The Saint Paul globe., 1899-01-03
IT is UP TO REED
AN EXTRA SESSION DEPENDS
UPON THE WILL CF THE
HOUSE GEAR
HIS ATTITUDE UNCERTAIN

E@SHSCtS ana FaYOr-
able Action Upon the Peace
Treaty In the Senate, but Fears
Twenty Millions Wantcd-No1
Interested in other Legislation.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2-President
Mckinley's cup of happiness would be
hlled to the brim if he were assured
That the present congress would ratify
The peace treaty and appropriate the
sum Of $40 coo, 900 TO pe paid to Spain
as compensation for the Philippine isl
ands.
With these two questions favora5ly
settled ana the passage of the regula,
appropriation bills the president would
not give a snap of his fingers for fur
ther assistance from congress in the
work of diSposing of the problems now
confronting his administration. So far
he has not. found congress a burden
on his hands, but at present he is by
no means certain that the lawmaking
body Will be prompt 10 carry out his
wishes
The attitude of Speaker Reed makes
1t very uncertain whether or not con-
gress VIII pass the appropriation of
$50, GOO, GEO. The speaker is keeping his
own counsel and nobody knows what
position he viii take on the question Of
appropriatlng money to pay for the
Philippines. The administration people
are hopeful that he will not oppose the
appropria ton, but they know absolute
Iy nothing regarding his intentions in
that connection. 1t is conceded that if
he decides to fight the appropriation il
will be defeated.
Failure to put through the appropria-
ton -at this session would compel Pres
fdent Mckinley to do something he is
very anxious to avoid doing namely
call an extra session of the Fifty-sixth
congress. By the terms of the treaty
the money must be paid to Spain with
In three months after ratification. II
is known that Speaker Reed does not
desire an extra session of the Fifty
sixth congress and it is thought his
opposition to an extra session may in
huence him to put no obstacles in the
way of passing the appropriation of
$40, ,000, 900 this winter.
Unless the president changes his
mind in the meantime he will transmit
the treaty TO the senate Wednesday.
1t will be accompanied by brief mes
sage in which he will urge prompt rati-
ncation. He will probably take pains
to call attention to that clause of the
treaty which provides that the civil
and political status of the native in
habitants of the Philippines shall be
determined by congress.
Mr.. Mckinley undoubtedly has some
fixed views regarding the future of
the archipelago, but he will not make
them public at present
When the treaty is received 1t will be
referred to the committee on foreign
relations. Three members of that COM
mittee. Senators Davis, Frye and Gray
assisted in the work of negotiating the
treaty and they will. of course, vote
for an immediate and favorable report.
CERTAIN TO APPROVE.
All the Republicans on the commit
tee are pronounced expansionists. Sen
ator Morgan, who stands at the head
of the Democratic membership is also
an advocate of imperialism. OF the
other Democrats, Senators Turpie,
Daniel and Mills are opposed to a
colonial policy. but it is claimed they
will support the treaty.
1t is probable the document will be
reported to the senate early next week.
The senators who are opposed to ratifi-
cation will make an effort to have it
considered in open session. A number
of senators. including Mason, of I'LL
nois, who Will vote for ratification, are
in favor of discussing the treaty in
open session. There will be enough
eNpansiopists, however, TO compel it's
consideration in executive session.
Among those who will speak against
ratification are Senators Hoar, Hale
Vest, Tillman. Caffery, Bate and
Jones, Of Arkansas. Senator Hoar will
make a three days speech, but under
the rules of the senate his remarks
will not appear in the congressional
record.
A two-thirds vote, or the support of
sixty senators. will be necessary to
ratify the treaty. The expansionists
claim that seventy senators have
pledged themselves to vote for ratifi-
cation, but this claim is doubtless an
eXagGeration. Still, it is almost GER
tain the treaty will be ratified. for
number of senators who are opposed to
Imperialism will not vote against ratifi-
cation. They say they cannot afford to
oppose treaty of peace, even though
it may contain provisions which are
Objectionable.
WILL ASK MONEY.
AS soon as the treaty is ratified
President Mckinley will address a mes
sage to congress asking an appropria-
tion of 10000, 900 to be paid to the
Madrid government as compensation
for the Philippines. Representative
Hit, of Illinois, will introduce a bill
in the house for this purpose and it
Will be referred to the committee on
appropriations. This will compel
Speaker Reed to show his hand as he
is in a position to control the action of
the committee on appropriations.
If the bill is reported back to the
house without unnecessary delay and
with a recommendation that 1t be pass
ed there will be no trouble. On the
other hand, if it is pigeopholed in the
committee there is bound to be a clash
bs tween the administration ard the
speaker.
In oder to get the apnrop,' alton
through the eXpansionists will attach it
as rder To one Of the regular appro-
priation bills Speaker Reed has in
variably held that such & proceeding
as attaching riders to appropriation
bills is in conflict with the rules of the
house, and, therefore, out of order. If
he decides that the Philippine appro-
priation cannct be carried through in