The record-union., 1897-12-10

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.-Although no
formal action mas been taken. a pretty
general understanding has been reached
by the leaders in the House of Repre-
sentatives as to the course of action in
the near future. 1t includes the disposal
OF appropriation bills as fast as they are
ready. The bankruptcy bill will be re-
ported by Chairman Henderson of the
judiciary Committee before the holiday
recess, but will not be taken UP by the
House until after the recess. 1t is
understood that Speaker Reed and the
Committee on Rules Will be disposed TO
give this bill all the advantage in the
way of securing early time Tor debate.
1t is equally Wen understood
that for the present there
will be no effort to take up financial leg
islation on the floor of the House This
is due mainly to the fact that a strong
impression prevails among members OF
the House that the Committee on Bank
ing and Currency will not be able TO re-
concile the many conflicting interests
inside the committee. These represent
all shades of the financial subject and
are so much at variance that il is not
expected a majority can be rallied for
any one proposition. Under such cir
cumstances, the purpose is to await the
action of the deadlock in that committee.
When it becomes evident that the Com
nittee on Banking and Currency is at a
standstill, then the Ways and Means
Committee will frame a bill on broad
lines calculated to meet the present
financial requirements. In the mean
time the subject will be kept in the back
ground as much as possible.
Aside from the bankruptcy and appro-
priation bills, some emergency measures,
such as that relating to Behring Sea,
introduced by Hit, Will have a hearing,
as they involve questions of general poll
icy, and are not likely to meet with op-
position.
With these EXCEPTIONS the disposition
of the House leaders will be to keep
radical legislation to the rear.
FOREIGN QUESTIONS.
The Committee on Foreign Affairs of
the House of Representatives held its
first meeting to-day and outlined it's
work on the several important foreign
questions now pending. Chairman Hit
appointed the following subcommittee
to deal with Cuban affairs: Adams of
Pennsylvania, Heatwole of Minnesota
and Berry of Kentucky. The sub-com-
mittee to consider Hawaiian affairs is
Hit of Illinois, Cousins of Iowa and
Newlands of Nevada.
The committee determined to report at
once the bill prohibiting American citi-
zens from conducting pelagic sealing in
Behring Sea, and an understanding was
reached that the bill would be pushed to
final passage before the holidays.
Much interest was shown in the initial
meeting of the committee, as it was felt
that it might bring an Indication of the
general line of policy toward Cuba and
the other subjects before it Except.
however, in the announcement of the
Cuban and Hawaiian sub committees.
10 reference was made to either of these
subjects, as all of the time of the COM
mittee was given to the question OF seal
ing in Behring Sea. On This question
considerable discussion occurred, which
showed a general sentiment toward re-
stricting American sealers only in case
Great Britain adopts the same restric-
tions.
The committee found plenty of ma
terial before it on all the important for
eign questions. These were in the forms
of bills and resolutions submitted dur
ing the extra session, but which could
not be considered at that time, as the
committee had not been appointed.
On Cuba the phases of the subject
were represented in the measures pre-
sented. TIL most important of these was
the Morgan joint resolution which
passed the Senate at the extra session,
and was now referred TO this committee
1t recognizes a state of war as existing
between Spain and the Cuban insur-
gents, and declares that the United
States will maintain strict neutrality be-
tween the two belligerentS.