The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-22
THE WEEK IN CONGRESS
Appropriation Bills Take Preoe-
dence Over All Others.
MEMBERS BECOME ECONOMICAL.
Speaker Reed and the House Managers
Using All Their Power and Influence to
Keep the Appropriations Down to the
Lowest Level.

Lowest Level.
Washington. Feb. 22.-Congress ad-
Journs sine die week from Thursday
and the rush and jostling which marks
the closing days of session began to-
day. Washington's birthday is being
celebrated by hard work. Members
with pet measures, the passage of
which have more or less bearing on
their political fortunes. have begun
their clamor for recognition, but they
will appeal in vain as long as appro-
priation bills and conference reports
are before the house for action, as
these, by the rules, have the right Of
way. Besides the house managers are
anxious to put through with the least
possible delay the last two budgets, so
that the decks may be cleared for the
final struggle with the senate over the
latter's amendments to the money
bills Speaker Reed and the house
managers are using all their power
and influence to keep down the appro-
priations to the lowest limit, as they
already promise to exceed those Of the
Fifty-first congress, and the increase
which the senate will make will be
fought to the bitter end. The influence
Of this purpose to keep down appro-
priations to the minimum was appar-
ent on Saturday, when the naval COM
mittee, after agreeing to recommend
an appropriation for new battleship
and training ship for the Annapolis
cadets, upon consultation with the
leaders, reScinded the action and de- |
cided to report the bill without any |
recommendation for an increase of the |
new navy. The general deficiency bill, |!
which has been under consideration |
for two days in the house, will prob
ably be completed today. An effort
will be made to strike out the appro-
priation Of $1,310,O00 for the Southern
Pacific, being the amount withheld by
the government pending determine
tion Of the liability of that road to the |
Union and Central roads. 1t probably |
will fail, however. The naval appro-
priation bill will follow. Owing to the
controversy over the price to be paid
for armor plate and the numerous ac- |
cidents to vessels of the new navy this
bill may lead to protracted discussion |
If 1T hangs fire until Friday it can be
put through under suspension of the
rules. as the last six days of the ses-
sion are suspension days.
Conference reports will probably be-
gin to appear with a rush before the
middle of the week, and be sandwiched
In at every spare moment. 1t is likely
that before the week is over the house
will find the pressure for time so great
that night sessions will be entered
upon, and the daily sessions may also
be extended at the other end by fixing |
an earlier hour for meeting.
Two contested election cases still re-
main undisposed of, and as these are
matters of the highest privilege all
else must give way If their consdera-
ton is insisted upon. But as both of
them are unanimous reports (the COM
mittee's recommendation being in fa-
vor of the sitting member in the Wat
son-Black case and the Bennoit- Boat
ner case), they should not require
much time for discussion.
The only measure of considerable
further Importance which seems to
have chance of running the gauntlet
during the closing days is the senate
joint resolution for an International
conference looking to the
adoption of international bimetallism, |
The resolution was unanimously re-
ported to the house on Saturday and
It's friends are very anxious to have it
passed. Speaker Reed is said to be
friendly to it, and a special order may
be brought in for its consideration |
Turing the week. Little time, how
ever, will be allowed to debate 1t, as
he house has no time to waste in
ong financial debate over a resolution |
he purpose anI scope Of which are
veil understood.
The senate began the week by listen
ng to Senator Daniel read Washing
on's farewell address, but it will not
bserve Washington's birthday to any
;reater extent.
1t is expected that very little will be
.ttempted beyond appropriation legis-
alton during the week, and it appears
robable that most of the time will be
,iven up to the Indian bill, now in
rogress of consideration, and the bill
'rovidng for appropriations for the
district of Columbia, which will be
aiken up next. There are many pro-
isions In the uncOnsdered portion of
he Indian bill which will arouse de-
ate, and the district bill never gets I
through the senate without elaborate
iscussion of its many provisions. J
BY the time these bills are out of the
'ay In the senate the postoffice and c
undry civil bills Will be reported,
Consequently there Is no probability
a lack of material in the way of ap-
ropriation bills to proceed with. T
Senator Sherman has announced his a
urpose not to again bring up the ar l
tratien treaty for debate so long as d
lie appropriation bills are pressing for y
but If there should be
ii in this work he may renew his ef-
'rts to secure ratification. There Is
} probability, however, that this re-
lit can be accomplished. Senator 81
oar is waiting anxiously to get up II
e bankruptcy bill.