The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-04
TREATY OF PEACE
To. COME FIRST
Congress Will Recon-
Vene To-Day.
PROGRAMME OF THE SENATE
PARIS AGREEMENT CERTAIN TO
BE APPROVED.
Nicaraguan Canal Bill Will Command
Right of Way at the Begin
ming of the Ses-
sion.
PARIS AGREEMENT CERTAIN TO
BE APPROVED.
Special Dispatch to The Call.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 3.-Congress will
reconvene tomorrow. The Senate will al
most Immediately adjourn for the day as
an evidence of respect for the memory
of Senator Morrill, 1t is customary not
to transact any business whatever on
such occasions, but there is a possibility
that a message may be received from the
President transmitting the peace treaty,
as 1t is known to be the general desire
that the treaty shall formally be laid be-
fore the Committee on Foreign Relations
at the earliest possible moment, so that
the committee may make its report as
promptly as consistent with its duty in
the premises.
A session of the Senate will be held on
Thursday, but there is a movement look
ing to an adjournment from that day
until the following Monday, based on the
probability that there will not be full
attendance of Senators SO soon after the
holidays. This plan will be antagonl2ed
by the friends of the Nicaragua canal and
other Senator's who are champlonlng
special measures, and it now appears
quite probable that they will be able 10
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 Iuliy
occupied if half the work that is planned
is TO be done. None of the regular ap-
preparation bills have passed the Senate
and the river and barber bill is to be
added to the regular list this session.
None regard the treaty OF less importance
than the supply bills, and ii will be
pressed along with them when reported,
practically without regard to other pllIS
OF other measures of magnitude which
will press for consideration in the Senate
during the session, the Nicaragua bill will
take precedence, but it Will be urgently
pressed by the Hawaiian government bill,
the anti-scalpers bill and the Interstate
TO mo
Of the probability concerning measures
for the increase of the standing army and
of the navy. Senator ElkinS and other
friends of that measure Will also CON
tinue to urge the bill regulating the regis
tration Of foreign-built vessels wrecked IN
American waters.
These are only the most important ques-
tons demanding consideration IN the
number of measures of less Importance.
The Nicaragua canal bill will command
the right of way at the beginning or the
session, and will hold its place II 1t IS
made evident that vote can be secured
on it before the appropriation bllls and
the treaty are to be taken up. II II can
not be disposed of before these are
brought UP it will be temporarily dis
piaced from time TO time. The friends of
the bill maintain, however, that debate
is practically exhausted, and they are
hopeful of securing vote at no very as
tant date They profess to feel very much
encouraged by the preliminary report OF
the Walker Commission, which was made i
public last week. Senator Cullom mas
given notice of a motion to take up the
anti-scalping bill as soon as the canal
bill is out of the way;
There is a growing belief that the treaty
will not be made the subject OF long de-
hate and what two weeks ago was
strong probability of its ratification nay may
be said now to be a certainty. Nothing
less than some unforeseen emergency can
prevent the Senate's favorable action
upon il at the present session. There are
features in the treaty which many sena-
tors consider Objectionable, but the TACT
that il is a treaty of peace and that they,
as rule have nothing in its stead tea; t,o to
offer will prevent any factious opposition.
So far as the opponents have a plan, 1t
is to let the treaty go through and then
devote themselves to shaping legislation
consequent upon it's ratification. They
may offer their amendment committing
this Government against an attempt to
exercise sovereignty in the Philippines.
but they do not expect 1t to become
part of the document
The treaty will be discussed in execu-
tive session, but the Senators will con
tinue to make speeches in the open Sen
ate on Senator Vests nti-eXpanSnnSE es-
OlutiOQ. El[$GVSNN