the democrats IN IN
democrats in the Senate, and in each house
there Is a disregard on the part Of large
humber OF the members Of any plan or
policy which those In authority may adopt
The General Deficiency Bill.
The committee on appropriations of the
House was defeated yesterday in the man
agement Of its own bill, the general de-
flciency, last of the lot. and the measure
was so loaded down that the chairman Of
the committee was constrained to vote
against the bill on it's final passage. If the
measure with all these loads upon 1t is ap-
proved by the Senate there will be dis
position among those responsible for ap-
propriations to accomplish by some means
the defeat Of the bill. The failure of this
bill would not necessarily cause an extra
session. The excess to which the House
went in voting sratuties to employees and
to the members themselves is characterized
as almost without example. The extra
months pay to employees amounts to a very
large item Of the expenditures, but similar
payments are frequently made at the close
of Congresses. The House, however, has
gone beyond this in appropriating stated
sums as extra compensation. and in the
provision for an extra months pay for
members clerks they appropriate what
amounts to a donation Of 800 to each Of
themselves. There is no such roll on the
books of the House as the clerks to men,
bers. but the appropriation not to exceed
500 each to be expended by members for
assistance is made. They may employ a
different person each day and may expend
J dollar or a hundred dollars. This pro-
vision for an extra months pay does not,
therefore, go to any particular employe.
but to the member himself, to be appro-
priated as he pleases. Practically 1t simply
Adds that much more to his salary. If
the Senate should approve this provision
3here Is some doubt whether the account
ing officers would pass the accounts.
The German Amendment.
The administration men in the Senate
eeem to have become convinced that If the
German amendment providing that there
shall be no more secret bond sales Is
earnestly pressed 1t will be adopted. They
say that the administration is very ear
nestly opposed to this. and confess that
Mr.. Cleveland may not be willing to sign
the bill containing it. but they saw that
there is no help for 1t If the anti-adminis-
tration people insist On the amendment.
In anticipation of hard fight over the
hawaiian cable, which might end in the
defeat of the consular and diplomatic bill,
the committee will have prepared a reso-
luton ready to offer at the last moment,
II necessary, extending the old appropria-
tiens The members Of the com nittee,
who ara recognized as the representatives
OF the administration. are prepared, 1t is
said. to permit the failure of the bill rath-
er than yield to the Senate amendment.
1t Is not known how we'll the House will
stand by them.
What the Senate Has Before 1t.
The calculation is that the Senate will
get through the various items that were
thrown over in the sundry civil bill from
yesterday to today by the hour of taking
recess this afternoon, with the exception
OF the bond issue provision, which occurs
ct the very end of the BILL The reaching
or this amendment Is sure to be the signal
Tor an outburst of feeling and debate and
the presentation of innumerable amend
ments by ths advocates of silver as well
as those of gold.
Following the legislative bill will tome
the naval bill, and it is not probable that
1t Will be finished much before Saturday
regular bills is the general deficiency. for
which all of Sunday will be available pro-
viding this program be followed.
The President will not go to the Capitol
on the last day to sign bills, unless he
changes his present determination
The managers believe that they can close
the debate and pass the bill by adjourn
ment tomorrow night. If they succeed in
doing this they will have a comparatively
comfortable margin for the consideration
OF the remaining bills on the docket. But
their confidence Is not shared by a major
ity Of the Senator'S and the belief Is gen.
erai that Thursday will come with the sun
dry civil bill still under consideration, and
that 1t will take the greater part of that
day. 1t may be that the committe on ap-
propria tions will endeavor to hasten mat
ters by forcing the Senate to remain In ses-
sion throughout tomorrow night, but no
plan to this end has yet been made
Following the sundry civil will come the
legislative, the largest of the regular an
nual budgets. This bill will surely take the
most of two days at least. and is more apt
to run over two days. 1t is now confidently
expected that The Senate will remain in ses-
sion continuously from Saturday morning
until Monday noon
The veterans around the Senate declare
that while there may have been tighter
squeezing In the mere matter of hours in
the past, there has never before in their
recollection been so delicate situation as
the present. There is altogether a brilliant
prospect that Capt. Bassett may have to
turn back the hands of the clock in the
Senate several times next Monday.
To he Promoted.
The following named officers, recently ex-
anntDad faH