The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1898-06-14
REED. pETTIGREW AND WHITE IN
THE WAY.
While Admitting Themselves in IA
Hopeless Minority They are Able to
Prevent Vote on Annexation.

WASHINGTON, May 27.-rhe Wash
ington Star in today's issue publish
es the following resume of the Annex
alton situnation:
The situation in Congress with re-
spect to the annexation of Hawaii is
becoming extremely irritating. The
coptending forces are the administru-
tiop on one side, supported by very
large majority of Republicans, con-
siderable number of Democrats and "A
strong popular sentiment. and on the
other side, Speaker Reed with a small
following of Republicans and possibly
n ajority of the Democrats in the
House, and Senators Pettigrew and
White with small force composed
principally of Populists and Demo-
crafts in the Senate. Speaker Reed
aud Senator Pettigrew are the back
bone and muscle of the opposition.
Senator Pettigrew's efforts are suffi-
cient to prevent the adoption of the
treaty by the Senate. but would not
be. capable of preventing the passage
of h resolution by majority vote.
should the House adopt the resolu-
ton. Speaker Reeds power thus far
being had on the annexation resolu-
tion in the House. Neither Speaker
Reed nor any one else denies that if
vote on these resolutions were per-
mitted they would be adonted by "A
large majority. But the House can
not reach vote without special or
der from the committee on rules.
this system of special order having
been adopted in all matters, and Mr..
Reed. having the casting vote in the
committee on rules, has it in his pow
er arbitrarily to prevent special or
der being reported.
IMPORTANCE OF PROMPT ACTION
Every effort is being made by the
President and a majority of the MEM
bers of the House to induce the spca-
ker to permit vote on the question
The President has had numerous CON
ferences with his friends in the House
urging upon them the vital i'm
porta9ee under the present circum-
stances, of securing the annexation OF
Hawaii at once. The danger of seri-
Gus complications of an international
/ character growing out of the necessi-
ty of our vessels bound for the Phil
ippines coaling at Honolulu, and of
the brave determination of the Ha-
waiian government to permit this in
defiance of the rules of neutrality.
thus subiecting herself to attack as
an ally of this country. have been ear
nestly and persistently pointed out.
Chairman Hit and the House foreign
! affairs committee and many of the
| Republican leaders in the House. sup
| ported by petition of a Majority of
! the Republicans of the House, have
! repeatedly waited upon the Speaker
| in an effort to induce him to permit
vote.
ATTITUDE OF THE SPEAKER.
The Speaker, it is learned, has new
er positively refused to consider the
/ question of vote, but has simply
met their petition with a determined
and almost angry argument against
the advisabiliy of considering the
from time to time, without even hold
ing out the hope that he would COM
ply with their request.
Meanwhile the speaker is said TO
have been exertng all the influence
he possesses in an effort to overcome
the sentiment which is seeking to
drive him into action.
AS a last resort the Republicans in
tended to hold caucus this week.
The influence has been strong enough
however to postpone the proposed
caucus action until next week. in the
hope that Speaker Reed may relent
meanwhile, There is a great deal of
talk among Republicans 10 the cf-
feet that Speaker Reeds attitude is
largely influenced through n disposi-
tion to antagonize the adminstrat ion.
One prominent Republican member of
the House said today that it was be-
ginning to look as if Speaker Reed
saw an opportunity to antagOnize the
administration nj critical point
where his antagonism would he a Sc
rious embarrassment. and that he
was availing himself Of the opportu-
nifty.
, ANNENATTONTSTS HOPEFUL.
: The friends of the annexation reso
luton say this afternoon that they
: are sanguine of getting the resolution
= before the House for consideration af
: ter the revenue bill is passed by the
Senate. They entertain the belief tha
this can be accomplished without tn,
aid of Republican caucus. They say
= they are convinced that when The
bond bill is disposed of there will b,
: no objection to bringing the resolu
= tion before the House. They hop,
: that this can he done within week