The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-19
CONGRESS THIS WEEK
EXPANSION WILL PROBABLY BE DIS
CUSsED In THE SENATE.
Memorials Against Annexation
House Ready to Rush the Appro-
priatiOn Bills to Passage.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 1S.-The week in
the Senate will be opened with a speech by
Senator Plat, of Connecticut, on the ques-
ton of expansion. He has given notice of
an address to begin Immediately after the
conclusion of the routine morning business
Monday. Mr.. Plat 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 mat
ter, and it is not improbable, unless 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 up for discussion early in
January. Already there is talk of the prob
ability of disposing of the treaty during the
present session, and the impression favor
able to this result is growing. A few sena-
tors manifest a disposition to debate the
treaty at length, and some profess unalter-
able opposition, but the feeling is so strong
against an extra session and in favor of
the postponement of the settlement of the
disposition of the Philippines after they
come into our possession, that it now seems
that even the minority will consent to the
treatys ratification without material de-
lay.
Inc friends of the treaty who are giving
attention to the closest details of opposi-
ton as they develop themselves have taken
the pains to have enumerated the names of
the signers to the memorials against an
neXation which have reached the Senate
and they find that there are fewer than
1900 of them, distributed among the States
as follows: Massachusetts, l, 435; West Vir-
glnia, lO1; Indiana, "A; Ohio, 80; Florida, Al:
New York, Is; Virginia, 80; Vermont. 20:
Maryland, Is; Pennsylvania and Illinois.
each 10; Rhode Island, u; New Hampshire.
b; California and Missouri, each; Wfscon-
SIN and Tennessee, each, and Maine, Colo
rado Iowa and Nevada, 1 each.
senator Morgan said to-day that he meant
TO press the Nicaragua canal bill as vigor-
ously as possible, and he expressed the hope
mat ne might get, vote before next
wednesday the probable date of Christmas
duJournmens The indications are however
asalnst Such an early disposal of the SUBJ
JeGt' ahd II may be accepted as quite GER
lam that even II Senator Turpie's motion
Tor postponement till jan 10 should NOT
prevail, the bill will be naturally thrown
evidently
the purpose OF the opposition to prevent ac-
ton during the few remaining DAYS prior to
adjournment. Mr.. Morgan to-day indicated
ms Willingness to accept the Barry amend
meht IN modlfled FORM and the bill as the
ARKANSAS senator proposes to change it has
peen printed for information. The bill con-
corning the registry of foreign built vessels
wrecked on the American coast is still on
me calendar as special order and Senator
Elklns will probably make another effort
TO secure consideration Senator CulIorn has
n, n got he
scalping bill. Both these measures will be
antagonlzed and most probably thrown over
10 January. There will be no effort to get
up Up any more appropriation bills until after
the resumption of business in January
! ne holiday recess, by the terms Of the
resolution reported by the WAYS and means
committee, IS to begin Thursday and extend
until Wednesday, Jan. 4. 1t is likely. how
ever, mat the resolution will be amended so
as 10 make the recess begin Wednesday in
stead of Thursday. The APPROXIMATION hills
are farther advanced now than they have
been Tor many years at the short session.
special bill, and three of the regular bills
the pension. District of Columbia and Indian
nave passed the House. The agriculture bill
was reported yesterday and will be taken up
Iuesday. -Four of the regular money bud
gets, out OF thirteen, will, therefore have
passed the lower house before the holiday
recess, an unprecedented thing in legislative
annals. The Military Academy bill could
nave been added to the list had if not been
that Chairman Hull of the military affairs
QSCIIISu 10 allow the attention of
the committee to be drawn from the bill for
the increase of the army even for the limited
mne required to prepare the academy bill.
Inc latter, however, will be reported before
the recess. The friends of the naval person.
nel Dill and the bill for the Philadelphia ex-
position of 1899 have been urging the COM
mittee on rules to grant time for their con-
slderation. Time will be allowed for the
former Dill soon after the House leconvenes
a AFTER holiday recess: 1t is possible that the
Philadelphia exposition bill may be called up
and placed upon its passage tomorrow as
tomorrow. under the rules. is suspension
DAY: The bill to extend the navigation laws
or the United States over Hawaii, which was
pendlng yesterday, when the House adj
Journed, may also be voted upon under sus-
pension Of the rules