New-York tribune., 1900-12-14
SHIPPING BILL MAY FAIL.
ACTION AT THIS SESSION OF CONGRESS
SEEMS EXTREMELY DOUBTFUL
IsY rr1EsRAPH 10 rHE rR1BuNE.l

tsY TELEGRAPH TO TEE TRIBUNE-l
washington. Dec. iS.-There is grave danger
that the Ship Subsidy bin cannot get through
:, this session OF Congress. Even Senator
Ygsnna is uneasy about the bin at present. The
chef hope OF its friends is the fact that Presi
cent Mckinley favors the BILL The record OF
,,s Administration shows that he has not ia
vored many propositions that failed in Congress.
II Is apparent that unless Senators Frye and
Wanna. who have charge OF the BILL get a vote
~ II before Congress takes 4 recess for the
christmas holidays the chances are slim for the
measure. The bin occupies q favorable parlia-
,nentary situation. and therefore fits friends have
not lost hope stin. its enemies are active and
their confidence grows daily. So few legislative
DAYS remsin before the holidays that the oppo-
sition may be able 70 consume all the time in
debate and other obstructive tactics and thus
postpone a inal vote on the bill until the session
will be too far advanced 10 admit Of the passage
of any measures except the necessary appropria-
zion bills This. at any rate, is the scheme OF
the opposition.
STRONG OPPOSITION IN THE SENATE.
r,.s known beyond a doubt that Senator Ali
-, ne most influential member Of the Senate
- -ssson OF his position at the head Of the great
.,rropriatlons Committee. is opposed 10 the bin
a. ,,s nrssent form. Senator Allison is the centre
oya ooterie OF Western Republican Senators who
sre coming 10 be known as conservatives" in
,bsr attitude toward various pending measures
T,bsr members OF this group are Mr.. Nelson, OF
Minnesota: Nr. Spooner. Of Wisconsin, and Mr..
MCMILLAN. OF Michigan. Senator Allison's young
colleague. dr DoIliver. OF Iowa OF course. has
,ofne6 the conservatives" Senator Hale, OF
maine is outspoken IN his opposition to the
,,sasyre This takes from the support Of the
hgu an element that may be vital to its success
n the event thar the Democrats. Populists and
the TWO OF three Republicans at cross purposes
with the Administration on other important
PROPOSITIONS line Up solidly against H. Senator
Wellington. for example, is almost certain TO
sntagonize the bill, just in order TO harass and
erbarrass the Administration. Senator Kyle, Of
South Dakota. who has come back 70 the fold, is
much more apt 70 follow the lead OF the Western
conservatives" than that Of Senators Hanna
and Frye.
VOTE BEFORE HOLIDAYS NECESSARY.
A factor in favor Of TIE bin is the obvious in
disposition az the Democrats 10 lend themselves
70 the scheme OF the conservatives" That
scheme involves, as was frankly admitted by one
O. the conservatives the staving OF Of a vote
on the bill until after the holidays and the bring
ing forward then OF the appropriation bills TO
consume the remainder OF the session. Both
M Hanna and Mr.. Frye are aware Of the
existence OF such a scheme So is the President
All the friends Of the bill are therefore govern
ing themselves accordingly. Whether they can
head on the scheme is not yet known 1t is be-
lieved however. that they Will be able 10 do SO
BY some COUP which is now being matured- Still,
q Is generally conceded that unless they can
force the bill 70 vote before the holidays il will
have 10 60 over 10 the next Congress. By that
time il is feared. the opposition Will gam
strength enough 10 take al the force out OF the
measure by amendments in accord with the de-
mands OF the Western conservative" element
In spite Of the attitude OF certain Democratic
Senators who declare that they viii be satisfied
with simply recording their opposition 70 sub
sidy policy by voting against the measure, II IS
not certain thar Others viii not resort 70 obstruc
rive tactics. least encourage that course.
Senator Clay. OF Georgia, the 3unior member OF
the Committee on Commerce, which has charge
of the bill. made a two hours speech against il.
He intinated broadly that In this speech he laid
the groundwork for a long distance talk" on
which he may adventure II that course Is con-
sdered advisable OF necessary. Senator Vest
Of Missouri. the ranking Democratic member OF
the committee, is scheduled for the longest
Epeech he has delivered in the Senate since his
health became impaired. The Missourian will
ride his old hobby Of free ships" whatever that
means, and probably viii reply 10 Senator
Hanna
PETTIGREw AND ALLEN MAY KILL IT.
Two men yet 70 be reckoned with in this emer-
gency are Senator Pettgrew, Of South Dakota,
and Senator Allen. Of Nebraska. Both OF these
eminent Popocrats were overwhelmed by the
landslide which followed the invasion Of their
States by Senators Hanna and Frye at a critical
point in the campaign. Both despise Senator
Hanna. Mr Allen holds the record for long
distance" talking Under the rules Of the SEN
ate there Is no way TO head him off IL he gets
started Mr.. Pettigrew is envious OF Mr.. Aliens
record as e long distance" talker. With the
expiration Of this Congress the South Dakotan
probably viii never have another opportunity
70 be heard in the Senate For a week he has
been preparing a speech against the Shipping
bill II he and Allen get up and talk against
time, M Hanna cannot get a vote on the bill
before the holiday recess. II Mr.. Hanna gets
vote before that time the bill Will go through
substantially in its present form.