The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-01-10
DAYS TO BE FULL OF DEBATE.
HAWAII THE STAR ATTRACTION IN
THE SENATE.

Opponents of the Proposed Treaty
of Annexation Claim b Votes
Against It-Once Absolutely Ger
tain of Its Defeat Tbey VIII Not
Delay VOte-DiIntOry Tactics to
BE Reserved for Use Against the
Joint Resolution for Annexation
which Would Follow Defeat of the
Treaty.
Washington, Jan. 9.-Interest in the Sen
ate proceedings for the week centers in
the promised debate on the treaty for the
annexation of Hawaii, which will be TAX
en- up on Monday.
Senator Davis has given notice that he
viii move an executive session of the
Senate for consideration of the treaty each
day until the treaty shall be finally dis
posed of.
The first effort on Monday will be to Sc
cure open doors for the debate. This
motion will be made by Senator Pettgrew
of the opposition. But there Is no nkeii-
hood that it will carry.
The prevailing opinion is that the debate
on the treaty will not be prolonged, but
theories as to the length Of time vary all
the way from week to a month.
The opposition to the treaty assert they
have no disposition to prolong the discus
sion owing to their confidence in their
ability to defeat the treaty. They claim
thirty-ive votes in opposition and state
that among these there will be more than
one republican.
Senator Morrill, adheres to his original
determination to oppose the ratification
resolution, and he is preparing speech on
that side of the question.
The name of Senator Money on the
Democratic side Is added to the list of sup
porters of the treaty, making five Demo-
Gratis who will certainly favor annexation
Senator Butler, Pop, whose position has
not heretofore been generally known, to-
day announced himself for ratification.
1t may be accepted as true that if the
opponents of annexation become thorough
ly convinced that they can secure the one
third vote necessary to defeat the treaty
they Will allow the vote to come without
| delay, reserving any dilatory tactics to
which they may be disposed to resort for
! use In connection with the consideration
OF the joint resolution for annexation
which would follow the defeat of a treaty.
In open session the calendar presents
including especially the immigration bill
and the civil service bill. Senator Fair
| banks has given notice of a speech on the
| immigration bill on Tuesday, and Sena>
TOR Butler will speak on his resolution pro,
| Viding for the election of federal judges
| by the people some day during the week.
The discussion of the financial question
| IS also among the possibilities.
| Senator Hawley is expected to open the
| Hawaiian debate with a set speech on
Monday. but there is a possibility that he
| will defer his main argument until later
| in the discussion.
| The civil service debate, which was in
! progress in the House during the past
| week, will be concluded. probably on Tues
| day, when the vote will be taken on mo-
ton to strike out the appropriation for
! the maintenance of the commission.
The motion is foredoomed TO defeat so
| that the present contributions to the lit
| erature of this vexed question will event
! uate in nothing. The debate, however,
| has served to define the position of the
! members. The debate has proven that
! comparatively few of the enemies of the
| system are willing to go to the length of
! voting for the repeal of the law 1t is
| claimed a preliminary canvass of the Re
! publican side of the house has developed
| over one hundred on that side who are
| willing to vote for a modification of the
/ law. If with those could be combined the
! Democratic opponents of the law, many
! of whom are against the entire law, and
! desire to see it wiped off the statute books
! they could probably command a major
/ ity. But quite a number of Democrats
/ whose hostility to the law is outspoken
say they will not vote for notifications of
/ the law which would simply result in the
/ removal of Democrats from office and
i the substitution of Republicans They
! prefer, if it is not to be repealed to see
! the law stand as it is.
The entire populistic strength will op-
| pose the motion to repeal or modify the
! law.
After the legislative executive and iu-
! dicial appropriation bill is out of the wav
/ either the agricultural or the diplomatic
/ and consular bill viii be taken up and
the urgency deficiency bill will be ready,
SO that the remainder of the week. ex-
! cept Saturday, which is set apart for trio
utes to the late Representative MiIiken.
/ will pe occupied with debates.
The diplomatic and consular bill is very
likely 70 cause extended debate on the
pending foreign questions, Cuba, Hawaii.
the situation in the Orient, etc. any one
of which could be made a fruitful theme
Of discussion. 1t is understood to be The
intention of the Democrats to force the
Republicans to define the administration {
position towards Cuban independence dur
ing the debate.