The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-01-04
EWORK FOR THE SENATE
Peace Treaty Will Be the First
Thing Considered.
WILL BE PRESSED ALONG
The Nicaragua Canal Bill Will Take
Precedence Over Other Measures.
Many Senators Have Pet
Bills to Urge.


/, convene tomorrow. The senate will al
most Immediately adjourn for the day
as an evidence of respect for the men,
f.ory of Senator Morrill,. 1t is customary
not to transact any business whatever
ION such occasions, but there is a .'os-
tsibility that a message may be received
from the president transmitting the
peace treaty, as it is known to be the
general desire that the treaty shall be
formally laid before the committee on
foreign relations at the earliest posi-
BILE moment. so that the committee may
make its report as promptly as consist
ent with its duty in the premises. A
session of the senate will be held on
Thursday but there is a movement
looking to an adjournment from that
day until the following Monday. based
on the probability that there will not be
a full attendance of senators so soon
after the holidays. This plan will he
antagonized by the friends of the Mica
Tagua canal and by other senators who
are championing special measures, and
st now appears quite probable that they
will be able to hold the senate for at
least another day of the week. There
will be two months of the session left
to day from the date of reconvening
and the time will be fully occupied if
half the work is to be done that is
planned. None Of the regular appropri-
alton bills have passed the senate, and
the river and harbor bill is to be added
to the regular list this session. None
regard the treaty of less importance
than the supply bills, and it will be
pressed along with them when reported,
practically without regard to other bills.
OF other measures of magnitude
which will press for considerat ton in the
senate during the session, the Nicara-
qua bill will take precedence but it will
be urgently pressed by the Hawaiian
government bill, the anti-scalpers bill
and the interstate commerce commits
sion bill, to say nothing of the proba-
bility concerning measures for the in
crease of the standing army and of the
navy. Senator Elkins and other friends
of that measure will also continue to
urge the bill regulating the registration
OF foreign-built vessels wrecked in
American waters. These are only the
most important questions demanding
consideration in the weeks remaining.
Every senator has number of new
measures of less Importance.
The Nicaragua canal bill will COM
mand the right of way at the begin
ming of the session and will hold its
place if it is made evident that a vote
can be secured on it before the appro-
priation bills and the treaty are to be
taken up. If it cannot be disposed of
before these are brought in it will be
temporarily displaced from time to
time. The friends of the bill maintain,
however that debate is practically ex-
hausted and they are hopeful of secur-
ing vote at no very distant date. They
profess to feel very much encouraged by
the preliminary report of the Walker
commission, which was made pubic
last week.
Senator Cullom has given notice of a
motion to take up the anti-scalping bill
as soon as the canal bill may be out OF
the way. There is growing belief that
the treaty will not be made the subject
of long debate, and what two weeks ago
was strong probability of it's ratfica-
tfon may be said now to be a certainty.
Nothing less than some unforeseen
emergency can prevent the Senates ia
vorable action upon it at the present
session. There are features in the treaty
which many senator's consider objec-
tionable, but the fact that It is treaty
of peace and that they, as a rule, hav-
ing nothing in it's stead to offer, will
prevent any factious opposition. SO far
as the opponents have a plan it Is to
let the treaty go through and then de-
vote themselves to shaping legislation
subsequent upon It's IatlnCatlOn. Iney
may offer their amendment committing
this government against an attempt TO
exercise sovereignty in the Philippines,
but they do not expect to become part
of the document. The treaty will be
discussed in executive session, but the
senators will continue to make speeches
in the open senate on Senator Vests
anti-expansion resolution.
The consideration Of code of laws
for the territory of Alaska reported
from the committee on revision of the
laws, is expected to take up the greater
portion of the Legislative day in the
house Tomorrow. If that body follows
its usual custom it will adjourn some
time during the afternoon out of re-
spect to the memory of Senator Morrill,.
9 Thursday is to be given to the commit
tee on judiciary, when a number of
measures reported from 1t are likely to
be passed.