The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-01-10

WASHINGTON, Jan. S.-Interest in
| the Senate proceedings for the week
| centers in the promised debate OF the
! treaty for the annexation of Hawaii,
| which will be taken up on Monday
| Senator Davis has given notice that
he will move an executive session of the
Senate for consideration each day until
! the treaty shall be finally disposed of.
| The first effort on Monday will be to
| secure open doors for the debate. This
motion VIII be made by Senator Petit
grew of the opposition, but there is no
| likelihood that it will carry.
| The prevailing opinion is that the de-
bate will not be prolonged on the treaty,
but theories as to the length of time
| vary all the way from a week to a
month. The opposition to the treaty
assert that they have no disposition to
| prolong the discussion, owing to their
! confidence in their ability to defeat the
treaty. They claim thirty-five votes in
! opposition, and state that among these
| there will be more than one Republican.
| Senator Morrill, adhereS to his original
determination to oppose the ratification
resolution. and he is preparing a speech
on that side of the question. The name
/ of Senator Money, on the Democratic
side, is added to the list of supporters
of the treaty, making five Democrats
who will certainly favor annexation.
Senator Butler Pop), whose position
has not heretofore been generally
known, to-day announced himself as
opposed to ratification.
| 1t may be accepted as true that If
the opponents of annexation become
| thoroughly convinced that they can Sc
cure the one-third vote necessary to ac-
| complish that end, they will allow the
/ vote to come without delay, reserving
/ any dilatory tactics to which they may
| be disposed to resort for use in connec-
/ ton with the consideration of the joint
resolution for annexation which would
! follow tAe defeat of the treaty. This
| resolution would require only a ma
! jority vote, and it is conceded on all
! hands that the annexationists have the
necessary majority.
| In open session the calendar presents
many subjects that may receive atten-
| ton, including especially the imnigra-
| ton bill and the census bill, the latter
affording basis for speeches upon the
| civil service. Senator Fairbanks has
| given notice of a speech on the inmi-
grafton bill on Tuesday, and Senator
Butler will speak on his resolution pro-
| viding for the election of Federal
Judges by the people some day during
the week.
| Discussion of the financial question
! is also among the probabilities.
| Senator Davis is expected to open the
Hawaiian debate with a set speech on
| Monday, but there is a possibility that
he will defer his main argument until
| later in the discussion.
The civil service debate, which has
been in progress in the House during
the past week, will be concluded prob
ably on Tuesday, when the vote will be-
taken on motion TO strike out the APP
preparation for the maintenance of the
Commission. The motion is foredoom-
ed to defeat, so that the present con-
/ tributions to the literature of the vexed
question will eventuate in nothing. The
debate, SO far has served to define the
/ position of the members. The debate
has proven that comparatively few Of
the enemies of the system are willing
| to go to the length Of voting for the re-
! peal of the law. 1t is claimed that a
| preliminary canvass of the Republicans
/ of the House has developed over 100
/ on the side who are willing to vote for
! a modification of the law. If with
these, could be combined the Demo-
cratic opponents of the. law, many Of
! whom are against the entire law and
/ desire to see it wiped off the statute
books, they could probably command
! majority, but quite number OF Dem
ocrats whose hostility to the law is
outspoken, say they will not vote for
notifications Of the law which will sim
/ ply result in the removal Of Democrats
from office and the substitution of Re-
! publicanS. They prefer, if ii is not to
be repealed. to see the law stand as it
| is The entire Populistic strength will
oppose every motion to repeal or modi-
| fy the law. After the legislative, exec
utive and judicial appropriation bill is
out of the way. the agricultural or the
| diplomatic and consular bill will be
taken up and an urgent deficiency bill
VIII be ready. so THAI the remainder of
the week, except Saturday. set apart
| for paying tribute to the memory of
| the late Representative Milliken of
| Maine, will be occupied with appropri-
| alton bills The diplomatic and con-
sular bill is very likely to cause extend
| ed debate on the pending foreign cues
tions, Cuba, Hawaii, the situation in the
Orient, etc. any one of which could
| be made a fruitful theme of discussion.
| Tt is the intention of the Democrats to
| force the Republicans to define the Ad-
| ministratfon's position toward Cuba s
| independence during the debate.