The herald., 1898-06-20
The HAWAIIAN QUESTION
IT WILL OCCUPY THE SENATE
THIS WEEK
ANNEXATION ALMOST CERTAIN
obstructionists Who Are Against An
nexation Will Try to Prolong
Debate Till Adjournment
Associated Press Special Wire

WASHINGTON, June 19.-The Hawaiian
question comes to the front again in the
senate during the present week. but under
somewhat different circumstances from
those which attended its presentation at
the beginning of the session. The purpose
nexation of the islands to the United States,
but the effort at that time was to secure
this result by means of a treaty, whereas
the present course was through the instru-
mentality of a joint resolution. On the
first occasion the matter was considered in
executive session, with the public excluded,
while now the doors are to,be thrown open
and the world invited.
What the outcome of the question may
be- or when the vote may be reached, no one
will undertake to say positively. The lead
ers on both sides are full of prophecy, but
there is so much discrepancy between their
opinions as to render it necessary to dis
card one in order to accept the other. The
friends of annexation assert that there is
no possible doubt of their ability to pass
the resolution and say they have forty-six
senators, or one more than a quorum,
pledged to remain in the senate until the
question can be decided, while the oppo-
ing leaders declare that forty-eight senators
have assured them they will vote to ad-
journ in preference to remaining in session
indefinitely for the consideration of the
Hawaiian question.
Supporters Confident
The supporters of the proposition express
confidence that action will be secured within
ten days, while the opposition contend that
it will be found to be impossible to secure
a vote during the present session of con-
gress. The advocates CT annexation de-
clare that they will not make any speeches,
leaving the opponents to occupy all the
time to be consumed by this means. The
opposition say they are willing to make the
speeches if compelled to do SO, but that if
forced to do this, they will insist that the
friends of the measure shall maintain
constant quorum in the chamber. They also
predict that the annexationists Will find
themselves compelled to participate in the
proceedings, as they expect to advance
points which will demand refutation, or at
least reply.
In view of this generally contradictory
condition. one can only base prediction on
general conditions There is no doubt in
the first place that the annexationists have
a majority in the senate If vote can be
reached. If vote could be gotten now the
result would be about f1fty-four for annexa-
tion to thirty-five against in full senate.
OF these fifty-four senators there are, how
ever, quite number who are not Jealous
and in whose minds all doubt as to the pol
icy of acquisition of outside territory has
not been overcome.
May Force Adjournment
These senators, as a rule, are indisposed
to remain in session for any length of time
during the hot summer months to consider
Hawaiian annexation. Most of the sena-
tors of this class are Republicans, and
there is probability a sufficient number of
them under normal circumstances to join
with the Democrats to force an adjourn
ment. They find themselves confronted,
however, with the request of the admins
tration to remain and pass the resolution
as a war measure, and some of them are dis
posed to sink their own preferences in obe-
dience to the presidential wish. The gos-
sip as to the probability of postponement
until a fixed day in the next session in
creases and many persons are predicting
that this will be the outcome of the contest
A test vote will probably be secured on
Monday on the taking up of the resolution.