The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-01-16
THE WEEK IN CONGRESS
Nicaragua Canal Bill May Pass the
Senate This Week.
DISCUSSING THE PEACE TREATY.

The Philippines Question VIII Prob
ably Be Debated in Open Sesslon-Op-
ponents Of the Document Say They
Have Votes Enough to Defeat 1t.
Washington, Jan. 16.-It Is the pur-
pose of Senator Davis, In charge Of the
peace treaty, to again call 1t up as
soon as it can be reached without dis
placing other measures which take pre-
cedence. under the existing orders of
the senate. These questions are the In
dian appropriation bill and the Mica
raguan canal bill.
f Under the agreement made last week
the canal bill will be taken UP at
o'clock tomorrow for discussion in
speeches not to exceed Is minutes in
duration. There is no agreement for
a vote on the bill, but the belief is gen.
eral that the understanding already
reached will lead to an early vote. The
senators opposed to the pending bill
express no intention of trying to pre-
vent a vote, and the friends of the bill
are very confident that this culmina-
tion will not be postponed beyond
led the contest for the measure, today
expressed the opinion that the final
vote would be reached before adjourn
ment tomorrow, and he predicts that
the bill will go through without being
: amended in any essential particular.
The acceptance by the committee of
the Berry amendments has had the eff
feet of removing much Of the opposi-
tion to the bill, and there is believed
to be little doubt of Its passage when
the vote is taken.
The senators attended the funeral Of
Representative Dingley at noon today,
but after the ceremony they returned
to their desks and resumed considera-
tion of the Indian bill. This bill may
continue to hold attention until tomor-
row evening, and if such should prove
to be the case the further consideration
of the treaty would be postponed until
after action upon the Nicaragua bill.
In the meantime the pension and dip
lomatic appropriation bills will have
been reported from the committee on
appropriations, but it is not the pur-
pose at present to give them prece-
dence over the treaty.
Senator Bacon has given notice Of
speech on the general question of ex-
tension of territory on Wednesday. His
address will be based upon the resolu-
tions regarding the status of the Fill
pinos introduced by himself sometime
since, and it's delivery may lead to con-
siderable debate, practically on the
peace treaty in open session. 1t Is also
probable that there will be more or less
discussion Of the resolution of Senator
Hoar for the recognition Of the inde-
pendence of the Filipinos, introduced
on Saturday last.
The opponents of the treaty profess
great confidence in being able to de-
feat it. upon vote, and to believe that
the friends of the argeement will seek
to postpone a vote until next session.
The Democratic opponents OF the
agreement have held several meetings
during the past week, and those who
have attended profess to be very hope
full concerning the outlook. They claim
"a votes in opposition, or three more
than necessary to defeat. They say
they will be satisfied to have the treaty
ratified providing an amendment is
engrafted upon it declaring against the
maintenance of sovereignty in the
Philippines but the supporters of the
treaty decline so far to grant any such
concession.
In the house the main interest at
taches to the time, when the important
bill for the increase Of the regular army
can be taken up. 1t is awaiting the re-
covery of Chairman Hull, of the mill
tary 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 convalescence
will permit this. He was sitting up
yesterday, but his strength is hardly
equal to leading in this contest.
The house held no business session
today, owing to the death Of Mr.. Ding
ley. All the members attended the
funeral services in the hall of the house
at MON