The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-20


sion an Unusually Large Number
of Important Measures Are Still
Awaiting Action - Tuesday the
River and HaFbor Bill VIII Come
Up for Consideration In Senate
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19-The week
will be busy one in the senate. Very
rarely has it occurred that there have
| been so many important measures on
the senate calendar so short time
before final adjournment of the last
session of congress. There are, how
ever, only comparatively few of these
olils, outside the appropriation bills,
which must necessarily be acted upon
before adjournment, and, if the senate
dlsposes of these with the same ia
cility that it 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 appropria-
ton bills, upon which action would
seem absolutely necessary. The CEN
sus bill has passed both houses and
is now in conference and is reasonably
sure VI enactment IN some shape.
The army bill is yet to receive the
attention Of the senate. The contest
over the measure, which was promised
FOR last week, was postponed by delay
In reporting the bill. Senator Hawley,
chairman of the committee on military
affairs has given notice that he will
seek to have the bill taken up for con-
sideration Immediately after CHE dis
posal Of the routine business Monday
morning. He will first ask for unani-
nous consent to take up the bill, and,
II this is refused, will make motion
to this effect. There is no probability
that the bill will not be taken up. as
the Democrats as we'll as the Repub-
lfcans concede the necessity for some
legislation increasing the army to cover
the present emergency.
With the bill once before the SEN
ate, Senator Cockrell will proceed to
give the reasons of the opposition to a
permanent increase of the army, and
he will be followed by other senators
IN opposition, so long as no disposition
is made to abandon at least some por-
lions of the house bill. The vital point
OF difference between the two sides Of
the chamber is the duration Of time
Tor which the increase Of the army is
to be made. The Republicans demand
that 1t shall be permanent, and the
Democrats refuse to make it more than
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 acceptance of the Hull
OIL with an amendment making the
increase for only specified time, but
the Democrats generally manifest a
disposition not to accept this change,
as they say it would leave the way
open for the Republicans to get the
legislation they want in the next con-
gress by repeating the temporary pro-
vision. So far no tangible basis for
compromise has been suggested on
either side, but some Of the most in
1uential members Of the senate are
is freely made that they will succeed
before the close Of the session.
Tuesday will be given up to the river
and harbor bill if present plans are
carried into effect. OF the supply bills
the senate has now before it only the
postoffice appropriation bill and the
river and harbor bill OF these the
postoffioe bill has received partial at
tention and the river and harbor bill
none. 1t is expected that the sundry
CIVIL bill will be reported late in the
week. The river and harbor bill will
probably arouse considerable discus
sion and there will be an effort to de-
feat the Nicaraguan canal amendment
on point Of order
There are still four important ap-
preparation bills, namely the navy,
army. Notifications and deficiency
bills, which have not yet been receiv-
ed from the house of representatives.
The Sampson-Schley controversy will
almost surely come I'D in executive
session before the close of the session.
The anti-scalpine bill will be abandon
ed. For the rest there are many more
minor bills on the calendar, which will
give the senate plenty to do when it
is not engaged with the more moment
GUS questions. Wednesday will be de-
voted to the reading of Wa1hirgton's
farewell address and to eulogies on the
| late Senator Morrill,.