, 1898-12-12
OF CONGRESS.
HULL BILL, NICARAGUA CANAL
AND PENSION BELL THE
LEADING ONES.
Anti-Expansionists Expected to Start
Debate-Democrats Divided on
Standing Army Question-Senator
Morgan VIII Press Nicaragua Can
al Bill.

Washington. Dec. 11.-Beyond the
three days there is no program map,
ped out for the house this week. To
morrow will be devoted, under the
rules. to the consideration of bills re,
lating to the to the District of Colum.
bia, and on Tuesday the District Of
Columbia appropriation bill will be
taken up. This is inpursuance of the
determination of the leaders to give
the appropriation bills the right of way
whenever one is ready. There is moth
ing in the district bill this year to at,
tract opposition, and unless the unex.
pected happens. the bill ought to pass
Tuesday or Wednesday, at the latest.
The appropriations subcommittee on
pensions will commence work on the
pension appropriations bill tomorrow,
but it can hardly be ready be-
fore next week. 1t is confidently ex-
pected, however, that the bill will be
passed before the holidays. 1t is pos
sible that Chairman Hull of the mill
tary affairs committee will be able to
bring the army reorganization bill as
o o as the district Appropriation bill
Is out of the way. He is exceedingly
anxious to get the bill into the house
at the earliest possible moment, as he
is particularly solicitous that it should
pass the house before the holidays. II
it should follow the district bill a very
interesting debate would be participant
ed.
The future policy of the government
is ordained in the bill for the increase
Of the standing army and the whole
subject will be opened up. The demo-
Gratis r divided upon the question of
increasing the regular army, but how
far the opposition will go in antagoniz-
ing the asu 1t is impossible to fore
cast. Only last week during the de-
bate OF the urgent deficiency bill Mr..
Dearmond of Missouri, one Of the lead
ers, evaded a direct reply when the
question vas put fairly at him by Mr..
Cannon, chairman Of the appropriation
committee. If the army reorganization
bill does not come up, the various com
mittees, under the call, will probably
be allowed to clean up business which
they have on the calendar.
The curse of proceedings in the SEN
ate this week will depend upon the dis
position that Is made of the Nicaraguan
canal bill.
1t is Senator Morgan's intention to
call up this measure on onday, and he
has expressed the hope that he will Sc
cure action at the Monday session.
Few of his most sanguine co-workers
agree with him in this opsnion and the
best indication Is Dhat unless an agree
ment can be reached for postponment,
several days at least will be consumed
in its consideration.
The opponents of the measure will
meet its supporters with a proposition
to defer consideration until after the
Christmas holidays, and they will give
as their reason for this request the fact
that the report OF the government COM
mission appointed to investigate the
feasibility OF the canal mas not yet
been made, urging the Importance of
receiving the information which the
commission will be able to furnish be-
fore action upon 20 important a ques-
ton. II the bill is taken up in earnest
it will the greater portion of
the senate's time until finally disposed
of.
Another subject ON the calander is
the anti-scalping bill which Senator
Cullom has informed the senate he will
seek to get up at an early day, but he
will meet with opposition If he makes
the effort and Is not likely to succeed
tn s early in the session.
The special order for Monday at 2
o'clock is the bill providing for the
registry OF foregn-built ships, but If
the Nicaraguan bill shouldbe allowed to
consum umch time, Senator Morrill,
has given notice Of a motion Tuesday
to consider the bill providing for the
purchase of a site for the United States
supreme court, but the proceeding with
reference to this matter will be con-
fined to a speech by the Vermont sen
ator.
The urgent army deficiency bill will
receive attention early in the week.
The Committee on appropriations will
meet Monday and 1t is not believed
more than ma meeting on the bill will
be necessary. Senator Allison. chair
man Of the committee, hopes there
fore, to get he bill before the senate
for consideration Tuesday.
1t has been prophesied that the army
bill would be used as a pretext for dis
cnsston Of the Spanish war and the
fear Of such a course has not entirely
euhnkHnud