The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-26
EARLY ADJOURNMENT.
Work on Appropriation Bill Ought to Be
Cleared Up Within Six Weeks.

WASHINGTON. March 90. Senator Platts
resolution. introduced yesterday after
noon, declaring it 20 be the purpose of
congress to adjourn on May 2, is the first
official announcement of the short-session
program.
AS yet such resolutions. II passed, mean
nothing more than the present opinion OF
congress, which Is subject TO frequent
change. Nothing that has yet occurred
will interfere with the short-term plan,
but the most experienced Legislators are
the most skeptical Of IL.
As the session nears its end multitude
of small things arise 10 delay notion ana
prolong discussion. June 2, rather than
May 2, stands better chance OF being the
date OF adjournment.
When asked for his reasons for the In
PRODUCTION of his resolution for the adj
journment~of congress on May ?, Senator
Platt replied that he had put In the reso-
luton because he believed that congress
could complete all the business that 1t Will
be able TO do by that time.
1T is perfectly clear" no said, that
there will be no important legislation dur
ing the session, except that embraced In
the appropriation bills, and this Is no
reason why those bills should not be dis
posed of within six weeks allowed by the
resolution Practically there are only five
appropriation bills still TO be considered
In the house. They will not require more
than months time, II SO much, in the
house, and the senate ought TO be able TO
finish up what will be left for it To do
two weeks after the house is through.
THE senate committee on appropria-
tions are practically ready TO report the
postofilce and Indian appropriation bills,
which are the only bills now before IL,
and Is we'll up with the house In its work.
This being the case. we should begin 10
look TO Adjournment. l see 10 reason for
remaining here merely for the purpose of
introducing and talking upon agitation
resolutions, and am persuaded that the
country would, under the circumstances,
be better satisfied to have US at home than
to have us here"
The senator added that largo majority
OF the senator's favored early adjournment,
| and that most of those with whom he has
talked thought it could be accomplished
by the middle OF May.
The adoption OF resolution allowing
| ex-President Harrison TO receive decora-
tions from Spain and Brazil was post
| poned by an objection 10y Mr.. Allen.
| During the day Mr.. Gallinger proposed
an amendmsnt prohibiting the United
| States or any state from giving any recog-
| milton or financial aid to any church or
religious institution.
Most OF the day was spent on the legis-
lative appropriation bill, which is not yet
completed. The paragraphs substituting
salaries for fees for United States district
attorneys and marshnls were agreed to
after a lengthy discussion.
| In the House.
| The house took up the naval appropria-
| tion bill, and despite several diverting in
cidents, made such rapid progress with it
| all the paragraphs had been passed save
| those relating To the increase OF the navy.
The bill carries S3i OIL, ,034 g., 46s. .43S
more than the current law authorizes;
| four new battleships and 10 boats, the cost
| OF which, complete, will be almost s35, ,0OO, :
| 000 Not single amendment was
adopted, although there was an effort to
provide for new drydock at the League
Island yard.
Wheeler continued their alterations of
Tuesday over the record OF the Democrats
on the bill to retire General Grant. The
other incident ot the day was in connec-
tion with an attack made by Mr.. Cannon.
chairman Of the appropriations commit
tee, on the naval officers detailed at the
naval observatory.