The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-08
THREE WEEKS MORE TALK.
THE PRESENT CONGRESS FAST
NEARING ITS END.

----~---
NO Harm VIII Follow If some of the
Appropriation Bills Fail to Pass
in View of the Extra Session ON
March I5-The AngIO-Amcrican
Arbitration tn BE Taken Up in the
Senate To-dny-The Nic0ragunn ca
nal Bill 10 BE Side-TracISed.
Washington, Feb. 7.--Three weeks and
three working days only remain in this
congress, and there are marked evidences
of an intention on the part of the Senate
to catch UP with some of the work that
has been neglected. Appropriation bills
cause little uneasiness for they can be
speedily passed, and, besides, no great
harm would follow, in view of the extra
session, which is to be called for March To-
if some of these bills failed to become
laws before March 4.
The arbitration treaty with Great Bri-
tain will be taken up tomorrow, Mr..
Sherman, chairman of the foreign rela-
tions committee having given notice to
that effect. He is very sanguine ana ex-
poets to see the treaty promptly ratified.
He will ask the Senate to remain in Sc,
cret session. so that they may be able
to reach vote on it by Tuesday, If possl
BILE
Mr. Sherman's sanguine views are not
shared by other senators. who are prob
ably better informed as to the feeling of
the Senate on this matter. Mr.. Hale
fears that the opponents of the treaty may
be able to defeat it. other senator's an
ticipate an organized effort to start an
intermlnable debate on the treaty with
the view OF holding il up until after March
4. 1t is well known that several senators
have prepared elaborate speeches on the
subject and the men who are opposed TO
| the treaty are those who will debate 1t
most. When the treaty is called up to-
morrow motion will be made to have
the discussion proceed with open doors
1t is doubtful II this will prevail, but
very considerable vote will favor 1t.
AS the result Of conference of the re-
publican and democratic steering commit
tees II has been agreed that the Nicara-
guam canal bill, owing to the filibustering
against it, shall be dropped tomorrow and
the bankruptcy bill substituted in its place
as the regular order. This action is not
calculated to make Mr.. Morgan, who has
! been the special champion Of the Near
aguan bill, any less vigorous in his oppo-
sition to the arbitration treaty, which he
regards as being mixed up with the canal
question
Mr.. Cameron's resolutions recognizing
| the independence of the republic of Cuba,
which were supposed to have disappeared
| as a possible disturbing influence, are to
be called up again by Mr.. Morgan.
The bankruptcy bill viii probably be
given the right of way after Che arbitra-
| ton treaty has consumed a couple of days.
| The bill as reported TO the Senate differs
materially from the bin which passed the
/ House. Many speeches will be made on
/ II 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 The major
| ity report TO the Senate provides for vol
untaIy bankruptcy, except in cases OF
| fraud. The text of the proposed measure
which made siXty-four pages, when pass
| ed by the House, has been condensed by
| the Senate to eighteen pages. Mr.. HOar
| has made minority report in favor of the
| representing some of the western ideas
| has offered a substitute for sixteen of the
sections Of the bill reported by Mr.. Teller
mittee
Following the bankruptcy bill. the SEN
ate may take up the Hawaiian cable meas
ure providing for the payment of $1,000
/ q year Tor twenty years to a company
| building and maintaining a cable between
| the United States and Honolulu, and be-
tween Honolulu and Japan. There is nc
| prospect, however, of this measure becom-
ing law during this congress.
| On wednesday next both Houses of con-
gress will go through the form of counting
and declaring the vote which will make
| Mr.. Mckinley the next President of the
United States, and Garrett A. Hobart OF
New Jersey, vice president and president
| OF the Senate Statements as to probable
| protests and Interruptions are regarded as
| most unlikely of development. Pursuant
to the law of 1887, the Senate and House
of Representatives will meet in joint con
vention in the hall of the House of Repre-.
sentatives at 1 p. M, and under form ol
proceedings prescribed by that law certih.
Gates sent from the several states will be
| opened, the votes cast by the electors foI
| President and vice president will be count
ed. and the result will be declared by the
| vice-president of the United States This
declaration will be the only notification
which Maj. Mckinley and Mr.. Hobart will
receive of the high Offices conferred upor
them. They will take official cognizance oi
the facts without requiring 'communica.
| ton in writing"