The San Francisco call., 1899-01-23
TWO COMPROMISES
ARE SUGGESTED
Propositions to Settle
the Peace Treaty.
NOTIFICATIONS ARE URGED
FIGHT AGAINST PERMANENTLY
HOLDING PHILIPPINES.
Army Reorganization Bill Will Come
Up in the House and the Battle
Against Proposed Increase
Renewed.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22-The fact
that the anti-scalping bill was made
the unfinished business of the Senate
by Saturdays vote does not necessarily
insure its immediate consideration The
general understanding is that this bill
will wait upon the peace treaty and the
appropriation bills and that the Indian
appropriation bill will be the first meas
ure to receive the attention of the Sen
ate during the week The diplomatic
and pension appropriation bills. also.
may be considered during the week
Several speeches on the general SUBJ
Ject of expansion are expected to be
made. One of these by Senator White
in opposition to the Government poll
cy will be made tomorrow, and SEN
ator Lodge will follow Tuesday with
brief talk in support of the policy and
in advocacy of the early ratification of
the peace treaty. How much time will
be given to the treaty in executive ses-
sion will depend upon whether the
Committee on Foreign Relations con-
Slders it in the interest of the treaty to
press consideration. There is an effort
to arrange a compromise which would
permit speedy action upon the treaty.
but if this is not successful the indi-
cations are for considerable delay.
Two compromises are suggested. One
of these is for a l-odifcation of the
treaty or the adoption of resolution
laratory against the permanent
holding of the Philippine archipelago,
and the other is for a modification of
the army reorganization bill on lines
hHr q &c
not yet possible to state whether either
course will be pursued.
On Friday the Senate will listen to
eulogies of the late Representative
Cook of Illinois.
The time of the House this week. ex-
cepting tomorrow, which has been set
aside for the consideration of District
of Columbia business, will be devoted
to the army reorganization bill. The
consideration of this bill, which Is re-
garded as pre-eminently the most i'm
portant general measure to come be-
fore Congress at this session. has been
delayed by the illness of Chairman
Hull of the Military Affairs Commit
tee. He has recovered sufficiently to
pilot the measure, however, and the
House has formally agreed to take UP
its consideration on Tuesday. The gen
eral debate, not including three night
sessions, is to continue fifteen hours
This is as far as the agreement goes.
1t includes no provision for final vote.
The debate promises to be both inter-
esting and important, as it will raise
all the questions involved in increasing
our standing army to 900 men. as
proposed by the bill, together with our
whole future policy relative to the ter
ritory acquired in the recent war with
Spain. There exists a wide variety of
opinions upon the ~roposition to in
crease the STANDING army. 1t has
strong majority of Republicans behind
it and 1t comes into the House with the
Endorsement Of the Presidents message
practically as an administration meas
ure. The Democrats and Populists are
intensely hostile to the whole PROPOSE
ton and intend to fight it to the last
ditch. They will have some support
from the Republican side, The oppo-
sition, however do not desire to en-
barrass the Government and are will
ing to provide for a temporary increase
in the army of $4,000 men in accord
ance with the provisions Of the substi-
tute bill offered by the minority of the
committee. Or they are willing to au-
thorize the continuance, temporarily
of the present war STRENGTH of the reg
ular army (62 2,000)-anything, in fact,
to prevent the creation of permanent
increase. In this they have the SYM
pathy of many of the Republicans
The fate of the bill is in grave doubt.
The statements made on the floor of the
Senate to the effect that it was not the
intention of the Government to hold
the Philippines permanently. although
their authoritative character was de-
MED have placed a weapon in the
hands of the opponents Of the measure.
who will use the statement that there
is doubt as to the future of the Philip
pineS as q strong arPument against q
permanent increase in the regular
army The bill may not be completed
this week as the order ~ermits it's con-
sideration to be interrupted by appro-
priation bills and conference reports.
One of these. the military acad-
emy bill, is on the calendar. The
river and harbor bill will be re-
ported tomorrow and the naval bill
probably before the end Cf the week.