The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-01-01
FORECAST OF WORK
BEFORE CONGRESS.
CURRENCY BILL IN SENATE, DEFT-
Cheney BILL IN THE HOUSE,.
Republicans In Upper BODY VIII Let
Opponents DO the Tallking-Phil-
ippine Question VIII Provoke
Discussion In Both Chambers

WASHINGTON, Dec. 3l-With the re-
sumption OF its sittings Wednesday, the
senate will practically begin the real work
of the session. After the present week
longer daily. sessions will be the rule. and
very few more adjournments from Thurs
day to Monday are likely.
In the absence of Senator Aldrich chair
man of the COMMITTEES of finance, who will
have charge of the financial bill. no def
mite statement can be made as to how vig-
orously he will press that measure at the
beginning of business, but there is no doubt
of his general determination to push 1t
along as rapidly as possible, after the pres
ent week. He has given notice that he will
call the measure up on Thursday and It
is generally believed he win then. or on the
following day, make q statement in sup
port of 1t. III, {s II
Opposition to Do Talking.
1t is the purpose of the supporters Of the
bill to make very few speeches. leaving
the opposition to do the greater share Of
the talking. while its opponents. on the
other hand, will use every endeavor to
draw the friends Of the bill into running
debate.
There is no present purpose on the par.
of thu opposition to delay the passage of
the bill unnecessarily and. likewise, none
on the part of It's supporters to press the
measure to the personal Inconvenience of
opposing senators. Those senators who
are antagonistic to the hili as rule, freely
confess their inability to defeat it, saying
that it will get practically the entire Re-
publican vote, IL needed, and probably one
or two Democratic votes. With a session OF
unlimited duration before them, they can
not hope to conduct a successful filibuster
Hence, they will not seek to delay the
measure beyond the time necessary to dis
cuss it's provisions and give the country
the benefit of their analysis of its provi-
sions. How long 1t may take them to do
this will depend largely upon the length
of the daily sessions and the freedom from
Interruptions by other business.
Long Contest over Quay.
AT present there is but one other mat
ter which threatens to interfere with the
continuity of the proceeding on the finan-
cial bill. That is the right of Senator
Quay to a seat in the senate. Senator
Chandler, chairman of the committee on
privileges and elections, has stated that
report twill be made in the Quay case
soon after the beginning of business. 1t
now seems probable that there will be
more debate over the Quay contest than
over the financial measure. Up to date
not more than half dozen senators have
announced purpose to make set financial
speeches. while the probabilities are that
the Quay case will call out much animated
discussion. 1t will be difficult to hold the
discussion of foreign questions. and es-
pecially the Philippine subject. In check
during the financial discussion.
Will Discuss Philippines.
Many Southern senators are anxious to
bring. the Philippine question to the front,
and it may be safely predicted that there
will be more or less reference to 1t from
the beginning, as there will be an early
effort to get up the Samoan treaty, and
1t may furnish basis for discussion on the
foreign policy, If one is not found before
the treaty Is considered. During the pres
ent week the foundations of the financial
discussion will be laid, and it doubtless Will.
reveal much of the plans of both SIDES
to the controversy. There will be strenu-
Gus efforts to pass the bill without amend
ment. but the opposition will insist upon
votes of innumerable propositions. and en-
some of these they may get the support
of senators known to have pro-silver lean
ings.