The evening times., 1899-01-16
GENERAL POLITICAL GOSSIP.

SSSHfOh 1-TOSpNCts-ln ne uSatH
of Representative Dingley will delay pro-
ceedings in the House, and will probably
furnish another link in the Chain which
may force an extra session OF Congress
next spring. 1t has been a matter of re-
mark that Speaker Reed appears to be IN
different upon the subject of an extra ses-
ira session. Apparently he is doing moth
ing TO prevent the calling of an extra ses-
sion. The House has made very little
progress in dispatching business since re-
assembling after the holiday recess In
the judgment of impartial observers the
chances for an extra session next spring
are growing daily. The Eagan stencil, for
instance, will necessarily delay action on
any army reorganization bill. if it does
not defeat it altogether at the present
session.
The Administration leaders believe that
il will be necessary to have an extra ses-
sion in the spring if the army reorganiza-
tion bill is not passed before March A.
Then the census Nicaragua Canal, river
and harbor appropriations, and Legislation
for Hawaii are all down on the calendar
and are regarded as of the first impor-
lance. While the President would not, it
| is asserted, by his friends, be justified in
calling Congress together In special ses-
sion by reason of the failure of any one
of the above measures to become law
before the expiration of the present ses-
sion, the defeat of all of them would be a
very serious matter, particularly those re-
lating to the Nicaragua Canal and the TAX
ing Of the twelfth census. OF course the
failure Of the Senate to vote on the Peace
Treaty would OF itself force special ses-
sion as one of the provisions of the Treaty
is that il must be ratified within six
months from the time IL is submitted to
the respective governments involved. 9th
erwise it becomes null and void 1t is
conceded today that the outlook for vote
on the Peace Treaty before March 4. is not
as bright as it was ten days ago. The op-
ponents of the Treaty appear to have got
ten their second wind, so to speak, and
seemingly are determined TO prevent
vote at this session at least. They have
! il in their power to accomplish this pur-
pose unless the rules OF the Senate are
radically modified Take it all in all the
| betting today is little more than even
that there will be an extra session.
Senator Quay's FiEiit.-The Penn
sylvania legislature will take formal ball
lot for a successor to Mr.. Quay at Harris
burg tomorrow. 1t is not believed from
present indications that anyone will be
elected for some time. Mr.. Quay appar-
emily has not been able TO whip the re-
hSDuDlitdH IHHlDDtTS Vi Tie itS-
islature into line since the adjournment OF
the caucus at which he was nominated and
without them, or a very considerable por
tion of their number at least, Mr.. Quay
cannot win. Senator Quay's friends de-
! clare that if he does not get there that
no Senator will be chosen by the legsla-
! ture. Governor Stone would no doubt
gladly appoint Quay If the legislature ad
| journed without electing his successor, II
that would do him any good. But the
| Senate has established a precedent against
| admitting Senators appointed under these
! circumstances. The governor OF State.
| il is held, has no authority to fill vacancy
| that occurs by reason Of the failure of the
! legislature TO perform its duty in the
| election of a Senator.
Representative Charles w. Stone is be-
| Heved by good many people to be COM
! ing to the front as the opposition candl-
| date against QUAY Mr.. Stone was a cam
! didate for the Republican nomination for
| governor of Pennsylvania last fall and 1t
! is said that he received encouragement
! from the Quay forces. At the State con-
vention, however, Mr.. Stone was thrown
| down hard and Col William 4. Stone of
! Allegheny was nominated. Quay's friends
| it Is asserted, even carried their hostility
to Charles W. Stone to the point of knit
| ing him subsequently in his Congressional
| district The latter's friends, resenting
| the treatment he has received, have come
! to his support for Senator. 1t is believed
| that the combined opposition will rally TO
| the support of c. w Stone. There are, it
| is said, also good many men who are at
| present tied to the Quay chariot who will
| go to Stone the moment it becomes appar-
ent that Quay cannot win. Mr. Stone has
never been a bolter and he supported his
| successful rival, Col. William A. Stone,
! Loyalty for governor last fall. He has
| made splendid record in the house and
would make a Senator of which the Key
stone State need not be ashamed.
| Bribery in Senatorial Contcsts.-
The reports from California and Mon
| tana about the corrupt use of money in the
| Senatorial fights in those States are al
most incredible. 1t is not a new thing to
have 1t charged that money wac being used
/ TO buy SenatorShips, but the accusations
in the past have rarely been specific; they
| have always been very general in their
character, making it almost impossible for
the law to get hold of the guilty parties.
Facts and figures are given in Montana
| however, of a very convincing nature and
| if Speaker Howard E Wright, of the Cali
| fornia legislature, has not been misquoted
| there is immediate work ahead for the
| grand jury at Sacramento. Mr.. Wright
| admits having been paid the sum of 81, $50,
! by an agent of L. S. Grant, jr., to vote for
him. He says frankly that there were
| circumstances which prevented his car
| rying out his contract. Ever since the first
| ballot he has voted for Burns the candi-
date of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The
| circumstances" are not mentioned by
| Speaker Wright, but it is not difficult to
guess that they consist of a large retainer
| to vote for the railroad candidate. No more
brazen confession probably ever was made.
| The amazing part of the whole thing is
| that Wright appears to treat the matter
| lightly. He expects to return Grant his
money" he says, lin a few days" and then
matters will be all right. He evidently ex-
poets to continue as speaker of the Cali
| fornia legislature.