The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-10
THE SENATE PROGRAMME.
Matters Which Are Causing the He
publican Managers Trouble.


publican Managers Trouble.
The proposed caucus OF Senate Repuo-
licans which was to have been held this
week to formally adopt programme CT
legislation for the remainder of the ses-
sion has been postponed. In the mean
time measures now under way will be con-
sdered, and when they are disposed OK
the caucus will be held and general
agreement reached as to what shall lie
done and what left undone in the few re-
naming weeks OF the session.
Majority leaders in the House of Rep
resentatives have given the Senate to
understand that they will be ready to ad-
journ as soon as the appropriation bills
are out of the way. 1t is probable that
in the mean time Speaker Henderson and
his licutenants will follow the policy OF
Speaker Reed and adjourn the House from
time to time when no appropriation bills
are ready, for the purpose OF avoiding the
consideration Of matters that. in the opln-
ion of the Republican leaders, it would be
better to let alone.
There are three matters tiat are causing
some trouble to the Senate managers In
their efforts to bring about an adjourn
ment early in June. These are the Sh p
Subsidy bill. the Clark case. and tne
Spooner resolution reported by Senaor
Lodge from the Committee on the Philip
pines, giving the President full control in
the islands after the insurrection sail
have ended and until Congress shall have
provided permanent form Of govern uent.
The steering committee has not put the
Shipping bill on its list of measures to be
enacted at this session. but Senator Hanna,
its joint author with Representative
Payne. is using every effort to convince
his cole. gues that it Is their duty to the
Republican party to carry out the parry
pledges and pass the bill at this session.
The steering committee however. made
up Of nine Republican Senators represent
ing various sections Of the country. think
that in view of the strong opposition to
any subsidy bill it would be wise to allow
the subject to go ever until next session.
and this Is what probably will be done.
The fact that Senator Hanna will give a
gentlemen's dinner tonight, which will te
attended by many of the mere important
Republicans in the Senate and House, has
been used as basis CT a report that the
Senator will try to convince the Senate
against its will that the Shipping bill
should be passed. The host OF the dinner
denies that he has any such intention. and
will not admit that any special signif-
cance can be attached to social gathering
of Republican leaders.
The Democratic Senators of real infu-
ence and Importance are not encourag ging
the fight being made by some OF their COL
leagues to prevent action on the resolu-
tion that Senator Clark of Montana is not
entitled to his seat. The Republican Sem
ators generally admit that 1t is highly i'm
portant that the Clark case be disposed
of promptly and the plan Of the steering
committee is to call it up some day and
announce to the Democrats that continu-
Gus sessions, night and day, will be held
! until a vote is reached.
AS for the Philippine resolution, the sit
uation is doubtful, to say the least. 1t has
all along been the plan OF the Senate Re-
publicans to pass it and it was one OF the
first subjects to be included in the steer
ing committees programme of action. In
order to bring about the early adjournment
now contemplated and which is desired b.
the Administration and the Republicans
generally In both houses of Congress. it
will be necessary to have some sort of un
derstanding with the Democrats as TO how
much talking they will do On certain sub
jects before allowing them to come TO a
vote, and the Philippines is apparently one
CT the things they would like to talk about
g0od deal. II may be found, therefore,
that the resolution is not SO important. but
that the Democrats can be deprived OF the
opportunity of discussing it at all by allow
ing 1t to go over until next session.
Some of the Republican Senators think
that there is no good reason why the res
olution should be pressed at this time.
ii merely gives the President full author
ity in the islands after the insurrection
shall have ended and pending further leg
islation. AS the insurreetion is not yet
ended. and may not be until Congress
meets again. the Senators think there is
nothing to be gained By allowing the Dem
ocrats topic to discuss for a week or
two for the purpose OF making campaign
material and thus upsetting the plan for
carly adjournment and interfering with
the Republican programme generally.
Until the Republican caucus meets next
week no decision will be reached on this
subject At present. however. the indi-
cations are that the Philippines resolu-
tion will be allowed 10 90 over until next
session, along with the Ship Subsidy bill.