The record-union., 1898-02-28
Then the Alaska Bill VIII be Taken Up for
Consideration.
Appropriation Bills Farther Ad-
vanced in Both Houses Than for
Many Years Before and Adj
tournament Talked of Already
Opponents of the Hawaiian
Treaty Will Try to Stave It Off
FOR the Session.


cided on Monday and that after its de-
cision the bill regulating the right OF
way for railroads in Alaska and for
other purposes will probably be taken
up, the programme in the Senate for
this week is quite indefinite.
The Alaska bill is of much wcdsr scope
than its title indicates and it will not be
voted upon without considerable dis
cussion. There is no general disposition
to defeat the bill. but Senators are OF
the opinion that ii should be amended
in several particulars and they will
seek to secure these changes before
the vote is taken. 1t is believed the
bill will pass after day or two of
talk upon it, 1t is probable that after
the Alaskan bill is disposed of some of
the bills of less general Importance
on the calendar will be considered. One
of these is the bill for the payment of
the claim of the book agents of the
Southern Methodist Church for property
destroyed at Nashville during the Civil
War. This bill appropriates $2SS,OOU
and has aroused some opposition 1t is
also understood to be Senator Davis
intention to again move the considera
ton of the Hawaiian treaty, If oppor-
tunity Offers but there is no DISPOSE
ton at present to unduly press the
treaty in antagonism TO other meas
ures. 1t is possible the bill making
appropriations for the District of Col
umbia will be reported by the Commit
tee on Appropriations during the week.
There are only five Of the appropriation
bills to be considered by the Senate.
which is a record far in advance of that
usually made at this date in long ses-
sions of Congress. This fact is caus-
ing Senators to begin to talk about the
final adjournment at a far earlier date
than usual.
Three of the bills which are as yet
unconsidered are the District Of Col
umbia. the naval and the sundry civil
bills. These are all important measures
and each is liable to arouse debate, but
Senator's generally agree that unless
there IS some other reason for post
poning adjournment it can be reached
by May or June. The friends of the
Hawaiian treaty say, however, that
soma of the appropriation bills will be
held back until the annexation is de-
cided upon. and this determination is
one Of the circumstances which may
ment
The House leaders have been strain
ing all their energies to expedite the
appropriation bills with a view to ar
early adjournment and they are sue
ceeding beyond their most sanguine
expectations. Not in quarter Of a
century have the appropriation bills
been so far advanced in the long ses-
sion as they are at this time. Only
three Of the thirteen of the regular
bills remain in committee. The other
ten have gone through one or more exc
cutive stages and one-the military aca-
DENY Bills in the hands of the Presi-
dent awaiting his signature. The con-
dition of the ether nine bills is as fol-
lows:
The pension bill has passed both
house and the differences have been
agreed upon in conference: the legis-
lative, executive and judicial. the army,
the Notifications and the agricultural
bills have passed both houses and the
differences are being adjusted in con-
ference; the Senate 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 to the Presi-
dent; 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
Columbia bill, which has pessed the
House, is still in the Senate Commit
tee. and the sundry civil bill will prob
ably pass the House tomorrow. OF
the three bills still unreported to the
House, both the naval and postoffice
await contingent developments before
they can be completed. The naval bill
is practically completed, save for the
provisions for dry docks and new ships.
On both these propositions the devel-
opnlents of the next few days are ex-
pected to control the action of the COM
mittee. If the board of inquiry into
the Maine disaster should render a find
ing which portends strained relations
with Spain. the most liberal provisions
will be made both for dry docks and
ships. If the disaster was not due to
accidental causes aboard ship it is al
most certain that two new battleships
will be provided for. one recommended
by the Secretary of the Navy and one
~ iepidtc the liidt tll
least one Of the new dry docks recon-
mended Will be authorized.
In case the Maine disaster is found to
have been caused by accident. 1t Is
probable no provisions for battleships
will be made in the bill.
The completion of the postofiice bill
depends upon the action of the House
upon the Loud bill relating to second
class nail matter. which is to be acted
upon this week. The general deiicien-
cy is always the last of the bills TO be
reported. as it Includes such deiicien-
cies AMI other items as must be pro-
vided for at the close Of every session.
With the appropriation and the I'M
migration bile the consideration of
which has been set for March 1JfA.
out IF the way. nothing remains 20
prolong this session of Congress, save
the question of annexation of Hawaii
or war The leaders of both sides,
looking ahead. eliminating both these
subjects as probabilities or possibii-
ties of delay agree that the appropcia-
ton bills should be passed. and that
Congress should be ready to adjourn
early n May: if such contingency as
war should arise, ii would be necessary
for Congress TO act both in the formal
declaration of war and in furnishing
ways and means for its prosecution.
With regard TO Hawaiian annexation.
there is no doubt that If the present