The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-02-18


cuse to Call Congress Together
After the Fourth of March-M
Hanna Says There VIII Be No
Compromise.
WASHINGTON, Feb. ia nisun-
derstanding among the Republican
senators as to the presidents attitude
toward the army bill is apparent. Sen
ator Allison states that Mr. Mckinley
will not insist on the passage Of the
Hull bill, If such insistence is likely to
cause an extra session of congress.
According to the statement made by
Mr.. Allison, the president will accept
the measure proposed by Senator Cock
rell, If by so doing an extra session
can be avoided.
Senator Hanna told some Of his
friends that the president would not
make any compromise in the matter.
Mr.. Mckinley, he said, wanted the Hull
bill passed for various reasons. He
thinks it Is not asking too much Of
congress to give him an army Of 100, 600
men, with provision that he shall,
in his discretion, reduce the number
to $4,000. Moreover, he does not favor
the proposition of Senator CockreII to
increase the army by enlisting the ma
tives Of our insular possessions.
According to Mr.. Hanna, the presi-
dent would not oppose the idea Of re-
cruiting few thousand soldiers from
the people of Cuba or Porto Rico, but
he is of opinion that it would be a
dangerous experiment to attempt To
strengthen the army by enlisting the
natives Of the Philippine archipelago.
DTsCOURAGING FEATURE.
A discouraging feature of the situa-
ton from the standpoint Of the ad-
ministration, is that number Of Re
publican senators are opposed to the
Hull bill and will not vote for it, except
under protest. The measure was pre-
pared by Secretary AIger and Adjt.
Gen. Corbin, and it is defective in
many respects.
The majority of the senators on both
sides prefer the bill drawn by Gen.
Miles, if a reorganization of the army
is to be made at this time. Mr.. Hanna,
however, has served notice on his Re
publican associates that the president
wants the Hull bill, and, if 1t is not
passed at this session, an extra ses-
sion Of the Fifty-sixth congress will
be called Immediately for the purpose
of putting It through
On account of misunderstanding ex-
isting among the Republican senators
when the Hull bill was reported, 1t was
laid over to await Mr.. McKinley's re-
turn from Boston. AS soon as he gets
back to the White house the Repub-
hcan members of the military affairs
committee will call on him in order
to learn just what he desires IN the
way of army legislation. If he stands
out for the Hull bill. it will be almost
impossible to avoid an extra session.
While the president has all along ap-
peared to oppose the idea Of an extra
session. many Republicans as we'll as
Democrats in both houses believe he
will not be disappointed If the situa-
ton compels him to convene the Fifty
sixth congress early in March.
COMPROMISE TALK.
There was a movement in the senate
today looking to a compromise on the
army bill. The movement originated
with several Republican senators who
advanced the opinion that a Comprom-
ise was preferable to an extra session.
The Cockrell bill was accepted by them
as the first advance on the part Of the
Democrats toward an understanding,
and many felt that they would go fur
ther in that direction in case the Re
publicans should indicate a willingness
to meet them half way The movement
grew wholly out Of the desire to avoid
a special session and was participated
in by some Of the Republican leaders.
When the matter was brought to the
attention Of Senator Hawley. chairman
of the committee on military affairs, he
gave it no countenance whatever. de-
clariug that he was not willing TO yield
anything. He was critical of the Cock
rell bill. finding especial fault with its
provisions for natives of the new pos
sessions i'll the American army. He
announced his purpose to stand by his
notice to call UP the bill reported by
the Republican members. and insist
upon consideration on that basis, and
that only.
Other Republican members Of the
committee did not appear so decided.
senator FrOctor, VINO uoes not support
the house bill, is expected TO return to
the city tomorrow. and there will then
be a ma jority of the committee antago-
nistic to the bill.
The Democratic senators generally
assume an appearance of indifference.
but the indications are that they will
make some concessions. 1t may be
stated, therefore. that while no COM
promise has been reached good prog
ress has been made towards reaching
sne.