Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-21
THE ADJOURNMENT
It is Now Expected to Take Place
on June 8.
OPINION OF SHREVD FORECAS7ERS
Veto Expected on the River and
Harbor Bill.
OTHER CONFEREN CES

The passage by the Senate within two
days of the District and Notifications bills
leaves little room for doubt as to the
speedy adjournment of Congress. 1t was
thought by some that these measures
would consume week. but as 1t proves
they have gone through the mill with un-
usual rapidity, and there now remain for
considerable and final settlement only the
general deficiency bill and the conference
reports on the legislative, Inlian, postal
naval, sundrr civil, rivers a1d harbors
District and fort'fcatons bills, rather
formidable array in the naming, but ia"
less so in the reality. The Legislative bill
has been agreed upon by the conferccs,
and the contests on the Indian, naval ami
river and harbor bills have each been
narrowed down to single issue, with the
certainty Of agre emcnt within Il short
time. 1t is customary TO have such an aC-
cumulation al the fag end of the session.
and old-ttmcrs agree that never before in
modern times have the budgets been 50
far adv anced. Especially is this true of Il
year like the present, when a presidential
campaign is about to be opened.
Issues In Conference
The issues between the houses on these
great measures are usually ccmprom: :sed
and 1t not infrequently happens that this
very accumulation CT conference matters
is brought about with the view of supply
ing the means Of reaching a settlement on
all by sacrificing the controve rted point
on one bill in order to win that on ar
other. The fight on the Indian bfll is on
the question of governmental aid fer sec
tartan schools. The House is stubbornly
resisting the Senate amendment and will
not yield. The naval bill hangs fire on
the matter Of providing for construct
ing two or four battle ships, the House
contending for the larger number con-
trary to the general rule, whereby the
senate urges increases over House pro
Visions. 1t is thought likely that the diff
ference will be compromised by providing
for three ships. Every matter in dispute
in the river and harbor bill has been set
tied except the provision for a deep-water
harbor at Los Angeles. The Senate
amended the bill! by creating a commission
to name the site for such a harbor, to
cost many millions and the House con-
ferees oppose any such provision. The con-
ference reports on the naval and rivers
and harbors have been made up to these
points. and further efforts will be made
at orte to secure final agreements.
The River and Harbor Bill,
It Is the general belief that extra pres
sure will be brought to bear on the river
and harbor bill to reach a result at the
earliest possible moment, for 1t is now rec
ogniZed that this bill in it's course through
the legislative mill alone measures the
length of the session. 1t is regarded as
more than a probability-more nearly a
certainty-that the President will veto this
measure, notwithstanding the assurance
that there is more than enough strength in
the two houses to pass 1t over his veto
There Is an item in the bill for the i'm
provement al Buffalo, in which the people
Of that section and many of Mr.. Cleve-
lands old friends are greatly interested
jc
will be brought to bear from that quarter
to prevent a Veto
The question. therefore, Of the time Of ad-
journment hinges almost solely upon the
day when this bill reaches Mr. Cleveland
and the ten-day period begins to run. 1t
is deemed the only safe course by the
friends Of the bill that the date of adjourn
ment should be SO selected as to include
the eleventh day, at the very least, after
the receipt Of the bill at the White House:
otherwise the President might give the
measure pocket Veto by neglecting II.
and allowing it to die with the session On
the other hand, he may act upon the hin
Immediately after it's receipt, by either
vetoing or signing 1t, and thus the period
of waiting may be reduced and the session
terminated sooner.
Hence no exact time for the adjournment
has been selected, and none will be until
some definite guide has been obtained as
to the future course of this bill, either by
aScertaining the date when ii will reach
Mr.. Cleveland or by securing reliable in
formation as to his intentions with respect
to its fate. One element that is now pres
ent to add to the uncertainty of the situa-
tion Is the fact that it is not known lust
how far the settlement of the Santa Moni-
ca harbor dispute will affect Mr. Cleve-
lards Well-known hostility to such appro-
prlations as are contained in the bill. It is
regarded as practically certain that with
this provision in the bill the President will
veto 1t instanter, while without it he NAV
not be so ready to condemn the whole
budget. Nevertheless the impression Is
strong that the chances are wholly in favor
OF veto under any circumstances.
Probable Adjournment June 8.
Presuming that the conferees and the
two houses reach an agreement on this
bill in time to allow 1t to be laid before the
President next Monday, May %, the con-
stitutional limit will expire Thursday, June
T. Sundays and fractions Of days are not
included in this period. A veto must reach
Congress before adjournment on Wednes-
day, the Sd Of June. Action to pass the bill
over the veto might under the most favor
able circumstances be had in both houses
within two days, but the margin is a slight
enc. and it is reckoned close calculation
that adjournment can be had by June g.
1t Is very often the case that Monday is
chosen for the dissolution Of the session.
and 1t Is the estimate Of the conservative
fcrecaster3 that the gavel will finally fall
at noon on the Sth day of June.
These forecasts are based upon the as
sumption that there is no danger that the
other appropriation bills will fail to become
laws. There Is no apprehension on this
score, and 1t is planned that while Con-
gress is waiting through the ten-day period
all of the conference reports VIII have been
approved, and the budgets sent to the
White House. Meantime the houses will
probably be grinding the calendar, and
the prospect is fair for good grist of new
laws, both local and general