Year: 1879

INDICATIONS Or AN ALL NlGhl SfISSlON.


Late this evening the Senate is discussing the
Sundry Civil bill. and the clause authorizing the
Treasury to audit aud settle claims of States
for the War of 1872 Mr.. Edmunds denied that there
was any law recognizing such claims and said that
claims which o law allowed had long ago been set
tled and that Maryland, which had set up claim
some time ago. had to get special law to have 1t
allowed.


Mr.. Wallace, of Pennsylvania. defended the clause,
and Mr.. Edmunds raised point Of order that 1T has
business in the bill. The point Of order was sus.
tanned a yea and nay vote, and the enterprise of
collect pg claims Of States against the federal gov
ernment for which happened sixty-six years
ago will have to wait Mr. Edmunds dryly remarked
that he had two points Of order in reserve and
the Senate gave up before his tireless pertnacity


At midnight the Senate has settled down for all
night session, and there is talk of attempt to
plete action the Sundry Civil bill by eight o'clock
tomorrow. But the Senate has got only to the
twenty sixth page, and the bill has l27 pages.
PROSPECTS FOR AN EXTRA sEssIoN-How THE


PUBLIC BUSINESS is DELAYED-JoBs At


TAcuED TO THE sUNDRY CIVIL BILL--vIEws


OF REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.


To-day, for the first time, Senators and Reprcsen-
tatives who do not wish for extra session began
to believe that il Is inevitable. In the opinion Of
some of the most experienced Senator'S Of both par
ties it is impossible for the houses to get through
with the necessary business in time. and certain
did Alis that early in the afternoon the Presi-
cent informed Of the situation, and later in the
day he had sent to consult some Of the re-
publican Senators the time when it
was best to summon the new Congress
to meet. The general opinion seems to be that he
should IL it becomes necessary issue his proclama
ton on the 4th of March and give ten days notice.
and this advice has been given him by some Of the
Senator'S. In that the new Congress would meet
on the 1lth or 18th of March.


OPINIONS HOUSE.


In the House the opinieu Of experienced and prom
Inent men is that it is possible but dfhcult to get
through with the public business time that even
slight delays are dangerous and that unless tho
Senate promptly passes the bills yet hand and
its conferees prove ready to give up jobs which
have been put in the Sundry Civil bill. which was
reported this morning. and which the House will not
consent to, an extra session will be inevitable.


sUNDRY CIVIL BILL.


The Sundry Civil bill, which is q sort Of omnibus
holding no regular number prescribed character
Of passengers was passed by the House without de-
bate on the recommendation of tho Appropriations
Committee and its guarantee that it contained only
necessary and proper grants. The evident dsap
pointment of the lobby at this summary disposal Of
the bill in the House showed the wisdom of the trust
the body of Representatives placed on the committee
But the Senate Appropriations Committee has been
at work some days on the bill and reported it this
morning with the addition of several sections which
it is improper though it may be dsagrecable to
Senator's to call jobs and which the House will
not consent to. The first and least of these
Is clause giving $4,000 to Corbin. the person
who has made a feeble claim to seat in the Senate
from South Carolina and whose claim had so little
ground that when after resting the committee for
many months. IL at last exhumed. it quietly
voted down and disappeared. Corbin has about as
much right to $4,000 Mr. Chamberlain has to be
Governor of South Carolina. And Mr.. Chamberlain
has not thought of suing for Governor Hampton's
salary.


DISTRICT OFFICE.


Next. the Senate Committee has inserted an appro
priation Of 1925 600 to buy a specified building in
this city for q post Office. Those who have looked
into this say unhcsitatngly that IL ought not to
pass; that IL the city needs q post office. which
is not apparent. this site is not the best and the
price is much too high. 1t is not probable that the
House will agree to this.


Next comes Q provision authorizing the Treasury
to examine and settle the debts due to the different
States by the general government for matters rcla
Ing to the war of 1872 This. it is said, may not be
improper: but 1t ought not to be tackled by the
Senate appropriation bill at the close of the
session. II ought to be done by separate bill and
earlier In the session. and could wait until the coup
try is richer.


PUBLIC PRINTING


Finally comes what democrats well as republicans
denouncc as job not TO be endured allowed It ia
section directing the President of the Senate and tho
present Speaker of the House to hand the whole
great printing establishment Of the government,
-
of printers hero-Gibson Drothers-who are to pay
5000 q year rent for the whole and to do
the public printing hereafter price ten per cent
cheaper than tho average of last year. and the
gcans-atarms of the Senate and House TO bc the
srbers in any dispute between these fortunate bcnc
hciarics and the government. while tho Public
Printer Is to be kind OF superintendent TO look
after them. This will be resisted by the House,
IL ought to be. and IL is doubtful whether IL
will be sustained by the Senate. The hope Of those
who stuck II into the bill is probably that in tho
haste of the closing hours those anxious to complete
the business Of. Congress would let anything pass
rather than lose time.


THE FEDERAL ELECTION LAWS.


There is little doubt that over and above the de-
lays which may result from the disagreement Of the
two houses such additions AZ the Senate makes 10
appropriation bills and besides those above specified,
Il has made number Of changes In the River and
Harbor bill. which may provoke discussion. Tho
democrats more united the question Of forcing
ehcr the repeal of the federal election laws or an
extra session than they have been hitherto. sena.
tors who have been strongly opposed to this scheme
to-day say openly that as the House strongly de-
mands IL they find IL difficult to resist and that
the party might rs we'll stick together. There
10 no genera, determination upon the subject.
but those who favor the plan arc encouraged: /:
those Who have opposed IL are weakening. and a. II
IL easy 70 causc delay as almost every stage Of the
appropriation bills and tho republicans arc cvi.