The record-union., 1898-01-03
Doubtful if There Will be a Quorum In the
Senate.
The Annexation Of Hawaii, the
Consideration Of Corbett's
Claim and the immigration and
Financial Questions Will Occu-
py Its Attention Next Week
The Civil Service Question Will
House.

| WASHINGTON, Jan. 2-The pre-
vailing opinion among Senators is that
very little legislation will be attempted
| during the present week. The fact
| that Congress will not reconvene until
/ Wednesday will probably be taken by
! the absenteeS to mean that nothing
| will be attempted until the following
week, and as a consequence it is doubt
full whether there will be a quorum
! present in the Senate on Wednesday,
/ in which event there will probably be
an early adjournment, and then an adj
| journnaent until Monday. In any event,
| it is not probable that any important
| questions will be raised during the
present week.
General understanding is, however that
the work of the session will begin in
real earnest after this week, and that
hencaforth there will be no justifica-
tion of the complaint of dullness of the
proceedings. Among the questions
which will engage early attention are:
The Hawaiian annexation question,
the claim of Mr.. Corbett to a seat in
the Senate from Oregon, the immigra-
ton and financial questions. In all
proba bility the Committee on Privi-
legaS and Elections will meet during the
present week and the chances are that
an early report on the Corbett case
will be ordered, even though it may not
be favorable. The Republican side of
the chamber will not be a unit in Mr..
Corbatt's interest. Senator Burrows,
of the committee which has charge of
the case, is preparing an exhaustive
speech antagonistic to Mr.. Corbett, and
the opposition are counting upon the
assistance of still others from that
side of the chamber. 1t is not believed
that there will be any serious antago-
nsm to the immigration bill, but there
may be considerable time consumed in
speeches on the subject. 1t is prob
able that Senator Davis, Chairman of
the Committee on Foreign Relations,
will make an effort duringsthe present
week to get a day fixed for taking up
the annexation treaties, and there is
no apprehension Of any objection to
name day in the early future. The
plan of the supporters of the treaty is
to take the question up in executive
sessi )n on a resolution of ratification
and to debate the treaty for few days
in executive session, pursuing this
course long enough to determine their
strength and commit those who pro-
fess to be with them.
If they find that they have the neces-
sary two-thirds to secure ratification,
they will press ON to the end, but if
they discover themselves to be def
cient in voting strength they will
change their policy and take up the
question of annexation on Senator
Morgan's resolution to that end. There
is no doubt that a majority of affirna-
tive votes can be secured, and that a
resolution of this character can be
passed If a vote can be reached. The
presan. indications are that the treaty
as such will fail of ratification by from
two to six votes, but friends of the
agreement have by no means lost hope
that they will succeed In securing the
entire sixty votes necessary to ratify.
They claim that they have been max
ing headway in securing votes during
the recess, and are hopeful of still add
ing tc the number. They now assert
that a solid vote may be expected from
the Republican side of the chamber,
and that several Democrats who have
been claimed by the opposition are on
the fence and are liable to come to
them. The circumstances which have
done most to improve the chances Of
the treaty are the conduct Of the Euro |
pean Powers in apparently preparing |
for the partition of China. Many SEN
atorS feel that this is an event which |
calls for prompt action on the part of |
this country in the Hawaiian matter, |
and there is no denying that this view |
has ade some impression upon Sen
ators who have heretofore been classed !
as doubtful
The promised explanation of Senator |
Wolcott of the result of his bimetallic |
mission to Europe Is expected when |
made to open up the discussion of the |
attitude of the Administration on the |
silver question, and the debate may |
even be sprung in advance of his |
speech. The pronounced free silver ad- |
vocates are determined to secure a test |
vote during the session on the silver |
question, and Senator Teller has de-
cided to introduce the Stanley Matth-
ews resolution of the Forty-fifth Con-
gress, declaring for the payment of |
bonds in silver. with this end in view.
Senator Wolcott will, in all proba-
bility, make simple, straightforward
statement, avoiding all controverted |
points as far as possible but there are |
other Senators who will not be content |
to allow the matter to drop there, and |
they Will seek to open the entire ques-
ton Of the position of the Administra-
tion toward International bimetallism.
Mr.. Wolcott does not expect to be able |
to present his statement before the
18th of the month
The time of the House this week af-
ter 1t meets on Wednesday will prob
ably be entirely devoted to the debate
on the civil service question. BY gen.
eral consent the appropriation in the
executive, legislative and judicial bill
for the maintenance Of the commission,
upon which the debate will be based,
went over until after the holidays. 1t
is intended by the opponents Of the
civil service law that the debate shall
cover the whole question, and they ex-
pect to develop and exploit some very
interesting facts
The defenders of the law have made
elaborate preparations to meet these |