The herald., 1898-02-28
RUSHING WORK
In the Hope of an Early
Adjournment
REPORT ON THE MAINE
WILL INFLUENCE PROVISION
FOR WARSHIPS
THE ANNEXATION OF HAWAII
THE ANNEXATION OF HAWAII
Likely to Govern Without Action,
The Senate Program For the
Week-Corbett and Alaska
Associated Press Special Wire

WASHINGTON, Feb 27.-The house
leaders have been straining all their ener-
ges to expedite the appropriation bills
with view to an early adjournment, and
they are succeeding beyond their most
sanguine expectations. Not in a quarter
of 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 executive stages. and one-the mill
tary academy bill-is in the hands of the
president awaiting his signature. The con-
dtion of the other bills is as follows:
| The pension bill has passed both houses,
and the differences have been agreed upon
in conference; the legislative, executive
and judicial, the army, the fortifcations
and the agricultural bills have passed both
houses, and the differences are being ad-
| justed in conference; the senate amend
| ments to the diplomatic and consular bill
have been agreed upon by the house COM
| mittee on foreign affairs, and the bill only
awaits the confirmation of this action by
the house before going to the president;
the Indian bill has passed the senate and
the amendments placed on the bill there
are being considered by the house COM
| mittee; the District of Columbia bill, which
committee, and the sundry civil bill will
probably pass the house tomorrow.
OF the three bills still unreported to- the
house, both the naval and postoff1ce await
contingent developments before they can
be completed. The naval bill is practically
completed, save for the provisions for
drydocks 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 disaster should render
finding which portends strained relations
with Spain, the most liberal provisions
will be made for both drydocks and ships.
If the disaster was not due to accidental
causes aboard the ship, 1t is almost certain
that two new 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 new drydocks
recommended will be authorized. In case
the Maine disaster is found to have been
caused by accident, 1t is probable no pro-
vision for battleships will be made in the
new bill The completion of the postoffice
bill depends upon the action of the house
upon the Loud bill, relating to second-class
mail matter, which Is to be acted upon
this week. The general deficiency is al
ways the last of the bills to be reported,
as it includes such deficiencies and other
items as must be provided for at the close
of every session.
With the appropriation bills and the i'm
migration bill, the consideration of which
has been set for March 18th, out of the
way, nothing remains to prolong this ses-
sion of congress save the question of the
annexation of Hawaii or war. The leaders
of both SIDES. looking ahead and elimi-
mating both of these subjects as probabili-
ties or possibilities of delay, agree that
the appropriation bills should be passed
and that congress should r ready to ad-
journ early in May. If sue contingency
as war should arise 1t woS ID be necessary
for congress to act, both in the formal
declaration of war and in furnishing ways
and means for its prosecution. With re-