The times., 1898-01-04
CAPITOL GOSSIP.


Perry Heath, Assistant Postrnaste
General, appeared before two. or thre,
members of the House Committee OF
Appropriations yesterday, and in an in
formal manner explained certain item!
in the appropriation bill to be soor
considered.
A bill has been reported by the Com.
mittee on War Claims for the reliei
of Thomas b. Reed 70 If there is any
particular Individual in this country
who needs relief, as. much as Senator
Hanna it is Mr.. Reed. He would like
to be relieved of the Cuban policy OF
the Republican House He wants re-
lief from the button-holing of the Con-
gressmen interested in river and har-
Dor improvements, and also the mem
bers who want appropriations for
Federal buildings in their country vii
| lagos. Another relief he would greatly
appreciate would be the absence for
the rest of the session or the Hon.
jerry Simpson. In fact, the Speaker
could obtain much relief from score
of sources If 1t was offered him, but he
| never anticipated that any would come
! from the Committee on War Claims.
! When his attention was called to this
report he looked pleased but the smile
of satisfaction disappeared and look
! of disappointment replaced 1t when he
! discovered that the Thomas b. Reed
destined to obtain relief was SER
| geant in the Pennsylvania volunteers
! and not the Thomas B. Reed who was
] once an assistant paymaster in the
! navy and later Speaker of the House
! of Representatives. Mr.. Reed will
! some day obtain relief, but 1t may not
| be before he reforms and becomes u
| Bryan Democrat.
| Next Saturday has been set apart
! by the House for paying tribute to the
memory of the Hon. Ashley B. Wright,
| of Massachusetts. Eulogies will be de-
liyered by number OF the members.
Tomorrow Congress will again be in
session. and the Christmas holidays
but a pleasant recollection. The MEM
bers will find plenty of work cut out
for them to dispose of as soon as they
reassemble, and, curious as it may
seem, there is a prevailing impression
that the work will be buckled into
with an energy that will be exceed
ingly gratifying TO the taX-paying
community
The House will devote it's time almost
exclusively to the disposition of the
legislative, executive and judicial ap-
preparation bill. The appropriations
practically accepted by the Committee
g. the Whole, and the bill would have
been disposed of before the holiday re-
cess had not large number OF mem
bers insisted on having time to dis
cuss the civil service clause In 1t. De-
bate on this clause will probably oc-
cupy a week.
The Senate WILL If the regular order
of business is followed, call up as soon
,as reconvening The immigration bill
and following ii the Hawaiian annexa-
ton treaty will be brought toward by
Senator Davis for ratification. The
impression deepens that the Senate will
fail to ratify the treaty, but it is be-
lieved that annexation will be effected
by a majority vote III both Houses on
Senator Morgalfs resolution intro
duced To meet the emergency that a
failure to ratify swiiis'create.
The Senate and House Committee on
the District of Columbia will meet to-
morrow morning and enter actively up
on the work before them. The House
committee will, before doing anything
else. endeavor to get rid OF a number OF
old bills at once. It is not expected that
any of the committees will report
to the full committee until after the ac-
cumulated old bills are reported. One
of these measures provides for the pay
ment of all back taxes by purchaser
Of property al a sale for unpaid taxes.
This bill is an important one and has
long been pending. II it becomes law
it will add many thousand dollars to
the receipts Of the District government.
Following the disposition of the ap-
preparation bill now under considera-
ton, Mr.. Quigg will call up his bill to
change the name of the Library of
Congress TO the National Library, and
Mr.. Dockery will offer an amendment to (
this which win provide for the removal /
of all the libraries in departments to the I
National Library" and repeal the act !
authorizing an appropriation of $780,, /
600 for a new library for the city of /
Washington.
A measure of national Importance I
that will be called up at an early date |
is the bankruptcy bill reported by the |
House Judiciary Committee. This bill |
will entail much debate for with the |
exception of the Gage currency con-
traction and gold standard scheme it
is the most important bill yet intro
duced.