The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-21
CONGRESS THIS WEEK
PROGRAMME MAY BE DISPLACED BY
DEBATE ON CUBAN QUESTION.
Hawaiian Annexation Treaty Discus
sion VIII Probably Take Up Most
of the Senate's Time.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 2o.-Two diplomatic
and consular and the Military Academy ap-
preparation bills will be considered and
passed by the Senate during the week.
There will be more or less debate in execu-
tive session of the Hawaiian annexation
treaty and speeches will be made on the
claim of Mr.. Corbett to u seat in the Senate
on the appointment of the Governor OF Ore
gon. The Corbett matter will not be pressed.
except TO the end of having the speeches so
far disposed of as to make sure of getting
vote at the time fixed, week from to-
m orrow.
The expectation is that the bill making
appropriation for the consular and diplomat
ic service will be made the subject for con-
siderable debate. It's understood to be Sem
ator Aliens intention to make an effort to
secure the incorporation in the bill as an
amendment of his provision for the recogni-
ton of Cuban bellgerency, and If he should
make this effort the result might be a gen
eral discussion of the Cuban question.
While, however, this is among the possi-
bilities, it does not at this time appear
probable, for the Senate is not now III
mood for the opening of this question pend
ing the Maine investigation, so that If it
should be taken up this week there would
timent. There are some senators. however.
who are DESTROYS Of having the subject de-
bated, and they may force the issue. AS
Mr.. Aliens amendment was adversely re-
ported from the committee on foreign rela-
tons. Senator Hale will raise point of or
der against it. This the Vice President will
sustain, and Mr.. Allen will, Of course. ap-
peal. There will be stubborn opposition TO
such an amendment If offered. and the con-
test may be an animated one II Mr.. Allen
persists in his purpose. Independently OF
the Cuban amendment, the diplomatic Dill
is likely to cause debate on other questions.
1t seldom gets through the Senate without
being made the basis of more or less general
discussion of the country's foreign policy.
The ACCESSIBILITY of amending this appro-
priation bill with a provision for the an
nexation of Hawaii, which was at one time
considered by some of the supporters or
the Hawaiian treaty, appears to have been
abandoned The treaty will, however, re-
ceive Independent attention during the
week il the appropriation bills and the Cor
bett case do not crowd it out. senator
Davis, who, chairman or the committee
on foreign relations, has charge Oh the
treaty will be absent from the Senate DUR
ing the first half of the week, but Senator
Frye who is acting chairman, Will move
an executive session for the consideration
Of the treaty if there should be an open
ing There is q general impression that the
treaty will not be further debated at great
length. There are several Senators VIM
desired to be heard upon it, but none or
these are likely to make very long speeches.
The present intention OF the friends OF inc
treaty is to secure test vote as soon as
this can be conveniently done, and for TINS
purpose Senator Bacon amendment pro-
viding for submitting the treaty to vote
of the people of Hawaii will be utilized. II
they find upon this vote that the treaty
cannot command the support of two-thlrds
of the Senators, the number necessary 10
secure it's ratification, they will move TO
recommit it to the committee on foreign re-
lations and then take up Senator Morgan
bin for annexation which was favorably
reported to the Senate during the extra se ,S+-
sion This is the present plan, but details
NAV of course be changed. The friends of
the treaty regard the Bacon amendment as
entirely unfriendly. and they would regard
as antagonistic to the treaty any senator
who would cast his vote for 1t; hence tney
think they can use it as foil, and by It's
use secure the equivalent of a vote on the
treaty without importing that document.
If the vote on the amendment should snow
that the treaty commands the sixty votes
necessary to it's ratification 1t would then
be pressed to a final vote as speedily as
possible.