Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-04-04
CONGRESSIONAL FORECAST.
Everything Will Give Way to the Expected
Message from the President.

Washington, April S.-There is little in
the way of Il programme for the House
this week. Everything awaits the Presi-
dents message and the momento,ls
events which are to follow its presenta-
ton. Tomorrow. the bill for the reor-
ganlzation of the army is to be called up.
Chairman Hull of the military committee
believes it will be passed without oppose
ton. 1t is considered a part of the war
preparations and as such its urgency
would preclude the opposition which it
might encounter in ordinary times The
Senate District Columbia battalion bill is
on the Speakers table and it, too may be
passed. Thursday and Friday are pri-
Vate bill days. The deficiency appropria-
ton bin is almost ready and coull be con
sidered any time after Wednesday if the
message does not come in on that day.
The expectation in the Senate is that
the report of the committee on foreign
relations on the Cuban situation will be
made to the Senate not later than
Wednesday. and il the report should be
made at that time the probabilities are
that it will engage the greater share Of
the Senates time fer the remainder Of
the week.
The committee Will make an effort TO
secure action upon the resolutions which
it viii report without having them de
bated but with very little probability of
success. Undoubtedly Il large majority of
the members Of the Senate are laVnrab bic
to some declaration apropos of the Cuban
situation but there is certain to be differ
ences Of opinion on the course to bt pur-
sued and ON the language to be used
which will be sufficient To prevent i'm
mediate action except in one contingency.
This contingency is the possibility %
an agreement ~ 10 the details between
The President and the committee. Il the
committees report should prove u be in
accord with the Presidents recommended
lion in all essential particulars. the Sen
ate Will undoubtedly adopt the resoln-
tons without debating them. There Is,
however. a considerable element in the
Senate which = opposed to war except
rs a last oXtremity ana there ale sew
Aral others who think there ought to he
Il delay of q least a week or IL days be-
fore action Is taken in Congress. IN order
TO insure the safe landing Of ships and
war supplies now ON their way 10 this
country from Europe.
The committee On foreign relations is
not Impressed Wilh this line of reasoning
ana the members urge thai Spain is no
better prepared for hostiliticS than We
are. The members Of this committee do
not expect the Presidents message before
Tuesday and they are prepared to wait
until Wednesday. Under great pressure
there might be a delay beyond that time
but a request for such delay woGld cause
great rcstiVeueSS on the lart ot rnu-
jorjty OF the committee.
While DESTROYS of giving tho President
All the time he may actually require for
the preparation of his message, they arr
very impatient OF The outside influence
which is being oXcrtcd to hold them i1
check. This pressure is in me shape of
letters and kilograms from people
throughout the country who are opposed
to a war policy and with these, the mem
hers of the committee are being iioodcd
The writer's sail i member of the
committee. today "gcncTaHy ask us to
maintain an honorable" peace. Or course
We r." want an honorable peace. but til
time has gone by when that could he s.
cured under discussing conditions in
cuba. Ne cannot allow our conduct to
be controlled by such expressions
When the Presidents message is re-
ceiVcd it will. On Senator Davis motion.
be referred to the committee on foreign
relations which may bring in its report
later in the day or il may not dc SO un-
Ill the following day. So far as it is in
formed Us 10 the probable line of the
Presidents communication. the commit
tee is now prepared To report hut the
members realize that there may be som"
detail Of the message that Will require
careful consideration ana in that event
they will give more time to il or an hour
or two on the day OF its presentations
Unless there should be a change in the
committee conclusions after the PreSi
dent shall have heard from the resolu-
lions reported will recommend the recog-
milton of Cuban independence, with
declaration of armed Intervention to
make independence practicable. They
will also include the Maine explosion as
one of the causes for this action. The
resolutions will be accompanied b., -
carefully drawn report written by Sena-
tor Davis justifying them.
For the rest. the Senate will probably
direct its attention TO appropriation bills
and miscellaneous measures on the
calendar.