The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-03-21

WASHINGTON, March 20-Whether
the report of the naval board of in
qulry on the Maine disaster goes to
congress this week with a special mes
sage from the president, calling for
congressional action, our relations with
Spain and the proximity of war, as
viewed from the standpoint of the
emergency preparations row going on
to place the country in state of de-
fense, probab bly, will be exhaustively de-
bated in the house In connection with
the naval appropriation bill, the con-
sideration of which will begin on Tues
day. The many emergency items in
the bill, the large increase in the en-
listed force, the liberal provision for
6attleships, torpedo boats and dry
docks, will bring the whole subject Of
the necessity for these preparations
directly before the house. While the
conservative leaders doubtless will seek
to prevent inf1ammatorv expressions
under the recent ruling o. the speaker
which practically places no limit upon
the latitude of debate in committee of
the whole on the state of the Union,
the leaders, except by their example.
probably will be unable to- repress SEN
sational speeches.
An effort is likely, upon the part of
some of the radicals, to force from
those in the confidence Of the admin
istration a declaration of the policy
of the administration regarding Cuba.
This they hope to do by taunting them
with some of the rumors which have
been floating about in the newspapers
during the past few days. 1t is al
together likely that there will he a gen.
eral expression Of the sentiment Of the
house on this question before the bill
is passed.
Should the president transmit the
report of the board of inquiry. with
request for congressional action during
the week, everything else will give way
to it. Any action which might be de-
cided upon would be in the complete
control of the Republican leaders as
to the limit to be put upon debate. If
the report of the board does not go to
congress this week, the np1val bill will
probably consume all the time, after
tomorrow. But, if it Should be passed
before Saturday, which seems unlikely,
the bill for the reorganization of the
army and authorization of recruiting
it to a footing aggregating 104, 600 men
in time of war will be taken up.
Tomorrow the bill for the relief of the
victims of the Maine will be called up
Immediately after the reading of the
journal, under the arrangement made
last week. 1t is not expected to con-
sumo much time, but probably will be
MADE the occasion Tor several patriOtic
speeches in eulogy of the heroism of
the sailors who went down to their
tragic death. The rest of the day will
be occupied in the consideration of pri-
Vate bills in pursuance of the order
made last Friday. Altogether, 1t prom
ises to be an exceedingly. eventful, if
not sensational, week in the house.
The Senate.
No programme has been prepared
for the senate for the present week, and
the course Of events is liable to be in
f1uenced largely by developments from
the outside.
The quarantine bill is the unfinished
business on the senate ca alendar. and if
opportunity offers, Senator Pettigrew
will get up his public land bill.
1t is expected that the sundry civil
appropriation bill will be reported
should be, it may be taken up later in
the week. The senate committee is
making many changes in this bill. and
it will consume several days of the
time of the senate, when considered.
1t is also understood to be Senator
Davis intention to bring up the Hawai-
ian treaty in order to get vote to lay
the Bacon amendment on the table as
soon as Senator Bacon concludes his
speech in its support.
All these plans are liable to be
changed, If the report of the court of
inquiry into the Maine disaster should
be received. The receipt of this docu-
ment would inevitably have the effect
of springing a Cuban debate, which
would side-track all other questions