The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-11-30
TAwNEY TALKS.
Says Hnwaii VIII Be Ahnexed-Ses-
sion VIII BE Short,

WINONA, Mimi, Nov. 29.-Congress-
man James A. Tawney left this even
ing for Washington. In an interview
before leaving ne said: -
IN my judgement, the principal business Of
the session Of congress, which will begin q
week from today will be the passage OF the
usual appropriation bills, the settlement of
the question of the annexation Of the
Hawaiian islands, and the passage OF a reso-
luton granting to the insurgents in Cuba
the rights of belligerency. The two last pro-
positions will doubtless consume considerable
time in both branches Of congress, but 1
look for a very short session. 1 can see
nothing that would necessarily extend the
session beyond the LIST to the 18th of May.
''Of course, if the house should take up the
question of the revision of our banking and
currency laws 1t would provoke long debate
in the house unless the bill should be passed
under special rule limiting the debate If
the house should send a bill to the senate
for this purpose 1t would cause almost inter
minable debate in that body, and ultimately
meet with defeat. The opponents of almost
any measure for this purpose, and especially
those OF one originating with the Republicans,
would be in majority in the senote. 1t Is
because of this fact and the certain de-
feat In the senate as that body is now con-
stituted of any proposed banking and cur
rency legislation, that makes it inadvisable,
IN my judgment, for the house to take up the
consideration of this question at the next
session. Otherwise our party In the next
campaign would be called upon to defend
theoretical proposition for the revision of
Jul DahlAAli5 anu tutISLCy laws without nav
ing the benefit of the practical operation Of
such revision and the knowledge which the
people would have if such revision could
be enacted. based upon their experience
Il am very confidant that the treaty for
the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands will
be ratified by the senate Should it fail, how
ever, in securing two-thirds vote in that BODY
it is my judgment that the islands will then
be annexed by a joint resolution passed by
both houses, which requires only a majority
vote. The right of congress TO do this was
recognized by abe annexation Of Texas By a
joint resolution.
'The question of whether or not the rights
of belligerency will be granted to the Cuban
insurgents is more doubtful proposition. 1t
will depend very largely upon the attitude of
the administration, and the subsequent de-
Velopments in the matter of the good faith
of Spain in endeavoring to give to the in
habitants of the island of Cuba a system of
government or autonomy that will secure to
them greater privileges and greater independ-
ence than they have heretofore enjoyed l
think it will be very difficult under present
conditions to prevent the passage in the
house of a resolution for the purpose of Civ
ing Cubans the rights of belligerency yet
under the rules Of the house it is possible
for a few men capable of resisting the in
fuence of the rest of the house to refuse
to report a rule for the consideration of such
a resolution. l do not pretend to say that
they would be inclined to do So l merely
mean that if they are, they have that power
under our rules
1.-THE house is already organized and ready
to proceed to business, and this will neces-
sarily save at least a months time"