The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-27
LAST WEEK OF CONGRESS
Night Sessions Will Probably Be
Necessary.
HUNDREDS OF DEAD BILLS
Appropriation and Army Measures Have
the Right of Way-An Enormous
Amount OF Business Yet to
Be Done.

Washington, Feb. 26.-The house will
devote practically all of the closing
week of the session to the appropria-
ton bills and conference reports and
the prospects are that every minute of
the time will be required to get them
through before noon on March 4. An
order has been made to meet at II
o'clock each day, but in addition to this
night sessions will be held, and it would
surprise none if one or more all-night
sessions should be necessary. Every
thing else except the appropriation bills
and the army reorganization bill will
go by the boards in the final crush. A
few minor bills may go through by
unanimous consent. but there is no lon
ger any time for the consideration Of
important general measures. The bill
for the government of Hawaii has been
abandoned, and although the friends
of the public building bills favorably
acted upon in committee of the whole
10 days ago, still cherish a lingering
hope that time will be given for their
consideration in the house, the chance
is SO insignificant that it is barely worth
mentioning. Hundreds of bills will die
on the calendar.
Although the fear of an extra session
practically disappeared with the agree
ment in the senate upon the army re-
organization bill, it will require the
most arduous labor to get through the
appropriation bills and conference re-
ports before the curtain falls next Sat-
urday. The actual physical work of en-
crossing or 10 big appropriation bills
during the last 4S hours will necessi-
tate a large temporary addition to the
clerical force. The engrossment of bills
is done at the government printing Of
flee when no special exigency exists
but by special resolution passed Friday
permission to engross by hand during
the remainder of the session was given
In the final adjustment of differences
between the two houses, the house is
enabled to bring every proposition to a
vote quickly under suspension of the
rules. a motion to suspend the rules be-
ing in order at any time during the last
week of the session. This gives the
house distinct advantage and enables
it at the flag end of the session to trans
act an enormous business in very
short time. The appropriation bill Is
such that the situation might well
cause alarm were it not for the almost
universal desire of both sides of the
house to obviate the necessity of an
extra session of congress- Only three
of the IA supply bills have gone to the
president-the pension, military acad-
envy and consular and diplomatic. Six
have passed both houses Five Of these,
| the legislative, executive and judicial,
| the postoffice, the agricultural, District
| of Columbia and Indian, are in confer
ence where the representatives of the
| two houses are seeking to adjust the
differences. The other, the river and har-
| Dor, has been referred to the river and
a n a
sundry civil has passed the house and
| is under consideration in the senate.
| The naval bill has passed the house, but
has not yet been reported to the senate.
The army bill is being considered in the
| house and two of the bills, the fortifica-
tons and general deficiency, are yet to
| be acted upon by the house.
| Most of the bills in conference have
| problems which will be more or less
| difficult to solve, but none of these diff
| ferences, vexatious and serious as they
| may be, promise a deadlock which
! might result in their failure, with the
single exception of the river and harbor
BILL and it's loss would not necessitate
an extra session. The fight over the
Nicaragua canal amendment, which the
senate placed upon this bill as rider
will be bitter and to the death. AL
| though the canal proposition undoubt-
| edly would command majority of the
votes in the house, against it is ar
| rayed the opposition of the appropra
| tons committee and the ablest tao
ticians of the house, who do not believe
legislation authorizing such an enor-
nous expenditure should be hastily
passed during the dying hours of con-
gress. Every strategy known to parlia-
| mentary law will be employed to defeat
the proposition and, If necessary, prob
ably to kill the bill, should the senate
prefer it's death to its enactment with
| out the canal amendment After the
committee considers the senate amend
ments Chairman Burton will probably
come into the house with a motion for
a disagreement upon all amendments
and agreement in the senate's request
for conference. Mr.. Hepburn, chair
tee, will move concurrence in the canal
amendment. which motion is in order,
| and will take preference.
! But, as the amendment carries an ap-
preparation, it must be considered in
| committee of the whole first, and here
it's opponents will make their fight. OBJ
| structive tactics can be employed, but
it lies in the power of the majority to
win in the end, and it is probable that
| upon vote the house may agree to the
| amendment. But this will not end the
contest by any means. 1t can be trans
ferred to all conference reports upon the
bill and prolonged to the jeopardy of
the appropriation bills to such an ex-
tent that it would seem that in the final
issue the friends of the canal amend
ment will be effectually blocked unless
they can command the necessary two
| thirds to suspend the rules. If they can
Continued on Page Tenn