The herald., 1898-03-28
NO VACANT SEATS
WHEN CONGRESS C0NvENES
THIS MORNING
INTEREST IS INTENSE
M'K1N1EY's MESSAGE Is 70 B1
RECEIVED
EFFORTS IF ADMINISTRATION
Will Be Exerted to Avoid Action on
Cuban Affairs Until Policy
Is Settled Upon
EFFORTS IF ADMINISTRATION
Associated Press Special wiz.

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON. March 27-The largest
crowd that has, attended session Of con-
gress In years is expected at the Capitol
tomorrow. when the official report Of the
board Of inquiry on the Maine disaster will
be given to the country. Extra instructions
have been issued to the attendants, and ad
mission to the reserved galleries will be
strictly by card. Not one-tenth Of the peo-
pie who will storm the doors are expected
to gain admission.
The members of the house await the re-
port with the same feverish anxiety the
public manifests. and there are not likely
to be dozen vacant seats on the floor.
The scene when the report is read probably
will be intensely dramatic, but those who
go to the Capitol tomorrow expecting to
see its presentation followed by wild
furor of oratory will be sorely disappoint-
ed. The report and accompanying mes
sage will be BRIEF and after being read
will be referred to the committee on for
eign affairs without debate. Mr. Hit of
Illinois, chairman Of the foreign affairs
committee, will be recognized by the
speaker to make the motion. The motion
Is not debatable. 1t is not the wish Of the
president, as expressed to the leaders Of
both parties, that this course be followed,
and the program has been acquiesced in by
all parties Should any single member at
tempt to interfere with 1t, demand for
the previous question will take him OF
his feet. Once In committee, the findings
of the board will remain there until re-
port is made BY the committee, which
would certainly not be until Spain's ex-
PLANTATION and position are made known
to the administration. Meantime, the pre-
cipitation of the main issue between Spain
and the United States is likely to throw
the disaster, which the administration
means to deal with as a separate and dis
tihct tissue, into the background as q SUBJ
ject for future lsettlerhsnt, nniess Spain
should take q position not now anticipated.
which would compel immediate action.
3 Wednesday the president will probably
transmit a message asking for an .appro-
priation to rolieve the starvation in Cuba
The appropriation will probably be voted
with almost as much unanimity as was the
$50 OK. 900 for the national defense, but the
debate may bring out some criticism Of the
administrators policy by those who be-
lieve radical and aggressive intervention
should be taken at once. The administra-
tion is assured, however, of a strong ma
jority for the policy 1t has SO far mapped
out to The Republican and Democratic
leaders.
The members are so completely alb
sorbed by the questions Of the hour that
during the remainder of the week they are
likely to inject debate upon these questions
into the proceedings at every opportunity.
But the rules as ct present enforced are
rigorous, and the outcrop of passion and
patriotism Is likely to be confined largely
to the debate upon the naval appropriation
bill. Every effort will be made to DISPOSE
Of the bill as quickly as possible In order to
remove opportunity for infiammatorv
speeches. The Republican leaders believe
they are justified in exercising restraint
until the time for action arrives. After the
Maine report is read tomorrow the death
of Representative Simpkins will be an
nounced, and the house will Immediately
adjourn as mark of respect.
Tuesday and Friday are private bill days.
and. a contested election case could be
Ulbwn into the house to consume the re-
mainder Of the week.
Under the rules, any attempt to discuss
the Cuban question except by subterfuge
can be prevented.