The Press., 1899-01-26
Washington Letter.
washington Jan. b, 1899.

washington Jan. B, 1899.
The claims of the supporters and op
poments of the treaty of peace, if honest
ly made, make it evident that a number OF
senators are doing the two-face act. The
opponents now claim that they have
pledges from a sufficient number of sena-
s-thirty-six Is the number-to reject
the treaty, if it Is not amended so as TO
pledge this government against permanent
retention of the Philippines, while its
supporters say they have votes enough
pledged to ratify the treaty, if they can
get it to a vote. 1t seems as though
neither side was entirely confident in its
claims. Senator Davis is said to have de-
clined proposition made by Senator Cor
man, who is leading the opposition. to set
day for taking a vote on the treaty.
Many believe that the opposition Is indulg-
ing in big bluff for the purpose of trying
to get ma jority OF the senate to vote for
resolution, in advance of the vote on
the treaty, declaring the policy of this
government to be the same towards the
Philippines as towards Cuba-merely to
keep them under military government
until they are capable of maintaining a
stable government of their own. While
many of the strongest supporters OF the
treaty and of the administration believe
that it will be the policy of the admins
tration to allow the Filipinos the fullest
extent of self-government that they show
themselves capable of-even to absolute in.
dependence-they do not regard it AS good
policy to bind this government in advance;
therefore, there is little probability that
such resolution will pass the senate. and
none whatever that it could get through
the house. The treaty will either be rati
fled or there will be an extra session to
ratify it.
The senate passed the amended Morgan
Nicaragua Canal bill, Satul day afternoon
by vote of 49 to 6. If the leaders of the
house were so inclined, this bill coulC
easily be passed, but the chances seem tc
be that an entirely new bill will be report
ed to the house, which would mean nc
canal legislation at this session.
The trainers of the river and harbor anc
bill, which has been reported to the house
are adopts in the division of public
"pork." Thirty odd states will share il
the twelve and a half millions appropri
ated by the bills; consequently votes will
not be lacking.
For the first time this session the hous
had what the old timers called ''fielc
day." 1t was sort of running discussion
which, although nominally upon a bill al
lowing a ship-building firm to sue in tn
court of claims for additional pay,
claims to be entitled to on contracts will
the government, it really embraced abou
everything In sight, including the war
the embalmed beef controversy, the Phil
ippines, the treaty of peace, and some spic.
personalities. There were five gentle
men who participated, Grosvenor, 0
Ohio; Simpson, of Kansas Carmack, o
Tenn.,; Bailey of Texas, aud Lewis o
Washington, but the star parts wer
played by the first and last named. While
the discussion was going on. members o
the house seemed to enjoy the hits made
regardless of who made them, but a
partisanship figured largely, they after
wards divided on political lines in express
ing opinion as to who got the best of 1t
The speech of Lewis was, however,
genuine surprise to the house, and causet
more than one man, who had been previ
| ously Indifferent, to express regret tina
he will be lost to the house after Marcel
4th. General Grosvenor has for man,
years been regarded as one of the mos
dangerous men in congress to tackle in
running debate. That man serving hi
first term could even hold his own in
scrap with him is considered remarkable
by old members. Lewis certainly die
that.
Senator Perkins has announc ed his in
tention to obey the instructions of tn
California legislature and vote for the rati
fication of the treaty of peace, because h
believes nine-tenths of the people Of hi
state wish him to do so, while Senate
White says he will refuse to obey the in
structions of the legislature, because
majority of its members are his pOlitica
opponents, and because he does not recog
nize the right of Legislatures to instruc
senators In matters involving conscienc
or conviction. H. debating society i
hunting hard nut to crack, let it decid
which of these senators is right only on
| of them is.
| Mysteries of Sound.