The herald., 1898-02-28

| gard to Hawaiian annexation, there is nc
| doubt that If the present treaty is aban-
| doned in the senate no move for annexa-
ton by legislative enactment will be ini-
tiated by the house The sentiment, both
| among the friends and opponents of an
nexation of the house, is that after the
long contest at the other end of the capitol
| the senate should retain jurisdiction of the
| subject Action by the senate on a resolu-
| ton of annexation would, therefore, pre-
| cede any action by the house, and 1t is
| this which gives color to the general i'm
| preston in the house that action upon a
resolution in the senate can be delayed
until both houses have completed their
other work, and that then an effort will
be made to adjourn and leave the question
suspended.
| Speaker Reed makes no concealment of
| his opposition to annexation, and says that
other very prominent Republicans, men,
bers like Cannon of Illinois, Walker of
Massachusetts and Johnson of Indiana,
are outspoken. Some of the others, like
Chairman Dingley of the ways and means
committee, have made no public declara-
tions upon the subject, but are believed
to be in sympathy with the opponents of
annexation. A large majority of the Re-
publicans, however, are, of course, In favor
of the administrations policy, many of
them enthusiastically so.
Chairman Hit of the foreign relations
committee is placed among the supporters
of annexation, but it is probable that the
real brunt of battle, IL the contest Is trans
ferred to the house, will be borne by Gen
Grosvenor of Ohio and Gen. Henderson of
Iowa, both of whom are enthusiastic In
their support of it.
AS stated, the indications all point to a
concerted plan on the part of the enemies
of annexation at both ends of the capitol
to hurry through the appropriation bills
and adjourn before action can be had on
the joint resolution in the senate. This,
it is pointed out, would be the easier way
to defeat, or at least postpone, action, as
once the resolution got into the house the
divisions in the Republican ranks would
be uncovered and the leaders would be
forced on opposite sides. Some of the Re-
publicans who are opposed to annexation
do not care to be forced into position of
public antaGonism to the administration
If 1t can be avoided.
They would. of course, prefer to see it
postponed rather than have 1t brought to
an issue in the house. The Democrats, with
comparatively few exceptions are hostile
to annexation. The program of the house
for the coming week includes the comple-
tion of the sundry civil bill, which has been
under consideration since last Wednesday,
action on the bill for the relief of the VIC
tins and survivors of the Maine disaster
the senate bill authorizing the enlis tment
of two additional regiments of artillery.
and the Loud bill, relating to second class
mail matter. The latter bill has been made
the special order for Tuesday, Wednes-
day and Thursday. A spirited contest is
anticipated, but Mr.. Loud, the author of
the bill and the chairman of the postoffice
and post roads committee is confident that
1t will pass The bill takes all complete
books printed as in serial form out of the
COZ olo TO
places them on the regular book rate class,
which pays cents per pound.
1t also prohibits the transmission of
sample copies" at pound rates If the bill
should pass and be executed according to
its spirit, Mr.. Loud estimates the annual
savings to the government effected by II
during the next four years would approxi
mate $12,00000O Many publishers and news
papers are very hostile to the measure but
thus far the opposition has not been so
active as it was during the last congress.
Tomorrow, under the rules is District of
Columbia day, but Chairman Cannon, In
charge of the sundry bill will probably in
sist upon going ahead with the bill. HeF
refused yesterday to yield to Mr. Boutelle,
who was extremely anxious to secure the
immediate passage of the bill for the re-
lief of the Maine victims. This latter meas
ure will be doubtless called up as soon as
the appropriation is out of the way. The
bill for two additional regiments for artil-
lery will probably not be taken up until
the special order for the consideration of
the Loud bill exhausts itself.