Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-05-27
OBSTRUCTING. ANNEXATION
Speaker Reed Opposing the Administration
and.His Party.
Standing in the Way of a Vote in the
House On the Acquisition
of Hawaii

The situation in Congress with respect to
the annexation of Hawaii is becoming ex-
tremeiy irritating. The contending forces
are the administration on one side sup
ported by very large majority of repub-
lcans, a considerable number of democrats
and strOrg popular sentiment, and on
the other side, Speaker Reed with small
following of republicans and possibly a
a5ority of the democrats in the House,
and Senators Pettigrew ana White with a
small force composed principally Of popu-
lists and democrats in the Senate Speaker
Reed and Senator Pettigrrw are the back
bone and muscle of the opposition. Sena-
tor Pettigrew's efforts we're sufficient to
prevent the adoption of the treaty by the
Senate. but would not be capable of pre-
venting the passage of a resolution by
majority vote, should the House adopt the
resolution. Speaker Reeds power thus far
has heen sufficient to prevent a vote be-
ing had en- the annexation resolution in
the House. Neither Speaker Reed nor any
one else denies that If "a vote on these reso-
lutions were permitted they would be
adopted by a large majority. But the
House cannot reach a vote without spe-
cIal order from the committee on rules, this
system of special orders having been adopt
ed in all matters, and Speaker Reed, having
the casting vote in the committee on rules,
has it in his power arbitrarily to prevent a
special order being reported.
Importance of Prompt Action.
Every effort is being made by the Presi-
dent and by a majority of the members Of
the House to induce the Speaker to per-
NIT vote on the Question The President
has had numerous conferences with his
friends in the House. urging upon them
the vital Importance under the present
circumstances of securing the annexation
Of Hawaii at once. The dagger of serious
&C Implications of an International charac-
ter growing out Of the necessity of our YES
sells bound for the Philippines scoaling at
Honolulu, and of the brave determination
of the Hawaiian government to permit this
in defiance of the rules Of neutrality, thus
subjecting herself to attack as an ally of
this country, have been earnestly and per-
sistently pointed out. Chairman Hit of
the. House foreign affaira committee and
many OF the republican leaders in the
House. supported by petition of a major
ity of the republicans of the House, have
repeatedly waited upon the Speaker in an
effort to induce i'm to permit vote.
Attitude of the Speaker.
The Speaker, 1t is learned. has never pos
itively refused to consider the question of
a vote, but has simply met their petition
with determined and almost angry argu-
ment against the advisabihty of consider
ing the question now and has put them
off from time to time. without even hold
ing out the hope that he would comply
with their request.
Meanwhile, the Speaker Is said to have
been exerting all the influence he possesses
in an effort to overcome the sentiment
which is seeking to drive him to action.
AS last resort the republicans intended
to hold a caucus this week. The influence
has been strong enough however, to post
pone the proposed caucus action until next
week, in the hope that Speaker Reed may
reient meanwhile There is a great deal
of talk among republicans to the effect that
Speaker Reeds attitude is largely inf1u-
enced by a disposition to antagonize the
administration. One prominent republican
member OF the House said today that 1t
was beginning to look as II Speaker Reed
saw an opportunity to antagonize the ad-
mtnistration at a critical point where his
antagonism would be a serious embarrass-
ment, and that he was ayailing himself of
the opportunity.
Annexationfsts Hopeful.
The friends of the Hawaiian annexation
resolution say this afternoon that they are
sanguine Of getting the resolution before
the House for consideration after the reve-
nue. bill is passed by the Senate. They en-
tertain the belief that this can be accom-
plished without the aid of a republican
caucus. They say they are convinced that
when the bond bill is disposed of there will
be no objec ton to brinsingthe resolution be-
fore the House. They hope that this can
be done within a week