Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-02-06
A VOTE TO Be TAKEN
On the Treaty Of Peace With Spain
This Afternoon.
THE SESSION MAY BE HELD BE-
HIND CLOSED DOORS, AS THE
SITUATION IS RECOGNIZED AS
GRAVE-THE FRIENDS OF THE
TREATY ARE CONFIDENT THAT
1T WILL PASS.

TREATY ARE CONFIDENT THAT
1T WILL PASS.
Washington, February 5.-Whatever
may be the result of the vote, which
is to be taken in the Senate to-mor-
row, on the ratification Of the peace
treaty with Spain, the subject of the
relation of this country to the Philip
uppermost topic in the Senate during
the week. The hostile demonstration
of the Filipino forces under Aguinaldo
renders this event inevitable The oc-
currence has had the effect of intensi-
flying the feeling in the Senate, which
was almost at fever heat. On this &C
count it will be very difficult for the
Senate to take up other subjects.
For the present all interests center
in the outcome of the vote on the
treaty. This vote will mark the close
of one Of the most memorable con-
tests that ever occurred in the Senate,
and there is profound and widespread
interest in the outcome. The vote is
set for o'clock and the balloting will
begin promptly at that hour.
The first vote will be on amend
ments. OF these the only important
one yet offered is by Mr. Vest, placing
the Philippines on the same basis as
Cuba. The vote will then be taken
upon the treaty itself. A favorable
vote on the part of two-thirds of the
members of the Senate is necessary
full membership of the Senate present
sixty votes will be necessary to secure
a favorable result. There are seven
Senators absent from the city. OF
these, five, namely, Messrs. Proctor,
Stewart, Cannon, Wilson and Wet
more, are favorable to the treaty and
Messrs. White and Turpie are opposed
to it. Senator Stewart is expected to
arrive in time to cast his vote, and if
this expectation should be realized
there would be OILY six absentees. and
it would be very convenient to ar
range for pairs. as two Senators in the
affirmative will necessarily be paired
against one in the negative. On this
basis, the total vote of the Senate
would be 81. and Sc would be neces-
sary to ratify.
The friends of the treaty are count
ing very confidently upon securing the
votes. When the Senate adjourned
Saturday they lacked only two votes
Of having the necessary number, and
the general opinion among the adyo-
Gates of the treaty is that the hostil-
tiles in Manila will have the effect of
bringing a sufficient number to their
standard to insure a favorable result
I hey say there are half a dozen Sen
ators who are not so completely com
mitted against the treaty as to prevent
their coming to the affirmative side.
The opponents of the treaty do not con-
cede their defeat, but some of them
privately confess uneasiness over the
result as the effect of the Manila en-
gagement. Every ballot as it is cast
will be scrutinized with the utmost in
terest, and a very close tab will be
kept by many Senators on the progrek
of the vote. If it should become APP
parent that the treaty is to be defeated
some friend of it will cast his vote in
the negative, or the purpose of moving
a reconsideration, and this motion for
reconsideration will be made immedi-
ately after the negative result is
known. Whether, however, the treaty
should be postponed for an extra ses-
sion will depend upon subsequent de-
velOpments. The proceedings in con-
nection with the vote will be entirely
in executive session, but if the unan-
imOus agreement is observed, the first
two hours of the days session will be
open to the public. 1t is possible, how
ever, that there may be a motion to
close the doors Immediately after con-
vening, because Of the feeling that the
situation is too grave to permit of open
discussion.
With but four weeks of the session
remaining. Speaker Reed and the Rules
Committee of the House have taken
the reins in their hands to keep the
be attacked in order to avoid an extra
session. But four appropriation bills
remain to be acted upon by the House:
the army navy, sundry civil and gen
eral deficiency. Two of these, the sun
dry civil and the naval will be ready
during the early part of the week. The
Rules Committee yesterday blocked out
work for the week as follows:
Tomorrow, suspension day; Tues
day and Wednesday, public buildings;
Thursday and Friday. appropriation
bills: and Saturday. eulogies upon the
late Representative Dingley. 1t is like
~ that the Census bill will be passed
under suspension Of the rules to-mOr-
row. but it may be that owing to its
importance, although here is no special
opposition to the bill, its consideration
may be postponed. Nothing definite
has been settled about the Nicaragua
canal bill. Hawaiian or shipping bills.
but they are 800 important to be hur-
ried through under suspension Of the
rules. The public building bills. which
viii be considered Tuesday and We'd
nesday. have not all been reported. but
they will include bills for the New
York custom house. the Carnegie IL