The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-28
MAY END CONGRESS IN MAY.
CONGRESSMAN ANXIOUS TO aUSu
THE APPROPRIATION BILLS.

I'm a Quarter of Century-OnIy
Three Bills Unreportcd to the |
HOuse-With the Appropriation |
Bills Out of the Way Only Hawaii |
orr War with spain Remains TO |
PrOIOng the Session.
Washington. Feb. H.-The House lead |
ers have been straining all their energies |
to expedite the appropriation bills. with |
a view to an early adjournment. and they |
are succeeding beyond their most san,
guine expectations Not in a quarter or |
century have the appropriation bills |
been so far advanced in the long session |
as they are at this time. Only three !
of the thirteen regular bills remain IN
committee. The other ten have gone
through one or more legislative stages and
one-the military academy-is in the hands
of the President, awaiting his signature
The condition of the other nine bills Is
as follows The pension bin has passed
both houses and the differences have been
agreed upon in conferences; the legisa>
tive, executive and judicial; army, the for
tifcations and the agricultural bills have
passed both houses and The differences
are being adjusted in conference; The Sen.
ate amendments to the diplomatic and
consular bill have been agreed upon by
the House committee on foreign affairs.
and the bill only awaits confirmation of
this action by the House before going 10
the President; the Indian bill has passed
the Senate, and the amendments placed on
the bill there are being considered by the
House committee; the District of Colum
bia bill. which has passed the House, is
still in the Senate committee, and the sun
dry civil bin will probably pass the
House tomorrow.
OF the three bills still unreported to
the House, both the naval and the pos.
tai await contingent developments before
they can be completed. The naval bill is
practically completed, save for the pro-
visions for dry docks and new ships. on
both these propositions the developments
of the next few days are expected to
control the action of the committee. If
the board of inquiry into The Maine dis
aster should render a finding which por-
tends strained relations with Spain, the
most liberal provision will be made for dry
docks and ships. IL the disaster was nor
due 10 accidental causes aboard ship, il
is almost certain two battleships will be
provided for, one recommended by the
Secretary of the Navy and one to replace
the Maine, and that at least one of the
dry docks recommended will be author
lied.
In case the Maine disaster is found to
have been caused by accident, il is prob
able no provisions for battleships will be
made in the new bill.
The completion of the postoffice bill de-
ponds upon the action of the House on
the Loud bill, relating to second-class mail
matter, which is to be acted upon this
week.
The general deficiency bill is always the
last of the bills 10 be reported, as it in
cludes such deficiencies and other items
must be provided for at the close of
every session.
With the appropriation bills apd the i'm
migration bill, the consideration of which
has been set for March 49, out of the way
nothing remains to prolong this session of
Congress save the question of the annex
alton of Hawaii or war. The leaders of
both sides, looking ahead, eliminating both
these subjects as probabilities or possibill-
ties, agree that the appropriation bills
should be passed and that Congress should
be ready to adjourn early in May.
If such contingency as war arises It
would be necessary for Congress to act
both in the formal declaration of war and
in furnishing ways and means for its pros
ecution.
With regard to Hawaiian annexa ton,
there is no doubt that If the present treaty
is abandoned in the Senate no move for
annexation by legislative enactment Will
be initia ted by the House. The sentiment
both among the friends and opponents of
annexation in the House believe that aft
err the long contest at the other end of tie
capitol the Senate should retain jurisdlc-
ton of the subject
Speaker Reed makes no conceament of
his personal opposition to annexation and
several other very prominent Republican
members, like Messrs. Cannon Of Illinois,
Walker of Massachusetts and johnson Of
Indiana, are outspoken. A large majority
of the Republicans, however, are Of
course, In favor of the Administrations
policy, many of them enthusiastically So
Chairman Hit of the foreign affairs COM
mittee Is placed among the supporters Of
annexation but ii is probable the real
brunt of the battle, IL the contest is trans
ferred to the House at this session, will
be borne by Mr. Grosvenor of Ohio, and
Mr.. Henderson of Iowa, both of whom
are enthusiastic in their support of il.
As stated. the indications all point to a
concerted plan on the part of the enemies
'%'A+Ns@~'N'SA
to hurry through the appropriation bills
and adjourn before action can be had on
the joint resolution in the Senate
The programme for the House for the
coming week includes the completion of
the sundry civil bill, which has been I'M
der consideration since last Wednesday
action" on the bill for the relief of the
victims and survivors Of the Maine dlsas-
ter; the Senate bill authorizing the en-
listment of two additional regiments Of
artillery, and the Loud bill relating to sec
ond class mail matter. The latter bill has
been made the special order for Tuesday
Wednesday and Thursday. A spirited
contest is anticipated, but Mr. Loud, the
author of the bill. and chairman of the
postoffice and postroad committee. is con-
fdent it viii pass. The bill takes all com
plete books printed as in serial form out
of the second class q cent per pound ra te
and places them in the regular book rate
class at cent per pound. 1t also prohib-
its the transmission of Sample copies"
az pound rates.
If the bill should pass and be executed
| according to its spirit Mr.. Loud estimates
the annual saving TO the government ef-
| fected by ii during the next four years