The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-02-28
CONGRESS FAR AHEAD.
Great Record Made In Dispatch Of
Public Business.
MAY ADJOURN IN JUNE
UNLESS WAR SHOULD TURN UP
TO PREVENT 1T.


Maine nquiry-Hawaiian Annex.
ation-Alaskan Bill In Senate
More Than Its Name Implies.
Washington, Feb. 27.-The house lead
ers have been straining all their ener-
gies TO expedite the appropriation bills
with a view to an early adjournment
and they are succeeding beyond their
most sanguine expectations. Not in a
quarter of a century have the appro-
priation bills been so far advanced in
the long session as they are at this
time. The other ten have gone through
one or more executive stages, and one
the military academy BILLS in the
| hands of the president, awaiting his
| signature.
CONDITION OF BILLS.
The condition of the other nine 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 Notifications and the ag-
ricultural bills have passed both houses,
and the differences are being adjusted
in conference; the senate amendments
TO the diplomatic and consular bill have
been agreed upon by the house COM
mittee on foreign affairs, and the bill
only awaits confirmation of this action
by the house before going to the pres
ident: 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 passed the
house, is still in the senate 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 post
office await contingent developments
before they can be completed The ma
val bill is practically completed, save
for the provisions for dry docks and
new ships. On both these propositions
the development OF the next few days
are expected to control the action of the
committee.
DRY DOCKS AND SHIPS.
If the board of inquiry into the Maine
disaster should render a finding 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 almost certain
that two new battleships will be pro-
Vlded for, one recommended by the sec
rotary of the navy and one TO replace
the Maine, and that at least one Of the
new dry docks recommended will be
authorized. In case the Maine disas-
ter is found to have been caused by ac-
cident, 1t is probable no provision 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
bill is always the last of the bills to be
as it includes such deficiencies
and other items as must be provided for
at the close of every session.
LOOKING AHEAD.
With the appropriation bill and the
bill, the consideration of
which has been set for March Is, out of
the way, nothing remains to prolong
this session of congress, save the ques-
ton of annexation of Hawaii or war.
The leaders of both sides, looking
ahead, eliminating both these subjects
as probabilities or possibilities of de-
lay, agree that the appropriation bills
should be passed and that congress 3
should be ready to. adjourn early in
May. If such a contingency as war
should arise, 1t would be necessary for /
congress to act both in the formal dec
laration of war, and in furnishing ways
and means for its prosecution.
HAWAIIAN TREATY.
With regard to Hawaiian annexation, !
there is no doubt that if the present |
treaty is abandoned in the senate, no |
move for annexation by executive |
enactment will be initiated by the
house. The sentiment. both among the
friends and opponents of annexation
n the house, tends to the be-
ief that after the long con-
est at the other end of the capitol,
the senate should retain Jurisdiction of
he subject. Action by the senate on a
resolution of annexation would, there
fore, precede any action by the house,
and it is this which gives color TO the
general impression in the house that
action upon a resolution in the senate
IAN be delayed until both houses have
completed their other work, and that
hen an effort will be made to adjourn
Ind leave the question suspended.
OPPOSED TO ANNEXATION.
Speaker Reed makes no conceaIment
# his personal opposition to annexa-
ion, and says that other very prom
nent Republicans members like Can
1
etts, johnson of Indiana, are out
spoken. Some of the others, like Chair
nan Dingley of the ways and means
committee, have made no public decla-
ations upon the subject, but are be-
ieved to be in sympathy with the OPP
)onents of annexation. A large ma
GRITTY of the Republicans, however, are ]
# course, in favor of the administra-
ions policy, many of them enthusiast
ically so.
Chairman Hit of the foreign affairs
ommittee is placed among the sup
'orters of annexation, but it is proba-
lie that the real brunt of the battle, (
f the contest is transferred to the
ouse at this session, will be borne by
General Grosvenor of Ohio and General
henderson of lowe, both of whom are !
Enthusiastic in their support of it.
PLANS OF ACTION.
AS stated, the indications all point TO.
concerted plan on the part of the
nemies of annexation at both ends of I
ne capitol to hurry through the appro- :
ration bills and adjourn before action
an be had on the joint resolution in
he senate. This. it is pointed out '
yould be the easier way to defeat, or /
t least, postpone action. as once the s
esolution got into the house, the di- :
isions in the Republican ranks would !
e uncovered and the leaders would be I
breed on opposite sides. Some of the |
republicans who are opposed to the {