Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-01-05
The SENATE'S WORK.
Congress Reconvened at Noon In Ac-
cordance With Resolution.
PEACE TREATY TO Be SUBMITTED.
The President Will Send II to the Senate
with the Brisfsst Possible Mess sgs-
A BELIEF That 1t VIII Not he
Debated Very Long.

NShssoss IVY .s"Ao'
Washington, Jan. 4-Congress re-
convened to-day in accordance with
the terms Of the holiday adjournment
resolution. The senate almost imme.
diately adjourned 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. A .session Of the SEN
ate will be held on Thursday, bpt there
Is movement looking to an adjourn
ment from that date until the follow
ing Monday, because Of small at
tendance OF senator's so soon after the
holidays This plan will be antago-
nized by the friends OF the Nicaraguan
canal and by other senators who are
champiouing especial measures, and it
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 SEES
sion left, to day, from the date Of
reconvening, and the time will be
fully occupied II half the work is to be
done that is planned. None of the
regular appropriation 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 with
out regard to other bills.
OF other measures OF magnitude
which will press for consideration in
the senate during the session the
Nicaragua bill will take precedence.
but 1t will be urgently pressed by the
Hawaiian government bill, the anti
scalpng bill and the interstate com.
mcrce commission bill, to say nothing
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
continue to urge the bill regulating
the registration OF foreign-bult YES
sells wrecked in American waters
These are only the most important
questions demanding consideration in
the few weeks remaining. Every sen.
ator has number of 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 II 1t Is made evident that vote
can be secured on 1t before the appro.
priation bills and the treaty are to be
taken up. II 1t cannot be disposed OF
before these are brought In, it will be
temporarily displaced from time to
time. The friends Of the bill main.
tain, however. that debate is prac-
tically exhausted and they are hope
full of securing vote at no very dis
tant date. They profess to feel very
much encouraged by the preliminary
report Of the Walker commission,
which was made public last week,
Senator Cullom has given notice of a
motion to take up the anti-scalping
bill SO soon as the canal bill may be
out OF the way.
The treaty of peace negotiated at
Paris will be submitted to congress at
once. Although tempting oppor-
tunity offers for the presentation of
the most forcible argument for the
speedy ratification Of the treat, in
the shape Of a ringing message to con.
gress on the subject, President Me-
Kinley has decided TO leave the pre-
sentation of the merits of the treaty |
to its friends in the senate. Accord.
ingly, the treaty will go to the latter
body with the brefest possible mes
sage Of transmission by the president,
Although 1t is admitted unotlicially
that the text of the convention has
been published in the papers with
absolute accuracy, the executive still
insists upon maintaining official
secrecy as to the treaty, as courtesy
TO the senate, which will be allowed
the privilege Of making the document
public at Its own discretion.
There is growing belief that the
treaty will not be made the subject OF
. long debate, and what, two weeks
ago, was u strong probability of its
ratification, may be said now to be a
Nothing less than some
unforeseen emergency can prevent the
senates favorable action upon it at the
present session. There are features In
the treaty which many senators con-
slider Objectionable, but the facts that
II Is treaty Of peace and that they,
rs rule, have nothing in It's stead to
offer, will prevent any factious opposi-
ton. SO far as the opponents have a
plan, 1t Is to let the treaty 60 through
and then devoting themselves to shap.
Ing legislation consequent upon It's
ratification. They may offer their
amendment committing this govern.
ment against an attempt to exercise
sovereignty in the Philippines, but
they do not expect it to become part
Of the document
This Preacher Has Enemlea
Hutchinson. Kan. Jan 4 -Sevaral