The morning news., 1899-02-27

/ ty-ifth Congress. dealt with those far
/ reaching results growing out of the war.
Most important of these was the cOnsid-
Grafton Of the peace treaty In the Senate.
The treaty was transmitted TO the Senate
by the President on Jan. ]. IL was then re-
( ferred TO the committee on foreign rela-
tions, and after being held for just week
by the committee. was reported back to the
Senate on Jan. Il. The Senate had the
treaty under consideration for less than
a month the vote on ratification being
taken on Feb g. There was intense in
terest in the progress Of the question from
the beginning Of the discussion until the
close and this interest was intensified by
the doubt felt as to the result OF the vote.
When the Senate went into executive ses-
sion on Feb. G, half an hour before the
lime set for the final vote, the friends of
the treaty were certain Of only 50 Of the 56
votes necessary 20 insgSe the adoption Of
the resolution of ratification. Soon after
wards they secured promises from Sena-
tors Jones. of Nevada, and McEnery of
Louisiana, and when the vote was taken
the result stood 81 ayes to q nays, or one
vote more than was necessary under the
requirement of two-thirds majority.
While the treaty was exclusively before
the Senate, the House had some indirect
participation with subjects covered by the
treaty As the branch originating all reVe-
nue. measures. il providing an appropria-
ton of S20,000000 TO pay Spain according TO
the terms of the treaty. This was first pro-
posed as an amendment to the sundry civil
bin. but was ruled out on technical
grounds. Later IL passed as an independ-
ent measure. Efforts were made 10 ADD 10
IL a declaration of the policy of the gov
eminent as to the Philippines, but this
was defeated by the overwhelming vote
Of 213 TO 81 The resolution OF Senator Nc
Emery. declaring the policy toward the
Philippines came TO the House and was
referred to the committee on foreign af-
fairs. but no final action is probable.
Brought Up Army Question.
Another important measure resulting
from the war is that known as the Hull
bin. or the HULL -Hawley bill. for the in
crease and reorganization of the regu-
lar army Following Rhe new conditions
arising. two plans of army increase were
presented 10 Congress. The House militia
nv committee first took up the subject
and after elaborate hearings presented
through Chairman Hull bill having the
approval of the war department IL in
creased the army to approximately 10000
men. When considered In the
House the grade OF Neuteh-
ant general was struck out,
discretion was given the president to re-
duce the size of companies, so that the to-
tai force would be about 10000 men and
some other amendments were made. but
the bill substantially as presented was
passed. In the Senate, the committee on
military affairs divided equally on the Dill,
Gen. Hawley, the chairman, and four
others reporting a bill similar to that
passed in the House, while five other SEN
ators made a minority report, opposing
the proposed increase, and suggesting
plan for the temporary continuance of
The military establishment at
81 2.0o0. with an addiaional force
of S5. 900 TO be used in outlying insular pos
sessions. These several propositions have
aroused wide differences, and it will not
be until the last days of the session, If
at all. that the final form of the measure
can be determined.
The latest phase of the subject is pre-
sented in a compromise planted by party
leaders in the Senate, after comforting with
the executive authorities. The compro-
mise proposes only a slight permanent in
crease of the regular army, as given in
detail and authorizes the President unth
July l. 1901 to maintain the regular army
at $1,000 and to raise force of not more
than 35 600 volunteer infantry, organized as
thirty regiments This plan is now pend
ing before the Senate.
The Nicaragua Canal.
The Nicaragua canal question also has
taken a prominent place in the work of
this session. AT the outset Mr.. Morgan
had the subject made the unfinished busi-
ness of the Senate, and with this right-of-
way il was kept constantly before the
Senate, when not in executive session, un-
ill finally passed. The essential feature
of the Morgan bill is in providing that
the United States shall participate in the
contru ction of the canal, subscribing for
925 900 shares at 500 each, out of a total
OF 100000 and that the work of the Mar
itime Canal Company of Nicaragua in
executing the work shall be practically
under the direction of the United States.
When this bill reached the House COM
mittee on commerce, all after the enacting
clause was struck out and what is known
as the Hepburn plan, drafted by Repre-
sentative Hepburn, Iowa, chairman of the
House committee on interstate and foreign
commerce, substituted. The essential
feature of the Hepburn substitute is IN
making the canal exclusively a govern
ment undertaking. II authorizes the
President to acquire by purchase from
Nicaragua and Costa Rica the territory
necessary "to excavate. construct, control
and defend a canal" etc. Such sum as Is
necessary for purchasing the right-of- way
is appropriated. When the route is thus
secured the President is authorized to
have the Secretary of War excavate and
construct the canal from a point near
Greytown, via Lake Nicaragua, to a point
near Brlto, on the Pacific. The sum 0f
Sll5.0G0.000 is appropriated for the compile
ton of the work authorized.
Question stiII i'm Doubt.
As it was feared the lateness of the ses-
sion might prevent consideration of either
the Morgan bill or the Hepburn plan In
the House. various plans were adopted to
secure action by way of one of the general
appropriation bills The first move of this
kind was when Mr. Hepburn offered his
plan as an amendment to the sundry civil
hili. After animated discussion, the
amendment was ruled out of order. and on
an appeal from this decision, the chair
man. Mr.. Hopkins, was sustained. The
next move was made in the Senate. when
at the instance of Mr. Nor
gan the commerce committee re-
ported an amended form OF the
Hepburn plan as an amendment to the
river and harbor bill. 1t is expected that
the final success or failure of the pro-
ject viii not be known until the closing