Year: 1879

Id II W JlLOOA.


CONDITION OF BUSINESS IN CONGRESS.


Special Dispatch to The Tribune.


WASHINGTON, D. C., March 1.-The condition
Of business in Congress tonight, when only
sixty hours remain OF the present session and OF
the present Congress, is about as follows: It is
more difficult to say now whether there will be
IN extra session than heretofore, and opinions
are about equally divided as to whether the nee
cssary bills will get through or not. The Forti-
fication Appropriation hM has been in Confer
euce Committee since January, and no agree
ment has been reached. As the bill relates to
little else than a few heavy guns which
arc Of no use, and never will
be of any, its failure will not
be matter of great Importance. The guns can
rust year without embarrassing the safety OF
the country.


THE RIVER AND uARBOR BILL


is still in the Senate Committee, which has
added so much to it that the failure of the bill
is generally conceded. The only effect Of its
failure would be to save the public money and
POSTPONE some useful improvements.


The Deficiency bill is in the Conference Com
mittee. It's failure, although it would b. en-
ba1rassing, would not necessitate an extra
session. It covers debts due By the Government
for many years past, and another year cannot
be fatal. While the failure Of the bill might
seriously inconvenience individuals and bring
confusion to certain Departments, the Gov
ernment would get On very we'll without it.


Tie Post Office bill is also still in conference.
The rejection by such large vote OF the Sen
ate's amendment regarding the Brazil mail con-
tract


LEAVES LITTLE CONTROVERSY
between the two Houses. 1t is said strong
effort will be made to induce the Senate con-
ferccs to hold out until modified amendment
relating to the Brazil mail can be adopted
The House itself having adopted large
part OF the Senate's plan to reclassify
mail matter has taken that difficulty from the
Conference Committee, and has left but little
for the Committees to fight over.


The Army bill is another oue in conference
The decided vote in the Senate upon the rcjec-
ton of the House plan Of reorgauizing the
army


REMOVES THE CHIEF OBSTACLE TO AGREE


MEET


upon this bill. There is nut little left to divide
the two Houses, and the bill will undoubtedly
pass on the Conference report.


The Sundry Civil Appropriation bill is now
UEIUIE l4C Ct4aLCs 11E AH41u4G w. L44a
bill would unquestionably require
an extra session. 1t does not
relate to individuals, but to things. The wheels
OF Government would stop should this bill 1ail.
It is, as usual, loaded down with Senate amend
mcnts, but the larger part of them have been
already stricken out in the Senate, and the
others are by 10 means necessary, and ought not
to occasion auY fight between the two Houses


TIE LEGISLATIVE BILL


is in the Senate. 1t provides for the payment
Of all lcgisntirc, executive, Judicial salaries
in the Government. The number OF officers
and employees is about q, 900. The salaries are
already provided for until the 30th of june
next. Should this bill fail, an extra session
would be required, but not for several months.
In this bill there are fewer changes reported to
the Senate than ever. 1t is substantially the
same bill that passed last session.


THE BIG FIGHT


will be on that por lion relating to Supervisors
and Deputy -Marshals. 1t is certain that unless
some compromise is effected on this subject the
whole bill will fail II it should fail, it will be
made the occasion for disagreement On one or
two other Of the Appropriation bills.


Only one other important bill remains, and that
is for the purpose OF providing for the payment
of arrears Of pensions. It's failure would BY no
means cause Congress to be recalled, for the
pensioners have been SO long without their
money that the present payment will be looked
upon more as a bonus than settlement


THIS Is the condition Of business tonight It
NAV be changed any hour, and so it is impos-
sibIe to say whether there wiH be an extra
session or not.


The Enrolling Clerks say that it will be easy
Tor Congress, if so disposed, to pass all of the
Appropriation bills in time to have them en-
crossed for the approval Of the President before
next Tuesday aeon. The obstacles to this will
oc, first, determination on the part Of the
Democrats to force called session, BY demand
inc political concessions which the Republicans
cannot in honor grant; and second, the desire
manifested by some Senators to talk on every
amendment, which delays action. While the
Indications are that the BUSINESS left
unfinished on Thursday will necessftate
.alling session Of Congress before
December next, it is, nevertheless,
possible to have all necessary legislation finished
before that time. But an extra session seems
Inevitable. The Republican members OF the
House Appropriation Committee say that an
Extra session is unavoidable. The Democratic
plan now appears to be to compel the failure OF
he following four appropriation bills, SO that it
Fili be necessary to call an extra session this
spring: The Army bill, the Sundry Civil bill,
be Legislative and the Deficiency bills.
It Is stated to-night By persons occupying
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