The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1898-01-15
ANNEXATION OF HAWAII.
FOR SECRET CONSIDERATION.
Debate In the House Over the Civn
Service Law-The Opponents Of
the system secure n Large Numa-
her of Takers on the Floor.

The opponents of the civil service law
had much the best of the debate in the
house Monday, so far as the number OF
those engaged in ii were concerned. Nine
Of the ii speakers were OF the opposition.
The friends Of the law are anxious to shut
of further debate and in this will have
the cooperation Of Speaker Reed and the
rules committee.
In accordance with his previous notices,
Senator Davis, chairman of the senate
committee on foreign relations, brought
up the subject of the ratification of the
Hawaiian annexation treaty in the senate.
His motion was made soon after the dis
posal Of the routine morning business,
and the entire remainder Of the days ses-
sion, except the time given to the confirm
alton Of nominations, was devoted to the
consideration of the question as to wheth-
session OF behind closed doors. in exeeu-
tive session After debate OF almost two
hours upon this point, an informal vote
was taken, the ayes and noes not being
demanded. The decision was overwhelm-
ingly against an open session The an
nexatiOnists now claim 50 votes for the
treaty, lacking only one of the number to
ratify it. The opposition say the ratiiers
will fall short from three to FIVE votes.
The bill was reported fayoFably from the
Indian committee preventing railroad
companies from charging more than 3
cents a mile for passengers through In
dian territory.
Civil Service Sustained.
The motion to strike out the appropria-
ton for the civil service commission was
defeated in the house Tuesday, and the
executive and judicial appropriation bill
passed. The agricultural and urgent
deficiency bill. as reported to the house
from the committee ON appropriations car.
ried total Of 81, 49,, 937. The bill ap-
Propriates 100000 for the survey Of the
Yukon river in Alaska, to include all ne
eessary expenses, the money to be ex-
I pended under the direction Of the super.
intendent Of the coast and geOdetic sur.
( vey, and $4,000 Of that amount to be
used for a survey of the Copper river.
| In the senate Mr.. Fairbanks discussed
! the immigration bill, saying that the
| pending bill, by imposing a moderate and
reasonable educational test upon all i'm
migrants over IL years Of age, was an ad
ditional safeguard around our population
and citizenship. Senator Davis delivered
a speech in favor Of the Hawaiian annex
alton treaty.
Champion Of Hawaii.
I In closing his speech in favor Of Ha.
waiian annexation Wednesday Senator
Davis presented the strategic features Of
the question. He displayed chart in
front Of the presiding officers platform
showing the location Of Hawaii relative
! to this country and to Asia. One Of the
/ points brought out with considerable elab-
grafton was the probable effect on the MIC
araguan canal or the occupation Of the
Islands by some foreign power. He illus
I tTated by a reference to the map. show
I ing that Hawaii was on n straight line be-
tween the western terminus Of the Mic
araguan canal and Japan and China. The
nation, he said, which controls Hawaii
will control that great gateway Of com.
meree. The guns planted on Hawaii would
be pointed directly at the mouth Of the
canal He also devoted careful attention
to the Importance Of controlling Pearl har.
Dor. now owned by the United States, say.
ing that the nation which maintained pos
session Of the harbOr would hold the key
to the military situation in the north Pa
eife. There was apparent disposition on
the part Of some senator's, who announce
themselves undecided "a to what course
10 pursue on the Hawaiian question to mix
it with the Cuban problem. They are
friends Of Cuba, and their desire il TO have
the administration take more pronoune-
ed position in the interests Of Cuba a.
return for their assistance on the Ia.
waiian treaty.
There was lively debate in the house
over the provision in n bill requiring the
owners Of bullion hereafter to pay the
cost Of transporting bullion from assay
Offices to the mints. Mr.. Bell Of Colorado
argued that II the government declined TO
pay the cost Of transportation Of the gold
it would go to foreign minis II was, he
said, another blow aimed at the western
miner. There was no security for the
gold production Of the country now that
il had had in the past. The motion TO
strike out the proyiso was defeated.