The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-03
COMING EVENTS IN CONGRESS.
CIVIL SERVICE FIRST TO ENGAGE
THE LOWER EOUSE.

Hawaiian Annexation One of the
Matters to Come Up Early When
the senate Gets Down to Business.
Chances of Favorable Action Inn
proved by the Grab Game in
China.
Washington. Jan. 2.-The time OF the
House this week after It meets on Wed
nesday, VIII probably be entirely devoted
to debate on the civil service question. Ry
general consent the appropriation in the
legislative, executive and judicial bill for
the maintenance of the commission, upon
which the debate viii be based, went over
until after the holidays. Il is intended by
the opponents of the civil service law
that the debate shall cover the whole ques-
ton, and they expect to develop and ex-
plot some very interesting facts The de-
tenders of the law have made elaborate
| preparations TO meet these assaults and
! some highly Interesting, if not sensational
incidents are anticipated.
The records of individuals are likely to
be very much in evidence. 1t is not ex-
pected that the debate will be concluded
this week, Saturday has been set aside
for paying tribute to the memory Of the
late Representative Wright of Massachu-
sets.
Gen. Grosvenor of Ohio, who has been
one of the mainstays of the opposition to
the law, is very DESTROYS of participating
in the debate, but owing to the senatorial
fight now in progress in Ohio, he will
probably not be abe to return until next
week. II is not believed there will be any
attempt to close the debate until he has
had an opportunity to make the elaborate
speech which he has prepared. No one
seriously believes, however, that the up
shot of the present debate will be the
striking out of the appropriation for the
| commission. This proposition cannot by
any means command the fun strength of
the opposition, the leaders Of which think
| direct legislation should be enacted to re-
peal or amend the law. The debate, there
fore, will simply be in the nature of
general airing of the views of the mem
bers Of the House, the only practical eff
| feet Of which viii be to place them on
| record for the future.
The prevailing opinion among senator's
| is that very little iegislatio will be at
tempted during The present week. The
fact that congress will not resume until
| Wednesday is taken by the absentees TO
mean that nothing will be attempted I'M
til the following week, and as a conse-
quence it is doubtful whether there is a
quorum present in the Senate on Wednes-
day, in which event there will probably
be an adjournment until the following day
and then an adjournment until Monday
In any event. 1t is not probable any inn
portant questions will be raised during
the present week.
The general understanding is how
ever, that The work OF the session will be-
I frfv, in ,sa1 d II.
! that henceforth there Will be no justiica-
! ton of complaint of the dullness of the
| proceedings. ,l0AE4tK atuun.
| Among the questions that will engage
| early attention are: The Hawaiian annex
alton question, the claim of Mr. Corbett
/ to a seat in the Senate from Oregon. the
immigration bill and the financial ques-
| ton.
| In all probability the committee on privi-
| leges and elections win meet during the
week and the chances are that an early
report on the Corbett case will be ordered
though it may not be favorable The re-
publican side of the chamber will not be
a unit in Mr.. Corbetts interest. Senator
Burrows of the committee, who has charge
OF the case, is preparing an exhaustive
| speech antagonistc to Mr.. Corbett and
the opposition are counting on the assist
ance of still others from that side of the
chamber.
1t is not believed that there viii be any
serious antagonism 70 the immigration
bill but there may be considerable time
consumed in speeches on the subject
1t is probable Senator Davis, chairman
OF the Senate committee on foreign rela~
tons, win make an effort during the pres
ent week to get a day fixed for the tax
| ing up of the annexation bill and there
| is no apprehension of any objection TO
naming a day in the early future. This
plan Of the supporters of the treaty is to
take the question up in executive session
I on a resolution of ratification and to de-
bate the treaty for a few days in execu-
/ tive session. pursuing this course long
enQugh TO determine their strength and
commit those who profess to be with
them. If they find that they have the
necessary two-thirds to secure ratification
! they will press on to the end, but if they
discover themselves to be deficient in vot-
ing strength they will change their policy
and take IN the question of annexation
on Senator Morgan's resolution to that
end. There is no doubt that a majority
of affirmative votes can be secured and
That resolution of this character can be
| passed, If u vote can be reached The
! present indications are that the treaty, as
such, Will fail OF ratification by from two
TO six votes but the friends of the agree
ment have by no means lost hope that
! they will succeed in securing the entire
| sixty votes necessary co ratfy. They
| claim that they have been making head
| way IN securing votes during the recess
| and are hopeful of still adding to the num-
J Der. Ihey now assert that a solid vote
! may be expected from the republican side
OF the chamber and that members who
have been claimed by the opposition are
on the fence and liable to come to them.
/ The circumstance which has done most to
improve the chances of the treaty is the
conduct of the European powers in app
parently preparing for a partition Of