The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-02-12
THE WEEK IN CONGRESS.

ANA4 " A48sA -
Finance Bill WIN Occupy -Four Days
in the Senate SENATOR Ellins to
speak-The Quay Case VIII Also
Come Up-Porto Rican and Ha-
waiian Bills VIII Receive Atten-
ton.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 1l.-The arst
four days CT the week viii be given up
to the currency bill IN the senate, and
after that measure is disposed OF there
will be a contest for precedence in the
interest OF several measures. These
include the bills for providing forms Of
government for Hawaii and Porto Rico,
the Nicaragua canal bill and the reso-
luton for the seating Of senator Quay
upon the appointment OF the governor
Of Pennsylvania. Which OF these will
take precedencs remains to be deter
mined. Just now there is some sharp
sparring for first place. The currency
bill viii be voted on Thursday and all
the time no. given to such routine bus
mess as the introduction of bills and
the presentation OF reports and petit
lions will be devoted to this measure
until 1t is acted upoE by the senate.
Monday and Tuesday will be continued
with set arguments for and against the
bill prepared in advance, and Wednes-
day Will be devoted to speeches not ex-
ceeding ten minutes in duration on the
various amendments to the blu. The
most important of these amendments
is that offered by the Democrats,
through Senator Jones, of Arkansas,
for the free coinage of silver on terms
Of equality with gold. Following this
numerous other changes will be sug-
gested. but it is quite well understood
that all OF them will be voted unless
postponed by the committee on finance,
by which the bill originated. The DEM
ocrats count upon getting all the DEM
ocratic Popullstic and Silver Republic
can votes except those of Senators cat-
fiery and Lindsay, Gold Democra,s) for
the free coinage amendment but they
will stIlI fail far short of the necessary
number. No one doubts the passage
Of the bill by u large majority on the
finai vote. Senator Aidrich says he
counts upon majority Of twenty or
twenty-five votes. The opposition do
not concede SO many, but admit the
total against them is formidable.
The friends OF Senator Quay say they
fully expect to be able to get consid- I
Grafton OF the resolution in his behalf
Immediately after the financial bill is
disposed OF. but there Is unquestlona-
bly, a disposition on the part OF some
OF the Republican senators TO crowd
the matter over and take UP either the
Porto Rioan or the Hawaiian bill, the
chances between these two being favor
able to the Porto Rican measure. The
indications are that the Nlearsguan
canal bill win not be prepared until
after the -Pauncefote treaty is
acted upon by the committee on for
eign relations, though Senator Morgan
says he will ask for the consideration
of the bill at the earliest opportunity
Set speeches on the finance BILL
SO far as announced are as follows:
Monday, Senators EIkins, wOlcott
and Butler. Tuesday. Senators Allison
and Jones. of Nevada.
Busy Week in the House.
The time of the house will be com
pletely occupied this week. To-mor-
row. unde.,, the rules, viii be devoted
20 District OF Columbia business. on
Tuesday the legislative. executive and
judicial appropriation bill, which will
be reported TO the house tomorrow,
will be taken up. 1t is expected to con-
sume Tuesday and Wednesday, and on
Thursday the house viii enter upon u
weeks discussion OF the Porto Rican
tariff bill This measure, as the enter
ing wedge in the matter of legislation
for our insular possessions, naturally
attracts much attention, and there has
already developed great pressure for
time, especially upop the Democratic
side, so that II is probable that night
sessions may be held toward the close
OF the debate next week.