The San Francisco call., 1897-02-08
Much Important Work in
the Hands of the
Senate.
Indications That the Arbitration
Treaty Will Be Talked
To Death.
While the Nicaragua Canal Bill and
Cameron Reso utions Are to
Be Sidetracked.


weeks and three working days only re-
man of this Congress, and there are
marked evidences on the part of the SEN
ate 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
SEES ion which is to be called for March Is,
if some of these bills fail to become
laws before the 4th OF March.
The arbitration treaty with Great
Britain will be taken up to- morrow, Sher-
man having given notice to that effect.
The chairman of the Foreign Relations
Committee is very sanguine. and expects
to see the treaty promptly ratified. He
will ask the Senate TO remain in secret
session so that they may be able to reach
vote on it by Tuesday if possible.
Sherman's sangulne views are not
shared by other Senators, who are prob
ably better informed as to the feeling of
the Senate on the matter.
Hale fears that the opponents of the
treaty may be able to defeat it. Other
Senators anticipate an organized effort to
start an interminable debate on the treaty,
with the view of holding it up until after
March 4. 1t is we'll known that severa
Senators have prepared elaborate speeches
on the subject, and the men who are op-
posed to the treaty are those who will de-
bate it most.
When the treaty is called up tomorrow
a motion will be made to have the discus
sion proceed with open doors. 1t is doubt
full if this will prevail, but very consid-
erable vote will favor it.
As aresult of conference of the Repub-
lican and Democratic steering commit
tees the Nicaragua bill, owing to the fill
clustering against it, will be dropped
tomorrow and the bankruptcy bill substl-
tuted in its place as the regular order.
This action Is not calculated to make
Morgan, who has been the special cham
pion of the Nicaraguan bill, any less Wig
orous in his opposition to the arbitration
treaty, which he regards as being mixed
UP with the Nicaragua question.
The Cameron resolutions, recognizing
the independence of the republic of Cuba,
which were supposed to have disappeared,
is a possible disturbing influence. They
are to be called up again by Morgan, but
the bankruptcy bill will probably be given
the right of way after the arbitration
treaty has consumed a couple of days.
The bill reported to the Senate differs
materially from the bill when passed the
House. Many speeches have been made
on it in the Senate, ~
mThe House bill provides merely for
voluntary bankruptcy and is drawn solely
in the interest of the creditor class. The
majority report to the Senate provides for
voluntary bank uptcy except in cases of
fraud. The text of the proposed measure,
yh trh nod a al uyh
by the House, has been condensed by the
Senate to eighteen pages. Hoar has made
IL minority report in favor of the House
measure, and Nelson, representing some
of the Western ideas, has prepared SUBJ
stitute for sixteen of the sections Of the
bill reported by Teller on benalf of the
minority of the committee.
Following the bankruptcy bill the Sem
ate may take up the Hawaiian cable
measure, providing for the payment of
$3.50, 900 year for twenty years to COM
pany building and maintaining cab e
be ween the United States and Honolu u
and between Honolulu and Japan. There
is no prospect, however, OF this measure
becoming a law during this Congress.
On Wednesday next both Houses of
Congress will go through the form of
counting and declaring the vote which
will make Mr. Mckinley the next Presi-
dent OF the United States and Mr.. Hobart
Vice President and President of the SEN
ate.
Statements as to probable protests and
in terruptions are regarded as most un-
likely of development.
Pursuant to the law of 1887 the Senate
and House of Representatives. will meet
In Joint convention in the Hall of Repre-
sentatIves at P. NJ. and consider q form
OF proceedings prescribed by that law, the
votes of the several States will be open ed,
the votes will be counted and the result
will be declared by the Vice-Presdent OF
the United States. This declaration will
be ne only official not fcation which Mr..
Mckinley and Mr.. hobart will receive OF
the high offices conferred upon them.
They will take official cognizance of the
facts without requiring 'communlca-
ton in writing"