Sequachee Valley news. (Sequachee [Sequatchie], Tenn.) 1896-1952, 1897-12-16
WASHINGTON LETTER.
From Our Regular Correspondent

Other more or less important SUR
prises during the first week Of the
session Of Congress have-taken the
place Of those that some persona
expected the Presidents message
to contain. The mos, important
surprise is connected with Hawaii
When the extra session adjourned
it Was admitted by friends and op
ponents alike that if a note had
been taken every republican Senae
tor, all the populists and many ofE
the democrats would have voted |
FIR ratification of the annexation
treaty. Now, so many Senators
have changed that the feasibility
Of dropping the majority vote Is
being considered: Only two dem
ocrats-Morgan and Gorman-now
support annexation. But probab-
ly the most surprising thing about
the situation is the amount of OPP
position to annexation that has
come from New England, where it
is supposed that the idea of annex
alton was 6rst entertained many
wears ago. Senators Morrill,, Of
VT, and Hoar. of Mass, are now
classed among the opponents of
annexation, and speaker Reed is
said to be with them. Friends of
the administrations are demanding
that caucus shall be held and an
nexation be made a party question
and forced through Meanwhile,
powerful lobby, plentifully sup,
piled with money, is working to
undermine and weaken the annex,
alton sentiment, both in and out
of Congress, and some very sensa-
tionaI stories are being whispered
around Washington.
Senator Allen has introduced q
bill for recognition of the indepenN
dence of Cuba and 1t has been re-
ferred to the Committee on Foreign
Relations, but there is NJ likeli-
hood Of this or any othe- legisla-
ton Ola the subject for several
months to oomd, as Congress seems
disposed to let the whole matter
rest for while, 10 accordance with
, the Presidents recommendation in
order TO see what will be the result
of the change in the Spanish policy
in Cuba. The hOteheads will oi
course, break out now and then
and do some talking on the sub,
ject.
, The total amount coveren by
claims against the government
{ which have received partial rscog>
milton by being passed by eth Ell
the House or the Senate er ap,
proved by the Court of Claims il
+ in the neighborhood Of 100000
At the ex ra session the Senate
commission on Claims appointed q
subcommittee to prepare an omni
bus claims bill, ard this week th,
subcommittee decided that the bill
should include the above mention
ed classes Of claims. Unless Speak
er Reed can be persuaded 10 revers
i. his present attitude towards meas
+, ureS carrying al appropriation out
:, side of the regular appropriation
bills, there is no chance for thi
; bill to get through the House a
;. this session, even if it gets passe,
=. by the senate.
) The number of postal saving
! bank bills already introduced il
- both branches OF Congress indicat
Ie a general iriendliness towards th
n idea, but the many conflictin
V provisions in those bills indicat
y much difficulty in preparing a BIZ
that will meet the approval of al
who favor postal savings
The Nicaragua Canal qusstio
is not likely TO get seriously befor
>. this or the last session of the Fifty
" fifth Congress, as the U. 5. Con
,r mission now ON its way TO Nicsr,
es qua for the purpose OF making
or new survey, aud estimate Of Il
~ y, cost OF the cana is not expected
~ make a report until some time
or 1899. Something may be sal
IN however, in Congress about the 1
Dh ported concession by Nicaragua
b an English company of prlvileg
that will hammer If not actual