The times., 1899-02-27
THE LAST week OF
THE War CONGRESS
Many Important Bills Yet to
Be Considered.
The Bulk of Unfinished WOrk in
the Senate'S Hands.
Long Sessions Agreed upon-LegisIa-
tion Expected To Go Through
With u Rush.

The last week of the Fifty-fifth Con-
gress begins today. and there is enough
important legislation to occupy the atten-
tion of the Senate for six months. under
normal conditions, which must be passed
this week if the Fifty-sixth Congress Is
not to begin with an extra session.
As has been demonstrated many times
heretofore the capacity OF Congress to
enact legislation during its closing hours
is astonishing, and this fact, coupled with
the seeming unanimity of desire among
Legislators OF all political parties to get
through. may result in one of the most
important legislative weeks in history.
The opposition to the Army Reorganiza-
tion bill, which was believed on Saturday
morning to have been broken by the with
drawal of both the Hull and Cockrell
bills, and the substitution of what seemed
to be measure that would prove salts
factory TO both parties, was Unexpectedly
renewed by Senator German. The opposi-
ton arose from the fact that in the COM
promise bill the minimum strength of the
army TO which il was TO be reduced after
July /, 1901, had been increased by the
addition of some 10000 men, making it
- coo men, instead OF p 600. as at present.
This change was not apparent By a cas-
ual reading of the bill and was not men
TONED by the members of the Military AZ
fairs Committee. Consequently when M
German announced the fact in his speech
Saturday afternoon. together with the de-
rnand that the bill be amended in this par
ticular. he created quite a stir in the Sen
ate The situation became still more in
tsresting when Mr.. Hawley, Chairman Of
the Military Affairs Committee. announced
that the request could not be complied
with. followed by the earnest assertion on
the part of Mr.. German that he should.
under those circumstances, spend the bal
aGce of his term in Congress opposing the
bill.
For time it looked as if the bill was
destined 10 be hung up but after careful
canvass of the situation yesterday the i'm
preston seemed TO prevail that Mr.. Cor
mans opposition would not be carried to
the extent indicated by him on Saturday.
and final vote on this bill in the Senate
IS expected today.
The Naval Personnel bill which is prac-
tically reorganization of the navy. is one
of the important measures to be acted upon
by the Senate. This bill. however. is not
as important as the Army bill. and its
failure 10 pass would not occasion an eX-
ira session.
Five important appropriation bills re-
main as yet untouched by the Senate. and
four more are in conference. The sun
dry Civil bill, which is perhaps the most
important. was reported from the Commit
tee on Appropriations just before adjourn
lnent Saturday. Besides many other i'm
poItant items on this bin, there is one
providing for the constrU.t tioA of cable
from the Pacific Coast TO Manila, by way
the Hawaiian Islands. According to the
amendment this cable is TO be laid b. pri-
yate enterprise an.l subsidized by the
Government.
Although the Nicaragua Canal bill has
received the endorsement of the Senate
at two different times during this session,
il is by no means disposed of, its pres
cnt status being as rider TO the River and
Iiarbor Appropriation bill which is now
in conference. and it is feared that very
drastic measures may have to be brought
10 hear TO secure its adoption by the
House.
Other appropriation bills besides the
Sundry Civil. which are yet TO be acted
upon by the Senate are the Fortifcatious
bill, the Naval appropriation bill. the
Army Appropriation bill. and the General
Deficiency bill. The appropriation bills in
conference are the Postoffice hill, the Agri-
cultural bill, the River and Harbor bill,
and the District of Columbia bill 4 meet
ing of the conferees on the latter bill was
held yesterday.
The Census bill is also in conference. and
the codiication OF the laws for the govern
ment OF Alaska has yet TO be acted upon
by the Senate. The sessions OF the Senate
viii commence at II O'Clock each day dur
ing the remainder of this Congress and will
continue until late each night.