The record-union., 1898-12-19
Senator PIatt Will Speak On II
To-Day.
Will Reply 10 Speech Of Senator Vest
Last Week.

Favorable to Passing It Grow
ing-Nicaragua Canal Bill Will
be Pressed.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-The week
in the Senate will be opened with a
speech by Senator Plhtt of Connecticut
on the question of expansion. He has
given notice of an address to begin i'm
mediately after the conclusion of the
routine morning business Monday
Mr.. Platt will reply to the speech of
Senator Vest, made last Monday, and
as he has given very careful attention
to the extension of our territorial area
no little interest is manifested among
Senators in his presentation of the
matter and it is not improbable, un-
less the Nicaragua bill prevents, that
the speech will precipitate a more or
less general debate upon this question.
Whether it does or not, a number of
speeches on the same subject will be
made after the Christmas holidays,
preparatory to the consideration of the
peace treaty.
1t is hoped that the treaty will be
taken sup for discussion early in Janu-
ary. Already there is talk of the prob
ability of dispOSing of the treaty dur
ing the present session and the impress
sion favorable to the result is grow
ing. few Senators manifest a dis
position to debate the treaty at length
and some profess unaltera BILE opposi-
ton, but the feeling is so strong against
an extra session and in favor of the
Philippines after they come into our
possession, that it now seems that even
the minority will consent to the treaty'S
ratification without material delay. The
friends of the treaty, who are giving
attention to the closest details of oppo-
sition as they develop themselves have
taken the pains to have enumerated the
names of the signerS to the memorials
against annexation which have reached
the Senate and they find that there are
fewer than 1900 of them distributed
among the States as follows: Massa-
chusetts 1,435, West Virginia 101, In
diana "A, Ohio 80, Florida Al, New
York 40, Virginia 80, Vermont 20,
Mar iaI &c. New Hampshire 8, Cali
fornia and Missouri each, Wisconsin
and Tennessee 2 each and Maine. Col
orado and Iowa and Nevada 1 each
Senator Morgan said to-day that he
u
bill as vigorously as possible, and he
expressed the hope that he might get
vote before next Wednesday, the
probable day of the Christmas adjourn
ment, the indications are however,
against such an early disposal of the
subject and it may be accepted as quite
certain that even if Senator Turpies
motion for postponement till January
ha I1,iH
be naturally thrown over beyond the
holidays. 1t is evidently the purpose
of the opposition to prevent action dur
ing the few remaining days prior to
adjournment. Mr.. Morgan to-day in
dicated his willingness to accept the
Berry amendments in modified form
and the bill as the Arkansas Senator
proposes to change it has been printed
for information.
The bill concerning the registry of
foreign built vessels wrecked on the
American coast is still on the calendar
as special order, and Senator Elkins
will probably make another effort to
secure consideration.
There will be no effort to get up any
more appropriation bills until after the
resumption of business in January
the resolution reported by the Ways
and Means Committee, is to begin
Thursday and extend until Wednesday,
January 4th. 1t is likely however, that
the resolution will be amended so as to
make the recess begin Wednesday in
stead of Thursday. The appropriation
bills are further advanced now than
they have been for many years at the
short session. Already the naval and
army deficiency, as special bills and
three of the regular bills, pension, Dis
trict of Columbia and Indian, have
passed the House. The agricultural
bin was reported yesterday and will be
taken up on Tuesday. Four of the
regular money budgets, out of thirteen,
will, therefore, have passed the lower
House before the holiday recess, an
unprecedented thing in legislative an
nails. The Military Academy bin could
have been added TO this list had it not
been that Chairman Hull of the Mill
tary Affairs Committee declined to al
low the attention of the committee to
be drawn from the bill for the increase
of the army even for the limited time
required to prepare the academy bill.
The latter, however, will be reported
before the recess. The friends Of the
naval personnel bill and the bill for
the Philadelphia Exposition of 1899
have been urging the Committee on
Rules to grant time for their considera-
ton. Time will be allotted for the for
mer bill soon after the House recon-
venes after the holiday recess. 1t is
possible that the Philadelphia Exposi-
tion bill may be called up and placed
upon it's passage tomorrow, as to-
morrow, under the rules, is suspension
day. The bill to extend the navigation
laws of the United States over Hawaii
which was pending yesterday when the
House adjourned, may also be voted
upon under suspension of the rules.
Twins Burned to Death.
MORGANTOWN CIV. Va.), Dec 49,
Thomas Jones, living near Greer, at