Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1904-03-15

close not later than the middle of April.
Strange to say, the Democrats are III full
accord with the present arrangements
and are not doing anything to retard leg
islation and little to make political capi-
tai out of what is transpiring.
The early adjournment slogan means
death to practically all pending legisla-
ton of a public nature. already the
proper committees have officially declar-
ed against the introduction at this SEES
sion of both rivers and harborS and a
public buildings bill. Some OF these items
will be included in the sundry civil bill,
which will be one of the last to come be-
fore til House Already the appropria-
ton bills have made astonishing pro-
gross, due in large degree to Speaker
Cannon. who has directed the commit
tee work, With a view TO expediting pub
lie business. The appropriation bills for
the civil establishment, foreign inter
course, military establishment, pensions.
agriculture and urgent deficiency have
already passed the House, as also the
naval establishment bill, which was sent
70 the Senate last week. The Indian
affairs and postal appropriation bills are
ready to report. Then viii follow the
sundry civil bill, the District of Column
bia bill aid another deficiency bill and
the work of the lower house will be
done.
In the Senate the Panama treaty has
occupied much time, but the foreign in
ter,ourse bill has already passed and the
remaining appropriation bills will follow
in short order. Long appropriation bills
have been known to pass the Senate
within an hour after they reach final
reading.
Tariff and Finance TO Wait.
No bills on finance or tariff will see the
light of day this session if the present
policy is adhered to. The good-roads
project is dead, and it is doubtful if eth
er of the big labor bills-the eight-hour
law and the Grosvcn0r anti-injunction
and anti-cpnSpiracy b;Il-will get farther
than the House calendar, if as far. Early
adjournment will play havoc with such
bills as require earnest consideration in
committee and upon the floor of either
! house
! Speaker Cannon has had the hearty
cooperation of the Senators in his meth
DDS of hurrying up the business of the
| house, and the promise has been made
that the upper house will do its share
| toward clearing up its calendar. Speaker
! Cannon has introduced new methods, I'M
! der the unanimous consent rule, of dis
| posing of bills for claims against the gov
eminent, and upon its first application no
less than 800 bills were disposed of with
in comparatively short time and half
the legislative day was saved for the
consideration of other business. The
new plan is that of passing such meas
ures en- bloc, merely reading the title
of the bills and passing the whole by
one vote When understood by the
House it met with hearty approval from
the members.
The one piece of prospective legislation
which shows any signs of life at all
seems to be the service pension bill, for
which veterans of the Civil War are
united in a clamor for its passage. At
first the powers that be were inclined to
favor the passage of such a measure,
carrying with it a pension for nearly all
the soldiers who saw service in that war
and adding to the pension list an appro-
priation of $20,000,000 annually. There
are many amendments pending to such a
bill, such as limiting the payment of
/ DenSlOuS " all NGlGIailo ONti OO years VI
age who care to apply for IL con-
ference on this project will probably be
held between the Senate and House lead
ers, but it is doubtful If the upper house
will consent to such a measure at this
session.
1t is probable also that the Senate
committee on postoffices and postroads
will vote down the pending resolution to
investigate the postofEice scandal. 1t
has even been suggested that the nomi-
nation of Gen. Leonard Wood to be a
major general be allowed to go over until
the next session, the President in the
meantime to continue him in office by a
recess appointment. There can be nc
doubt of the hurry of the Legislators to
get away from Washington ara the mac
tivity of the Democrats makes Is almost
certain that no new political issues are
to be created before the opening of the
national campaign.