The Portland daily press., 1897-02-08
Will TALK TREATY TODAY
Senate Will Take Up Arbitration
Agreement.
ORGANIZED EFFORT TO DEFEAT
THE MEASURE FEARED.

Senate Steering Committee Have Decided
to Drop Nicaraguan Canal Bill and
Take Up Bankruptcy Bill-Cameron
Resolution win Be Called Up.
Washington, February Three weeks
and three working days only remain to
this Congress. There are marked evi-
llences of an intention on the part of the
Senate to catch up with some of the
work that has been neglected.
The arbitration treaty with Great
Britain will be taken up tomorrow, Mr.
Sherman having given notice to that
effect.
The chairman of the foreign relations
committee Ia very sanguine and expects
to see the treaty promptly ratified. He
will ask the Senate to remain in secret
session so as to be able to roach vote
on the treaty by tuesday If possible. Mr..
Sherman's sAnguine views are not
shared by other senators who are probab-
ly better informed as to the feeling of
the Senate on this matter.
Mr.. aale fears the opponents Of the
treaty may be able to defeat 1t. Other
senators anticipate an organized effort
to start an interminabls debate on the
treaty, with the view Of holding it up
until after March 4. 1t is we'll known
that several senators have prepared elabo-
rate speeches on the subject, and the
men who are opposed TO the treaty are
| those who will debate 1t m ost.
When the treaty is called up tomor-
row, a motion will be made to have the
discussion proceed with open doors. 1t
| is doubtful If this will prevail though a
considerable vote will favor is.
AS result Of a conference of Republl-
can and Democratic steering committees,
| 1t has besn agreed that the Nicaragua
canal bill-owing to the flibusteging
against it-shall be dropped tomorrow
and the bankruptcy bill substituted in
it's place as the regular order. This act
| ion is not calculated to make MT. Nor
gan, who has been the special cham
pion Of the Nicaragua canal bill, any
| less vigorous In his opposition to the ar
bitrasion treaty, which he regards as
being mixed up with the question.
The Cameron resolutions recognizing
he independence of the Republic OF Cubs,
| Wn1Cu WCIC eOPpVSoA " Aeoso N4e"R
peared as possible disturbing influence,
are to be- called up again by Mr. Nor
gan. The bankruptcy bill will pro bahly
be given the right of way afte4s 4ssgshe
arbitration treaty has consumed couple
Of days. The hill as reported to the
Senate differs materially from the bill
which passed the House. Many speech
es will be made on it In the Senate. The
House bill provides only for involuntary
bankruptcy and some senators contend,
is drawn solely in the interest of the
creditor class. rhe majority report Of the
Senate provides for voluntary bankruptcy
except in cases OF fraud.
Following the bankruptcy bill the
Senate may take up the hawaiian cable
measure, providing for the payment of
$l60, 600 year for 20 years to eompa'
nv building and maintaining cable
between the United States and Honolulu
and between Honolulu and Japan. There
is no prospect Of this measure becominR
law during this congress. Wednesday
both Houses of Congress will count the
electoral vote. Statements as to proba-
BILE protests and Interruptions are re-
garded most unlikely of development.