The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-01-27
WORK AGAINST TREATY
Democratic Senators Found at Old
Tricks-Trying to Force an
Extra Session.
Special Correspondence of The Gazette.

cratic ammunition when he ordered the
court-martial Of Commissary General
Eagan for having used language unbe-
coming an officer aud a gentleman con-
oerning General Miles, his superior
officer, in his testimony before the war
investigating commission. There was
not the slightest doubt about what the
president would do in this case, al
though the democrats pretended to
think that Eagan's coduct would be
overlooked by the president, because
Secretary Alger and General Miles are
not on good terms. The court-martial
will assemble in Washington at once
and the standing Of the well-known
officers who will compose it makes it
certain that the verdict will be. prompt
and just.
Among the president Is callers last
week were a number of prominent
Ohioans, who were in Washington for
the purpose of interesting congress in
the Ohio centennial celebration, to be
held at Toledo in 1909, and getting an
appropriation for government participa-
ton therein.
After adopting an amendment limit
ing the amount to be paid to the Mari
time Canal company to So, 1000. 900 and
voting down several others, one provid-
ing for direct ownership of the canal
by the United States government, the
senate passed the Morgan Nicaragua
canal bill.
With half a dozen exceptions, the
IL p,1oro%1o cn,,oko,c r,lo,, tbo 1ooJ 80
German, are engaged in a scheme to
force an extra session of the next con-
gress by preventing the ratification Of
the treaty Of peace at this session.
They dare not face the consequences of
fighting the treaty openly or even of
open flibustering against it to prevent
a vote but, as a result Of a conference
held last week, they will endeavor to
accomplish their purpose by Offering a
series of apparently legitimate amend
ments to the treaty, each of which they
will discuss. Senator Davis, who is in
charge of the treaty, has announced his
intention to push it to a vote, if it can
possibly be done.
Speaker Reed told the Illinois delega-
tion, which called upon him to request
the appointment of Mr.. Hopkins to sue
coed the late Mr.. Dingley as chairman
of the ways and means committee Of
the house, that he should follow the
traditions of the house and give the
craftsmanship to the ranking republican
ON the COMMUNICATION. Serene E.
Payne of New York. While discussing
the matter Mr.. Reed said that he had
a high appreciation of the ability and
Judgment of Mr.. Hopkins, as shown by
the frequency with which he asked him
to preside over tie house, but that he
could not give him the craftsmanship Of
ways and means, even if Mr.. Payne
had no claim thereon, because Illinois
already had two of the important chair
manships-the committee Oh appropria-
tions and the committee OH foreign
affairs. Mr.. Payne is fully qualified to
perform his new duties, which will in
clude the floor leadership of the repub-
licans Of the house.
The attempt to bluff the friends Of
the treaty into the adoption of some
sort of resolution committing this gov
eminent against permanent retention of
the Philippines, by claiming that
enough democrats will vote against rat
ification of the treaty to defeat it if
the "aunties." Like all their moves,
it will fail. Senator Chandler came
very close to voicing the unanimous
sentiment of the friends of the treaty
when he said: II am against any COM
promise. l believe we can ratify the
treaty, but if it is to be rejected. it will
be rejected by democratic votes, and
the democratic party will have to go on
record as against peace"
The navy reorganization bill, which
passed the house last week, provides for
the amalgamation of the line and
engineer officers and for a system Of
voluntary and compulsory retirement
that is intended to give more oppor.
tunities for promotion of deserving Off
GERS. It increases the marine corps to
the extent Of 1900 men, abolishes the
payment Of prize money, and provides
for the retirement on hree.quartersp pay
ct enlisted men and petty officers who
shall have served thirty years in the
navy. The bill also abolishes the grade
OF commodore, although allowing the
continued honory use Of the title.
A delegation Of North Carolina DEM
ocrats came to Washington to confer
with Senator Gallery Of Louisiana be-.
fore tho North Carolina legislature fol.
lowed this Louisiana method Of disfran.
chising negroes by providing tests for
voting which they cannot possibly
meet. Senator Caffery says he told this
delegation, ~ no told thu people Of his
own state. that thu method would
never stand tho tess OF the United
etatas supsams eurt. hscauas % creates
. prlvtleSed clssa.
nsnaeee HAnoa nj Georgia made y
leno speeaA u favor oi our immediate
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