The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-20
IN THE HOUSE.
Only Four Appropriation Bills Left to
be Passed.

NV ' IT'S N0oSNs
Only Four Appropriation Btlls Left TO
be Passed.
Washington. February Is.-The House
enters upon the last two weeks OF the
session tomorrow with three sppropris.
tion bills-the army, foftincations ana
general defieisncy unacted upon and
the naval bill but half completed. The
army bill must be held back until the
senate shall decide upon Its course rsls-
tive TO the reorganization but II is not
anticipated that either Of the other bills
will cause trouble The situation In the
Houss, however, has BEEN greatly CON-
plicated by the action Of the Senate in
placing the Nicaraguan canal bin upon
the river and hafbor bill as = rider. This
will doubtless prccipitats bitter light In
the senate and may result In tbs loss Of
the bill. Ths failure Of the river and har.
bur I'LL will not make an extra session
incum bent but the contest over 1t will
develop bad blood and produce friction
which may make 1t all the more difficult
with the other measures that must of
necessity past to avoid an extra session.
The conference reports on all the big ap-
pPopriation bills are yet to bs adopted
and II the Senate should load some Of
then down, ss 1t has the river and har-
Dor, stormy tines In the House would be
inevitable during the closing days The
last six days Of the 90 ssion fortunately
are suspension days under which any
proposition can be forced to . vote after
twenty minutes debate on side. fomor-
row Is also suspension day under the
rules and advantage will be taken Of n
to pass the bill for this payment Of 30 =
0O0, COO to Spain to carry out tbs terms Of
tho Paris treaty. Under suspension of
| the rules amendments are not in order so
that the House WIN have no opportunity
to vote upon any of the numerous express
sions of future policy with which mem
| bers threosen It.
Mr.. Gifistt Of Massachusetts, and others
gave notice of amendments shcy would
ask the House to vote upon in connection
with the sppi opriation before 1t was
stricken from the sundry civil bill but
they must now vote for or against the
appropriation ms reported. When con-
fronted only with the alternative Of vot-
ing against the appropriation, it is net
likely that half dozen votes will be re-
corded against 1t. although declaration
against the permanent annexation Of tho
Philippines would command we'll nigh
the entire strength Of the Democrats and
Populist opposition as we'll as some Re-
publican votes. The members interested
In the public building bills favorably
acted upon last week In committee of the
whole have persuaded Speaker Reed to
give them an opportunity to pass them in
the House and he will tomorrow reoog-
nize Mr.. Mercer, chairman Of the com
mittee on public buildings and grounds
to move the passage and suspension Of q
special order setting aside q day later In
the week for their consideration. Chair
man Knox Of the committee en- territor-
les together with MIR. Hit, chairman Of
foreign AFFAIR." COMMITTEES. who was on
the Hawaiian commission, are insisting
strenuously upon the imperative necessity
for the passage of the bill for the govern
ment Of Hawaii at this session and
Speaker Reed and the committee on rulss
will give this matter consideration early
in tho week.