Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-01-31
PROBABLE SENATE PROGRAMME
DIFFICULT TO FORECAST.
HAWAIIAN VOTE TO BE DELAYED
FRIENDS OF TREATY NOT YET SURE
OF 4 MAJORITY FOR 1T.
Senator Peftlercw Determined 70 De-
bate the Question in Open Senate
appropriation Bills to BE
Considcred-The House
Programme.

Washington. Jan. 30.-The senate proceed
inss for the week will open with a speech
by Senator PettigrGw, dealing with the
Hawaiian question, which will be delivered
Monday. Beyond this speech, it is very diff
iicult to forecast the outlook for the week.
The diversion occasioned by taking up the
Teller bond resolution has left the senate
in a somewhat disorganized and unsettled
condition and with no prearranSed pro-
gramme. Senator Pettigrews speech will
be made during the morning hour. and the
probabilities are now that at its conclusion,
or at least at > o'clock. one of the general
appropriation bills will be called up.
The army and the legislative appropria-
tion bills are already on the calendar. and
the consideration of the agricultural bill
has been completed by the committee, so
that it will be reported on Monday. The
probabilities are that the army bill will
he the first of those measures TO receive
consideration, though there is some DISPOSE
ton to displace 1t with the legislative bill.
Senator Allison, chairman of the committee
on appropriations said to-day that 1t was
his purpose to have the appropriation bills
considered in advance of other measures,
and if he adheres TO this determination the
week may be largely taken up with them.
So far as can now be seen, there are few
features in the bills already reported cal
feeling In certain quarters that the army
bill should be amended by provision for
the increase of the army, and If such a
change should be attempted. it would give
rise TO a very spirited debate.
The census bill also will be pressed for
consideration during the week and Senator
Carter, chairman OF the census committee,
ssid to-day that he was very hopeful or Sc
curing its passage in the near future Ihe
fJA ixEil e.
sumed when this bill is taken up. and the
bill will be so amended as to give the
control of the census bureau to the sec
rotary of the interior.
The bimetallist Republican senators are
still discussing the advisability of renewing
the financial agitation in the senate by
the introduction of some measure OF their
own, though they do not seem quite SO
intent upon this course as they appeared
10 be Immediately succeeding the vote up
on the Teller resolution. If they present
a resolution, 1t probably will be declar-
alton to the effect that the United States
is not committed to the gold standard
The resolution reported from the senate
committee on privileges and elections de-
claring Mr. Corbett not to be entitled to
n seat in the senate from Oregon, is also
on the calendar, and there is n disposition
in some quarters to dispose of this as speed
fly as possible. 1t is 4 question or the
highest privilege, and can be taken up
at any time, displacing any other SUBJ
ject before the senate.
In view of all the possibilities for debate
and delay involved in these various meas
ures It seems quite improbable that the
Hawaiian treaty will receive much atten-
ton, at least in executive session. during
the week. Still, Senator Davis, chairman or
the committee on foreign relations, an
nounces It to be his purpose to move an
executive session for the consideration OF
the treaty on Monday: but it is possible that
he may be influenced by pressure from
senators who have other measures requir-
ing immediate attention to postpone this
motion for a few days. He does not, how
ever, admit such probabilitT
There is 4 growing impression that the
friends of the treaty feel that their safest
course is in delay, and that this is the
explanation of the tactics so far observed
foundation for this surmise. They have
made a very thorough canvass of the sem
ate, and have not been able to discover
where they can get more than iifty-eight
votes. whereas to ratify the treaty they
will have to have sixty. They feel that
even some of those fifty-eight are not en-
tirely reliable. In view of these circum-
stances. they realize that nothing Is to be
lost by an informal postponement. especial
ly when II comes naturally, through the
pressure of other business. and some of
them believe that everything is TO be gained
by that course.
cuss the Hawaiian question in open seS-
sion will have tendency to take the
direction of the ratification resolution out
of the hands of the foreign relations COM
mittee, and it may prove to be the OPEN
ing wedge to the discussion of the whole
subject in open session. His resolution de-
D. clares it TO be contrary to the traditions
Of this country to acquire any territory so
situated as TO require a navy to protect it.
This is basis broad enough for the dis
cussiou of the whole subject. and il is
understood TO he Mr.. PettigrewS intention
TO enter very fully into the question of the
condition of affairs in Hawaii He will deal
with Mr.. Does visit. and will undertake
TO show that that gentleman was never
elected president. that the constitution OF
the present government of Hawaii was
never submitted to the people of that coun-
try. and that. in fact, the whole govern
mcnt is irregular 1t is possible that OBJ
lection may he made TO discussing such
subjects in open session. in view of the
pcndency of the treaty, and Mr. Pettigrew
not lac allowed TO proceed, except behind
closed doors.