The herald., 1898-01-10
HAWAIIAN
QUESTION
Will Come Up in the Senate
Today
OPPONENTS OF ANNEXATION
EXPRESS GREAT CONFIDENCE OF
SUCCESS
Aimless Civil Service Debate in the
House Will Yield to Considera-
ton of Appropriations
Associated Press Special Wire

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-Interest ii
the senate proceedings for the week cen
ters in the promised debate of the treaty
for the annexation of Hawaii, which
will be taken UP on Monday. Senator
Davis has given notice that he will
move an executive session Of the SEN
ate for consideration each day until the
treaty shall be finally disposed of. The
first effort on Monday will be to secure
open doors for the debate. This motion
will be made by Senator Pettigrew of
the opposition, but there is no likelihood
that it will carry.
The prevailing opinion is that the de-
bate will not be prolonged on the treaty,
but theories as to the length of time
vary all the way from a week to a
month. The opposition to the treaty
assert that they have no disposition to
prolong the discussion. owing to their
| confidence in their ability to defeat the
treaty. They claim 35 votes in Opposi-
ton, and state that among them there
will be more than one Republican. Sen
ator Morrill, adheres to his original de-
termination 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 supporters Of
the treaty. making five Democrats who
will certainly favor annexation. Sen
ator Butler, Populist, whose position
has not heretofore been generally
known, has declared himself opposed
to ratification.
1t may be accepted as true that If the
opponents become thoroughly con-
vlnced that they can secure the one
third vote necessary to accomplish that
end. 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 de-
feat Of the treaty. This resolution would
require only a majority vote, and it is
conceded on all hands that the annex
ationists have the necessary majority.
In open session the calendar presents
many subjects that may receive at
tention, including especially the immi-
grafton bill and the census bill, the lat
ter affording basis for speeches on the
civil service. Senator Fairbanks has
given notice of speech on the immigra-
ton bill on Tuesday, and Senator Butler
will speak on his resolution providing
for the election of federal judges by the.
people some day during the week.
Discussion of the financial question is
also among the probabilities.
Senator Davis is expected to open the
Hawaiian debate with a set speech on
40 hrrf ic n .,
he will defer his main argument until
later in the discussion.
IN THE HOUSE
WASHINGTON, Jan. 9.-The civil
service debate, which has been in prog
ress in the house during the past week,
will be concluded, probably on Tuesday
when the vote win be taken on a motion
to strike out the appropriation for the
maintenance of the commission. The
motion is foredoomed to defeat so that
the present contributions to the litera-
ture of this vexed question would event
uate in nothing. The debate, however,
has served to define the position of the
members. The debate has proved 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 that a preliminary canvass
of the Republicans of the house has de-
veloped over 100 on the side desiring a
modification of the law. If with these
could be combined the Democratic op-
ponents of the law, many of whom are
against the entire law and desire to see
1t wiped OFF the statute books, they
could probably command a majority,
but many Democrats whose hostility to
the law is outspoken say they will not
vote for notifications Of the law which
will simply result in the removal of
Democrats from Office and the substitu-
tion of Republicans. They prefer, if it
is not to be repealed, to see the law
stand as it is. The entire Populistic
strength will oppose every motion to re-
peal or modify the law.
After the legislative, executive and
judicial appropriation bill is out of the
way, the agricultural or the diplomatic
and consular bill will be taken I'D. and
an urgent deficiency bill will be ready.
SO that the remainder of the week, ex-
cept Saturday, set apart for paying
tribute to the memory of the late Rep
resentative Milliken Of Maine, will be
occupied with appropriation bills. The
diplomatic and consular bill is very like
ly to cause extended debate on the pend
ing foreign questions-Cuba, Hawaii.
the situation in the orient. etc., any one
of which could be made fruitful theme
of discussion. 1t is the intention Of the
Democrats to force the Republicans to
define the administrators position to-
ward Cuba's independence during the
debate.
Struck Hurricane