Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-01-27
Senate Refuses to Discuss Peace
Treaty in Open Session.
DATE FOR TAKING A VOTE NOT FIXED
ee~nators Lodge and Clay Favor Rati-
hcation-The House Begins Con-
s~dderation of the Army Re-
organization Bill.

llOA VI tAC lACotJ III w. . N@S
voted down and there was more or less
talk Of taking a vote, though on this
point no definite decision vas reached.
Probably the most significant occur
renee Of the session was the banter
upon the question of q final vote upon
the treaty itself. Senator's German and
Vest, both of whom oppose ratification,
urged the Importance of getting a vote
1t no very distant day. Senator Cor
s1En In q brief but very earnest speech
said that much had been said by the
friends Of ratification as to the neces-
sity Of disposing of the subject without
any great delay. He agreed with them
on that point and If they were In earn
sst he felt that a vote might be reached
within ten days. Senator Vest Joined
In Senator Germans appeal and urged
Senator Davis to name a day and an
hour when the vote could be taken.
1--WE want 1t understood distinctly" he
said, shat we are not holding the
treaty up at all. Name the day. We
Will agree to any date that will suit
Hou. If you have the votes you can
katify your treaty; If not, 1t will be de-
heated. The question will be disposed
other business"
"Let US vote now" responded Senator
Aldrich, who had just entered the
chamber after a visit to his home in
Rhode Island. 1--WE ought to be ready
10 vote in 10 minutes"
Senator Davis replied, however, that
the question of fixing a day for a vote
had not been considered by the COM
fnittee on foreign relations, and that he
would not feel justified in assuming
such a responsibility upon his own au-
thority unsupported by the action Of
bis committee. He promised to bring
The matter to the attention OF the oom-
mfttse at Its next session.
Favor Ratification.
Washington, Jan. 2b.-Two notable
speeches were delivered in the senate
tuesday, u by Senator Lodge (Mass.)
snd the other by Senator Clay (Ga.).
While the two senators differed dia-
netrically as to the policy of expan-
ton, upon which they dwelt, both are
III favor of the immediate ratification
Of the pending peace treaty. They
scntsnd that once the treaty Ia ratified,
iongress will have full power to deal
with conditions respecting the terri
pry acquired during the war with
spain, and not before. Senator Lodge
Particularly argued for a formal deo-
Aration Of peace, which could be had
bnly BY the ratification Of the treaty.
That accomplished, he was willing to
trust the American congress and the
American people to deal fairly, justly
and periodically with the Philippine
Islands, with full regard to the princi-
Plies Of our OWL government as set
forth In the constitution and in the dec-
Aration Of Independence. Senator
Clay was inclined to the belief that it
might be desirable for congress to
make a declaration Of intention regard
Ing the Philippines before the treaty
was ratified. He strongly opposed ex-
bansion, especially on the ground that
1t. would necessitate the maintenance
Of a large and expensive standing
army.
Washington, Jan. 25.-Th, sa.Ga
The army reorganization pih oPenou -
1n.4saaN under an agreement
py which the general debate Is to run
IL hours, exclusive of three night ses-
sions; the final vote to be taken not
later than three O'Clock next Tuesday.
Practically three propositions are be-
fore the house-the house bill providing
tor a standing army Of 100000 men, the
minority substitute increasing the
standing army to 10000 men and lodg-
ing with the president discretionary
power to call put $4,000 volunteers for
emergency service, and a proposition to
continue temporarily the regular army
at Its present war strength-62,0 600
men. It is also understood hat Mr..
Marsh (rep, HID will champion the
Miles bill. Among the supporters of
the majority bill there are those whom,
like Mr.. Mcclellan (dem., N. ", a son
Of Gen. George B. Mcclellan, who favor
q provision for a general staff made up
OF officers of the line SO as to make the
el.ay organization responsible to a sin
gle head. The fate of the measure is
still considered doubtful, though Chair
man Hull and his friends profess great
confidence in its passage. The debate
Tuesday was not exciting. Mr.. Hull
and MI. Mcclellan in support of the
measure and Mr.. Hay, of Virginia, in
opposition, divided the honors. The
other speakers were Messrs. Parker
J(rep., n. j. and Brown (rep., o. in
favor, and Messrs. Cox dem, Temp,
Bell (pop, COLI and Latham dem,
Tex against il.
Gen. Wheeler Presents a Statement.
Washington, Jan. 25.-The inquiry
ordered by the house of representa-
dyes as 10 what members were holding
outside Extraordinarily intended to
determine the status of Maj. Gen.
Wheeler and other members in the
ermy-was begun Tuesday by the com
nittee on judiciary. The inquiry was
public and besides the members of the
committee there were present Gen.
Wheeler, who made q full formal pres
entation of his views. holding that he
was entitled to sit as a member of the
house while serving as a volunteer;
Representative Hit, of Illinois, the
member of the Hawaiian commissions;
Representative Moody, of Massachu-
setts, a member of the postal commits
zion; Representative Often, of Wis
consin, a member of the industrial
commission. Representative Gard
her, of New Jersey, a member of the
industrial commission, submitted a
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