The record-union., 1899-02-27
But viii Press His Amendment to the
Limit Of Hope.
It is Not Thought the Bills Oppo-
nents VIII Necessitate an Extra
Session by Persisting, as Appro-
priation Bills Must be Passed,
if Possible, Before the Adjourn
ment of Congregations Will
Consider the Appropriation and
Army Bills.


viii open with the compromise army
bill still before the Senate, but it is
impossible to say how long it may con-
tinue to demand the attention Of that
body. The best opinion is to the effect
that a vote will be secured Monday,
but this depends largely upon the tenn
per of Mr.. German and his friends, who
insist upon the amendment of the army
bill so as to further curtail the size of
the army in 1901. 1t is not, however,
believed that they will press their OPP
position to the point of entering into an
extended controversy over the merits
OF the measure, and the friends Of the
bill count confidentially on a vote be-
lore adjournment on Monday. Mr..
German disclaims any intention to
force delay, but says he will press his
amendment as long as there is any
chance of success.
Ii the debate should be continued to
any considerable length, the action
would be generally accepted as indicat-
Ing purpose to force an extra session,
and as all admit that with as many ap-
preparation bills as are pending, it is
1mpractfcable to give very much more
time to the army bill and still pass the
supply bills before the 4th inst, there
IS yet no danger of failure of either
Inc army bill or the appropriation bills.
NO Senator can be found who ayoWs
himself as DESTROYS of forcing a called
session. Hence the general belief that
HI OF these measures will become laws,
anu when Congress adjourns for the
session next Saturday legislation will
ne IN Sucn shape as to render it pos
slple Tor the legislators to remain at
their homes until next December. There
is no doubt of the passage of the army
Din by large majority when the vote
is taken
The appropriation bills will demand
almost all the attention of the Senate.
as the army bill Is out of the way and
the Senate will have to materially in
crease the length of sessions in ORDER
10 secure the enactment into laws.
There are still five of these bills which
ma not as yet received attention from
the Senate and five others which are
In Conference and which erequire more
or less consideration in conference,
Inc bills in conference are those pro-
viding appropriations for the Indian
Office, Postoffice and Agricultural De-
Inrtments and for the District. of Co.
lumbia and the Improvement of rivers
and harbors
\ Inere are no radical points of differ
ence in any of these bills, except in
the river and harbor BILL but there are
many questions requiring adjustment,
ana they Will necessarily demand time
lor this purpose. The river and har-
Dor Dill carries the Nicaragua Canal
provision and other additional appro-
platlons OF large sums of money Five
DIS which have not been reported to
the senate are the sundry civil, the
naval. the army, the Notifications and
the general deficiency. All are import
ant and each will require considerable
time for disposal. Of these five: the
committee on Appropriations has con-
sidered only the sundry civil bills fate.
The Senate will put them all through.
unless unexpected opposition should be
developed to some of them.
The calendar is full of bills of private
and semi-private nature and also con-
tains many measures of general public
Importance. Many of these are objec-@
tionable to all the members of the SEN
ate and majority of those of this class
win not pass.
Pie beginning of the day sessions will
probably be advanced to 10 or II
O'Clock each day of the week and night
sessions are also counted upon for the
greater part of it,
The House will devote practically all
of the closing week of the session to
the appropriation bills and conference
reports and the prospects are that
every minute of the time will be re-
quired to get them through before noon
on March 4th. An order has beer made
to meet at IL o'clock each day. but the
night sessions will be held and II will
surprise none If all night sessions
should be necessary. Everything else
except the appropriation bills and the
army reorganization bin will go by the
boards final crush A few minor bills
may go through by unanimous consent
but there is no longer any time for the
consideration of important general
measures. The bin for the government
of Hawaii has been abandoned. and al
though the friends of the public build
ing bills favorably acted upon by the
committee of the whole ten DAYS ago
still cherish a lingering hope that time
Will be given for their consideration in
the House, the chance is so insignifi-
cant that it is barely worth more con-
sderation. Hundreds of bills will die
on the calendar. Though the thought
of an extra session practically disap-
peared with the agreement in the Sem
ate upon the army reorganization, II
will require the most arduous labor TO
get through the appropria ton bills and
conference reports before the curtain
falls next Saturday.
The actual physical work of engross-
Ing the eight or ten big appropriation
bills during the last forty-eight hours
will necessitate large temporary adj
dition to the clerical force The en-
grossment of bills is done at the Gov
eminent Printing Office when no special
exigency exists but by special resolu-
tons passed Friday, permission to en-