Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-13
CONGRESSIONAL FORECAST.
Beth Branches W u Have .hty d Work and
Little Leisure, This Week.

Washington, Feb. 12.-The promised
effort on the part OF the committee on
military affairs to get immediate con-
sideartion, OF the army reorganization
bill probably viii be the most import
ant feature of the proceedings OF the
Senate during the present week. Lines
are divided very sharply on this bill
and the contest over its consideration
will unquestionably be both fierce ana
stubborn. The Republican members OF
the committee manifest strong deter
mination to press the bill regardless or
all other measures and their first Ell
forts Will be to secure consent from
the committee on appropriations to set
the appropriation bills aside until the
army reorganization bill can be dis
posed Of
The Democrats not only on the mill
tary committee but through the Senate
will resist any effort to pass the army
DILL They say, however, they VIII not
not try to prevent consideration OF the
bill. The army bill has not yet been
reported to the Senate but there VIII
be an all day session of the committee
on military affairs. Monday, with the
hope OF concluding the consideration
of the bill in committee and Of hav-
ing 1t ready to report, Monday or
Tuesday.
Another question which bids fair 10
provoke considerable controversy Is
that involved in Senator Hawley's no
tiee of a motion for the reconsideration
of the unanimous consent to Senator
Mason's proposition to vote on the
h..LN - ~
Tuesday.
The House will have little or no time
during the remaining three weeks of
the session to devote to anything cx-
ccpt appropriation bills. Yet there are
Il number of measures of great impor-
lance which will press for considera-
ton. Much influence is being brought
upon the committee on ruies for an
other day for the passage of the public
buildings bill. to which the House, last
week, devoted two days in committee
of the whole and this request will prob
ably be acceded to. but hardly during
the coming week. The announcement
of Chairman Cannon that there was no
time to consider the steamship subsidy
bill and the Nicaragua canal bill. set
tied the fate of the former. The friends
of the latter are to try a flank move
ment by attempting to attach the canal
bill to the sundry civil bill now under
consideration. AS it will be the only
chance the bill will have at this session
its supporters will make a desperate
fight.
Tomorrow, the consideration of the
sundry civil bill for amendment under
the 5-minute rule will be resumed. Its
scope has been so enlarged and COM
plicated by the attempt to place the
canal bill upon it as a rider that it is
difficult to predict how many additional
days will be required to pass it. AS
soon as the sundry civil bill is out Of
the way the fortifcation bill will follow
and the other three appropriation bills
in the following order: Naval, army
and general deficiency. Both the naval
and army bills. in view of the exist
ing situation will furnish texts for the
discussion of our policy and may be
prolific of long struggles. Although 1t
would seem, unless the opposition re-
sumes passive attitude. that the
House will have its hands full for the
| remainder of the session i'll putting
through the appropriation bills.