The herald., 1898-12-19
Associated Press Special Wire


WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S-The week in
the senate will be opened with speech by
Senator Platt of Connecticut on the ques-
tion of expansion. He has G iven notice OF an
address to begin Immediately after the con-
clusion of the routine morning business on
Monday. Plat will reply to the speech OF
Senator Vest, made last Monday, and as he
has given very careful attention to the ex-
tension of our territorial area, no little IN
terest is manifested among senators IN his
presentation of the matter, and 1t is not
improbable, unless the Nicaragua bill pre-
vents, that the speech will precipitate a
more or less general debate upon this ques-
ton.
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 probability of disposing
of the treaty during the present session, and
the impression favorable to the result is
growing. A few senators manifest dispo-
sition to debate the treaty at length and
some profess unalterable opposition, but
the feeling is so strong against an extra ses-
sion and in favor of the postponement OF the
settlement OF the disposition of the Philip
pines after they come into our possession
that it now seems that even the minority
will consent to the treaty's ratification with
out material delay.
The friends OF the treaty, who are giving
attention to the closest details of opposi-
ton as they develop, have taken pains to
have enumerated the names of the signers
to the memorials against annexation which
have reached the senate, and they find
that there are fewer than 1000 of them, dis
tributed among the states as follows: Mas
sachusetts, 1885; West Virginia, l0l; Indi-
ana, IA; Ohio, so; Florida, Al; New York,
45; Virginia, 80; Vermont, 20; Maryland
l6; New Hampshire, 6; California and Ms
souri,, 3 each; Wisconsin and Tennessee,
each, and Maine, Colorado, Iowa and Ne
vada, each.
THE CANAL BILL
Senator Morgan said today that he meant
to press the Nicaragua canal bill as vigor
ousy as possible and he expressed the hope
that he might get vote before next
Wednesday, the probable day of the Christ
mas adjournment The indications are
however, against such an early disposal OF
the subject and it may be accepted as quite
certain that even if Senator Turpie's motion
for postponement till January 10 should not
prevail, the bill will naturally be thrown
over beyond the holidays. 1t is evidently
the purpose of the opposition to prevent ac
tion during the few remaining days prior tc
adjournment. Morgan today indicated his
willingness to accept the Berry amendments
in modified form, and the bill as the Arkan
sas senator proposes to change it has been
printed for information.
OTHER MATTERS
The bill concerning the registry of for
eign built vessels wrecked on the American
coast is still on the calendar as a special
order, and Senator Ellins will probably
make another effort to secure consideration
Senator Cullen has also expressed a desire
to get up the anti-scalping bill. Both these
measures will be antagonized and probably
thrown over till January.
There will be no effort to get up any more
appropriation bills until after the resump.
ton of business in January.