The herald., 1897-02-22
Appropriation Bills Will Occupy
the Senate
PERTINACIOUS Mr.. SHERMAN
May Make One Last Effort to Secure
Arbitration
Pet Treasures In the House Must Yield to APP
preparations Monetary Conference
Resolution May Pass
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-The senate
will begin the week by listening to Sen
ator Daniel read Washington's farewell
address, but will not observe Washing
toms birthday to any greater extent 1t
is expected that very little will be at
tempted beyond appropriation legisla-
tion during the week, and it appears
probable that most Of the time will be
given up to the Indian bill now in prog
ress Of consideration, and the bill pro-
viding for appropriations for the Dis
trict Of Columbia. which will next be
taken up. There are many provisions
in the unconsidered portion of the In
dian bill which will arouse debate and
the bill never gets through the senate
without elaborate discussion of the
many provisions. By the time these bills
are out Of the way in the senate the post
Office and sundry civil bills will be re-
ported. Consequently there is no prob
ability Of lack Of material.
Senator Sherman has announced his
purpose not to bring up the arbitration
treaty for debate SO long as the appro-
priation bills are pressing for consider
alton, but II there should be lull this
week he may renew his efforts to Sc
cure ratification. There Is no probabil-
ity, however. that this result can be ac-
complished.
Senator Hoar is waiting anxiously to
get up the bankruptcy bill. He said to-
day he believed the senate could be
brought to pass the bill after few
hours debate If 1t could be gotten up,
but admitted that for the present the
appropriation bills would probably mo-
nopolize the attention of the senate.
IN TILE HOUSE.
Congress adjourns sine die a week
from Thursday, and the rush and jost-
ling which mark the closing days of a
session will begin tomorrow.
Washington's birthday will be cele-
brated by hard work. Members with
pet measures, the passage Of which has
more or less bearing on their political
fortunes, will begin their clamor for
recognition, but they will appeal in vain
as long as appropriation bills and con-
ference reports are before the house for
action, as these, by the rules, have the
right Of way. Besides. the house man
ayers 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
appropriations to the lowest limit, as
they already promise to exceed those of
the Fifty-first congress and the increas-
es which the senate makes will be
fought to the bitter end. The influence
of this purpose to keep down appropria-
tions to the minimum was apparent yes
terday when the naval committee, af-
ter agreeing to recommend an appro-
priation for new battleship and a
training ship for the Annapolis cadets,
upon consultation with the leaders, re-
scinded Its action and decided to report
the bill without any recommendation for
an increase of the new navy. The gen.
eral deficiency bill. which has been un-
der consideration for two days in the
house, will probably be completed to-
morrow. An effort will be made to
strike out the appropriation of $4,000
for the Southern Pacific, being the
amount withheld by the government
pending a determination of the liabll-
ity of that road to- the Union and Gen.
trail Pacific roads. 1t probably will fail.
however. The naval appropriation bill
will follow. Owing to the controversy
over the price to be paid for armor plate
and the numerous accidents to the Ves-
sells Of the new navy, this bill may lead
to protraCted discussion, put even II 1t
hangs fire until Friday it can be put
through under suspension Of the rules,
as the last six days of the session are
suspension days.
Conference reports probably will begin
to appear with a rush before the middle
of the week and be sandwiched in 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 by
fixing an earlier hour for meeting. Two
contested election eases remain undis-
posed of, and as these are matters Of
the highest privilege, all else must give
way If their consideration is insisted up
on. But, as both of them are unanimous
reports (the committees resolution be-
ing for the sitting member in the Wat
son-Black case and the Benoit-Boat-
ner case) they should not require much
time for discussion.
The only measure Of considerable i'm
portance which seems to have chance
of running the gauntlet during the clos
ing days is the senate joint resolution
for an international monetary confer
ence looking to the adoption Of interna-
tional bimetallism. The resolution was
Immediately reported to the house yes
terday and its friends are very anxious
to have it passed. Speaker Reed is said
to be friendly to 1t, and special order
may be brought In for its consideration
during the week. Little time, however,
will be allowed for debate as the house
has no time now to waste in long finan-
cial debate over resolution the pur-
pose and scope of which are well un-