Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-25
THE PEACE TREATY
A Vote to Be Had on It Within Ten
Days.
FRIENDS THINK IT WILL PASS
If It Should Fail No Damage
Would Occur.
AN XTRA SESSION
A N f X L r A SES SION

| The peace treaty is to be voted on at this
| session. The advocates of the treaty have
| decided to accept the proposition of the op-
position to have vote within ten days.
| Senator Davis was not in q position yester-
day to accept the proposition made in ex-
ecutive session by the opposition to have a
vote, without consulting with the commit
tee. The matter has been considered now
and it is decided that the time for vote
will be accepted-ten days from now or
earlier.
This decision is concurred In by the ad-
ministration and by all interested in the
ratification of the treaty. The situation in
the Philippines demands action. The Fill
pinos, who are threatening hostility, can
not be regarded by this government as in
surgents Until the treaty is ratified the
Filpinos continue to be subjects of Spain.
This government, respecting the suspen-
sion of hostilities will not take the initia-
tive in any hostile move in the Philippines,
| nor will it deal with the people OF those is
lands except as the inhabitants of con-
quered territory.
After the treaty Is ratified our relations
toward these people will be changed, and
we may extend to them the broadest lib
erty. Meanwhile there is positive danger Of
blOodshed at Manila through the action of
the followers of Agunaldo. The opponents
of the treaty were warned during executive
session yesterday that such danger existed,
! and that they would be held responsible by
the people of this country if the Fiipinos
were encouraged to attack our troops at
Manila.
An Early Vote Needed.
The situation leads the advocates of the
treaty to the conclusion that a vote the
treaty should be had soon as possible
whatever risk there may be of not having
1 ,l,,x,
! fication. If a vote is had and the two
thirds is not secured. the responsibility for
what follows will rest upon those who
should bear it. But the leaders do not be-
lieve that the treaty will fail. They think
that when it comes to a vote several SEN
ators who are now talking in opposition
will vote for the treaty.
1t is conceded that the opposition have
thirty-five OF thirty-six senators on the list
| who have declared their opposition to the
| treaty, but the claim is made that about
seven of these, if not more, will probably
| vote for the treaty when 1t comes to the
! test But should the treaty fail Of the
| necessary two-thirds it would not end the
| matter. 1t Is a mistaken impression that
| the treaty would thereby be rejected finally.
1t would simply have failed of approvar'
| and would remain subject TO reconsdera-
| ton at this session consideration at an
| extra session No grave risk is taken in
| venturtng a vote. If not enough votes to
| ratify the treaty were secured. some SEN
| ator favoring the treaty would change his
vote and then move a reconsideration, and
| this reconsideration would remain pending
| until disposed of. 1t would take ma
| jorty to table the motion to reconsider,
| and the opposition has not so many. But
| even if the treaty failed of the votes and
| the President were notified of that fact.
| without a recommendation, it is held that
| this action would not be final unless the
President accepted it as such and so noti-
| fed Spain.
| He might, It is held withdraw the treaty
| from this Senate and send it to the next
| at an extra session, and there 1T would be
| ratified.
| The Senatorial Contests.
The deadlocks in legislatures having sena-
| tors to elect are entering into the calcula-
| ton. Should all these deadocks continue
| ten votes of the next Senate would be tied
| up, and at least eight of these would be
| treaty votes The new Senate would then,
| for the time being, consist of eighty men,
| bers, of which fifty-four would be neces-
| sary to ratify the treaty.
On this calculation even, which, of course
is based on improbable assumption
| of SO many vacancies, the treaty would
| have 1fty-two absolutely certain votes,
and 1t is obvious that among a num-
| Der OF uncertain senators the other two
could easily be had. This Is the extreme
| chance of the opposition for the future
but of course, there is no possibility of so
| many vacancies. The election of Scott in
| West Virginia today breaks one deadlock,
| and others will be broken, so that there
| will be a safe majority above two-thirds
| to count on at the extra session, should the
| necessary two-thirds not be had at this
| session. The chances are that the vote,
| which it was today decided should be taken
| on the 9th of February, will result in the
| ratification of the treaty, Notwithstanding
| the present showing of the opposition.
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