The evening times., 1898-12-27
SENATE TO GET THE
TREATY ON JANUARY 4
PROMPT RATIFICATION EXPECTED
Assurances Mnde to the President
That It's Progress VIII Not
BE blocked.

President Mckinley yesterday informed
Senators Davis and Frye that he would
transmit the Peace Treaty to the Senate
on January 4. when that body meets after
the holiday recess 1t will be accompan-
led by message in which the President
will urge immediate ratification. Mr.. Nc
Kinley also told Messrs. Frye and Davis
that he felt confident from assurances that
had been given him that the Treaty viii
not be blocked in the Senate.
An Administration Senator who has
made canvass reports seventy-one Sene-
tors as certain to vote for ratification. He
finds ten Democrats undecided, seven OF
whom are about ready to fall in linz with
the Administration.
Chairman Davis, of the Foreign Re a
tions Committee, who will have ccarse of
the Treaty after it is brought into the Sen
ate, will begin this week the preparation
OF the speech with which he will pr sent
the convention after 1t is reported from
committee. Senators frye and Gray will
also speak in favor of the eaty.
Speeches in opposition will be made by
Senators Caifery, Pettigrew, Morrill,, Hale,
Jones OF Arkansas, Berry, Cockreii, Till
man and possibly Vest.
Senator White of California, one of The
three Senators who voted against the war
resolutions, is not in Washington. but a
Democratic colleague said last night that
Mir. White would speak and vote against
the Treaty.
In view OF the Administrations desire
to close the case with Spain Immediately,
the friends of the Treaty will not consume
much time in speechmaking Probably not
more than a half dozen Senators will
speak in its support.
Senator Teller, friend of the Treaty,
does not believe the opposition can hold
out more than fortnight. Amy Senator
who seeks to amend the Treaty may be
counted as against IL, he said. He had
been told that Senator Mason OF Illinois
had prepared an amendment disclaimng
any intention on The part of the United
States 10 maintain permanent sovereignty
over the Philippines. Senator Teller said
he did not beleve such an amendment
would go through, although he understood
the Administrations purpose to be to hold
the islands under military government only
until the Filipinos were able TO set up a
government OF their own
The Administration Senators have told
their colleagues that such is the Presi-
dents plan, and there is reason TO believe
tnat this is the policy now decided upon.
There is little or no fear thar the House
will fail TO make the $50, 900 600 appropria-
tion for tho Philippines. Administration
members say that the debt is a legal one,
and that refusal to provide the money
/ would be repudiation. The argument is
also advanced that the open door policy
will soon reimburse the Government for
the outlay.
Senator Frye, in an interview, said he
believed that commercial treaties with
Spain ard treaty for the release of pris-
oners could be made very soon after dip
iomatic relations were resumed. He did
not think that Spain would be at all dis
posed TO keep up an unfriendly feeling.
The Senator asserted that the Treaty in
no way affected the future disposition OF
the territory acquired by the United
States.
IF We were insane enough TO do So"
he said. I'VE might give the islands all
back 10 Spain after the ratification of the
Treaty. II we were fools we might divide
them up among other foreign powers.
The whole matter is left in the hands
of Congress, which can make any DISPOSE
tion of the islands it sees fit. The ratifica-
tion of the treaty will not in any way cur
tail our privileges in this direction"