The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-16
CONGRESS THIS WEEK.
The Nicaragua Canal Bill and the
Paris Peace Treaty.

measures which take precedence under the
existing order of the Senate. These ques-
tions are the Indian appropriation bill and
the Nicaragua canal bill. Under the agree
ment made last week the canal bill will be
taken up at o'clock Tuesday for discus
sion in speeches not to exceed fifteen min
utes in duration. There is no agreement for
a vote on the bill, but the belief is general
that the understanding already reached will
lead to an early vote. The senators OPP
posed to the pending bill express no inten-
ton of trying TO prevent a vote and the
friends of the bill are very confident that
this elimination will not be postponed be-
yond Wednesday. Senator Morgan, who mas
led the contest for the measure, to-day ex-
pressed the opinion that the final vote would
be reached before adjournment Tuesday.
He does not expect a great many fifteen
minute speeches, and he predicts that the
bin will go through without being amended
in any essential particular. The accept
ance by the committee of the Berry amend
ments has had the effect of removing much
| Of the opposition to the BILL and there is
believed to be little doubt of its passage
when the vote is taken.
The Senate will attend the funeral of Rep
resentative Dingley Monday at noon, but
/ after this ceremony The senators will return
II
the Indian bill. This bill may continue to
hold attention until Tuesday, and if such
should prove to be the case the further con-
sideration of the treaty would be postponed
until after action upon the Nicaragua BILL
In the meantime the pension and diplomatic
appropriation bills will have been reported
from the committee on appropriations, but it
| is not the purpose at present to give them
! precedence over the treaty. Senator Davis,
/ chairman of the foreign relations committee
| and Senator Allison, chairman of the ap-
propriations committee, are working in per-
| fect harmony, so that no clash between
the treaty and the supply bills is probable.
Senator Bacon has given notice Of a speech
on the general Question of extension of ter
| ritory on Wednesday. His address will be
| based on the resolutions regarding the
| status of the Filipinos introduced by him.
| self some time since, and its delivery may
| lead to considerable debate practically on
] the treaty in open session. 1t is also prob
| able that there will be more or less dis
| cussion of the resolution of Senator Hoar
for the recognition of the independence of
the Filipinos, introduced on Saturday last
1t is also understood that Mr.. Allen will at
the first opportunity continue the talk upon
his resolution for an investigation of the
! look is against any serious consideration of
the treaty before Thursday
The opponents of the treaty profess great
confidence in being able to defeat it, upon
vote, and to believe that the friends of
| the agreement will seek to postpone a vote
until next session. The Democratic oppo-
nents Of the agreement have held several
| meetings during the past week, and those
who have attended profess to be very hope
| ful concerning the outlook. They claim
thirty-four votes in opposition, or three
| more than necessary to defeat. They say
| they win be satisfied to have the treaty
ratified providing an amendment is en-
grated upon it declaring against the main
| tenance of sovereignty in the Philippines,
| but the supporters of the treaty decline so
far to grant any such concession. Some of
| them indicate willingness to adopt a sepa-
rate resolution to this end, and it is not
| impossible that this course may be pur-
sued. The supporters of the treaty do not
claim to be in the least disturbed over the
| outlook. They count upon considerable de-
| lay in securing action, but still hold to their
contention that the treaty will be ratified
| just as it came to the Senate.
The work of the House during the coming
week will be overcast with the sad rites
| dllSiulilS NHS iildl tributes OF MI. DlnGleY.
| These will be held in the House of Repre-
| sentatives tomorrow. On Tuesday the
| legislative work of the House will be re-
sumed with the naval personnel bill. coming
over from last Friday. But the personnel
| bill may be displaced by the contested cleo
| ton case of Brown VS.. Swanson, formal
notice having been given that it would be
called up on Tuesday. An election case has
| the highest privilege, and if the notice is
carried out the personnel bill will go over
Wednesday has been set aside for the COM
mittee on interstate and foreign commerce,
an agreement to that effect having been
made before the holidays. The most i'm
| portant bill this committee has on the cal
endar is that providing for Pacific cable
| running to Hawaii and thence to Japan.
BY Thursday the postoffice appropriation
/ bill will be reported and ready to take up in
| the House, and perhaps also the military
to the time when the important bill for the
| increase of the regular army can be taken
up. 1t is awaiting the recovery of Chairman
| Hull, of the military committee. and should
| he be about by the end of the week this
| measure will be brought forward. But
there is little prospect that his GONZALES
cence will permit this. He was sitting up
yesterday, but his strength is hardly equal
| to leading in this contest Beyond this
there is little of definite nature forecasted
l for the corniny Wool,