The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-20
STORMY WEEK IN HOUSE.
Conflicting Interests Will Clash and
Warm Debates Are Probable.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-The House en-
ters on the last two weeks of the session
tomorrow with three appropriation bills
the army, Notifications and general deficien-
cy-unacted on and the naval BILL but half
completed. The army bill must be held
back until the Senate decides on it's course
relative to the reorganization bill, but it is
not anticipated that either of the other bills
will cause trouble. The situation in the
House has, however, been greatly compli-
Gated by the action of the Senate in placing
the Nicaragua canal bill on the river and
harbor bill as a rider This will doubtless
precipitate bitter fight in the House and
may result in the loss of the bill The fall
ure of the river and harbor bill will, how
ever not make an extra session incumbent
but the contest over It will develop bad
blood and produce friction which may make
it all the more difficult with the other meas
ures which must of necessity pass to avoid
an extraordinary session The conference
reports on all the big appropriation bills are
yet to be adopted, and if the Senate loads
some of them down, as it has the river and
harbor, stormy times in the House are liable
during the closing days.
The last six days of the session fortu-
nately are suspension days, under which
any proposition can be forced to vote
Tomorrow is also suspension day under the
rules, and advantage will be taken of 1t to
pass the bill for the payment of $40 000 900
to Spain to carry out the terms of the Paris
treaty. Under suspension OF the rules amend
ments are not in order, so that the House
will have no opportunity to vote upon any
of the numerous expressions of future pol
icy with which various members threatened
If. Mr.. Gillett of Massachusetts. and 9TH
ers gave notice of amendments they would
ask the House to vote upon in connection
with the appropriation before it was strick-
en- from the sundry civil bill, but they must
now vote for or against the appropriation
as reported. When confronted only with the
alternative of voting against the appropria-
ton, it is likely that half dozen votes will
be recorded against it, although a declara-
ton against the permanent annexation of
the Philippines would command Well-nigh
the entire strength OF the Democratic and
Populistic representatives, as well as some
Republican votes
The members interested in the public
building bills, favorably acted on last week
in the committee of the whole, have per-
suaded Speaker Reed to give them an OPP
portunity to pass them in the House, and
he will tomorrow recognize Mr.. Mercer,
chairman of the committee on public build
ings and grounds, to move the passage I'M
der suspension of a special order setting
aside a day later in the week for their
consideration. Chairman Knox of the
committee on territories, together with Mr..
Hit, chairman of foreign affairs, who was
on the Hawaiian commission, are insisting
strenuOusly on the imperative necessity for
the passage of the bill for the government
of Hawaii at this session, and Speaker Reed
and the committee on rules will give this
matter consideration early in the week.