The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-09
PARTY IN POWER PUZZLED.
MESSAGE FURNISHES NO BASIS FOR
A POLICY.

Almost Every Faction disappointed
at the Weakness of the Presidents
Utterunces and the Leaders All at
sea as 10 What stand to Assume.
Annexation of Hawaii Not Possible
Under the Pending Treaty-Raid on
the Treasury Certain in Spite of
CannOn's Warming.
Washington, Dec. S.-There is trouble in
republican household over the condition of
the nations finances, and the leaders in
congress are all at sea as to the line of
policy to be pursued during the present
session.
Representative Terry of Arkansas, apt
ly sized up the republican situation by ap-
plying one of his quaint nautical express
sions Said he: THE republican party in
congress reminds me of skipper on the
Mississippi river who lost his rudder. He
displayed two red lights, starboard and
port, and warned all persons to keep out
of his way, for he had no course of his
own"
1t was expected that the President, in
his message. would assemble some facts
upon which vigorous party policy might
be reared. The message was a disappoint-
ment to almost every faction in the repub-
lican party, hence there is confusion
among the leaders in the House and Sen
ate.
The Hawaiian question was supposed to
be the strongest card in the administra-
tion's hand, yet to-day it was developed at
a meeting of the Senate committee on for
eign relations, that annexation cannot be
accomplished by the pending treaty. The
friends of the treaty are afraid to press it
for consideration at this time, and their
only hope of securing Hawaii is by a bill
or joint resolution which only requires a
majority vote of the two houses
1t is stated by those in a position to
know that the reason the Hawaiian treaty
is moi pushed in the Senate is that the
friends of the measure have grave doubts
as to their ability to secure the necessary
tWo-thirdS vote. 1t has been found that
a number of senator's, who were con-
fidently counted for the treaty, are against
it, while others have expressed doubts
about hasty action.
The command sent out by Chairman
Cannon of the appropriation committee to
cut down all of the annual money bills to
the bone, will not be needed The demand
for appropriations for legitimate purposes
is far in excess of he revenues and it will
require a stronger arm than that display
ed by President Mckinley to stay the COM
ing raid upon the treasury
Senator Pritchard of North Carolina
startled his republican colleagues by offer
ing an amendment to-day to the existing
revenue laws, proposing to reduce the tax
on whisky from 81 to 20 cents per gallon.
He claims that more revenue will be pro-
duced at the latter figure than at the pres
ent rate. big fight is expected over the
Pritchard amendment.
Congressman who are advocating the
payment of southern war claims are en-
couraged by the action of the Senate COM
mittee on claims, in reporting favorably
the bin to pay the Methodist Publishing
Company of Nashville, $2SS00O for prop
erty destroyed during the late war. Sen
ator Clay, who is a member of that COM
mttee, made a strong appeal to his asso-
clates in behalf of the bill, and favorable
action was largely due to the able manner
in which he marshaled his facts and his
personal popularity. A similar bill has
received favorable report from the claims
committee of the House, and the friends
of the measure are confident that the bin
will become a law during the present ses-
sion