The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-20
Army Reorganization and Census Bills Must
Be Acted Upon BY the Senate.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL MEASURE.
A Bitter Fight Anticipated in The Senate Should
River and Rarbor Bill Fall 10 Pass Extra
Session viii Be Needed.

Washington, Feb. 2o.-This week VIII
be busy one in the senate. With only
IL days OF the session left all senators
appreciate the necessity OF very strict
and close attention To business in order
TO get through the bills. which all admit
must become laws In order to preven< an
extra session OF congress.
Very rarely his 1t occurred that there
have been so many important measures
on the senate calendar so short time
before the final adjournment Of the last
session OF congress. There are. how
ever. only comparatively few of these
bills. outside the appropriation bills.
which mSst necessarily be acted upon
before adjournment. and IL the senate
shall dispose OF these with the same
facility that IL has used in getting rid
OF other important bills during the past
week the session will be closed up in good
order and with time to spare. The army
reorganization bill and the census bill
are in reality the only two measures,
aside from the appropriation bills. upon
which final action would seem absolutely
necessary The census bill has passed
both houses and is now in conference and
is reasonably sure Of enactment In some
shape. The army bill Is yet to receive
the attention OF the senate. Other meas
ures which will be pressed TO q certain
extent are the Alaskan code bill. the
Hawaiian territorial organization bill
and various other bills pertaining 20
Hawaii.
The contest over the army bill which
was promised for last week was post
poned until the present week largely
because the storm OF the first days OF the
week prevented consideration of the bill
by the military committee. Senator
Hawley, chairman of the committee on
military affairs, has given notice that he
will seek TO have the bill taken up for
consideration Immediately after the dis
posal of the routine business today. He
will first ask for unanimous consent TO
take the bill up. and If this be refused,
will make motion To this effect There
Is no probability that the bill will not be
taken up. as the Democrats, as well az
the Republicans. concede the necessity
for some legislation increasing the army
10 cover the present emergency. With
the bill once before the senate, Senator
Cockrell will proceed to give the reasons
of the opposition to permanent increase
y,
other senator's in opposition so long as
no disposition is manifested TO abandon
at least some portions of the house bill.
The vital point of difference between the
two sides of the chamber is the duration
OF time for which the increase in the
ermy is to be made The Republicans
demand that 1t shall be permanent and
the Democrats refuse To make it more
thar temporary The latter declare that
they will not abandon this position and
say that whatever is done must be done
with this understanding. Some of the
friends of the bill have suggested the ac-
ceptance of the Hull bill with an amend
ment making the increase for only a
specified time; but the Democrats gen.
orally manifest disposition not TO ac-
cspt this change, as they say II would
leave the way open for the Republicans
to get the legislation they want in the
next congress by repeating the tempo
rary provision. So far as tangible basis
for a compromise has been suggested on
either side, but some OF the most inhu-
entail members OF the senate are work
Ing to that end, and the prediction Is
freely made that they will succeed be-
fore the close OF the session. II has never
been supposed that any common ground
would be found until the champions or
the two sides should have an opportunity
TO test the mettle OF each others weap-
ons This opportunity will come today,
and It Is expected that tomorrow a
chance will be found for conference
looking TO an agreement. This oppor-
tunity will be AFFORDED by taking up the
river and harbor bin If present plans are
carried into effect.
OF the suppls bills the senate now has
before II only the postoffice appropria-
tion bill and the river and haroor bill.
or these the postoaice bill has received
partial attention and the river and har-
Dor bill none. II is expected that the
sundry civil bill will be reported late in
the week The river and harbor bill will
probably arouse considerable discussion,
and there will be an effort TO defeat the
Nicaragua canal amendment on point
Of order There are still four important
appropriation bills. namely, the naval
army. fortincations and deficiency bills
which have net yet been received from
the house of rs prcsertaNves.
Senator Cnllunl says he will make an
effort To- set up the general bill providing
government. for Hawaii. but the
chances or success are very sim Sena'
tor Fairbanks VIII also undertake TO cal
up the bin extending the anti-contrac
labor laws ~ Bawaii. There may be al
effort TO amend this measure. and II alsc
may fail Senator Garter will continue
10 press the A.asFan bill whenever op
portun!ty AFFORDS. The sampson
sehley controversy win almost certainly
come up ih c,ceutivc sefslon. The anti
scalplrg biii viIl bc abandoned For th'
rest. there are many minor bills on VI
calendar which viii give the senate
plenty 10 40 when 10 Is not engaged viii
the more momentous questions. Wed
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