The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-11-30
GLOFURE IN THE SENATE
Plans for It's Introduction Said TO
Be Forming.
HANNA. Determination to Force
Through the ship Subsidy Bin to
BE Net by stubborn DIIatory Tae-
ties-Choiee Lies Between the
Reed Rules and an Extra Session.

members OF Congress, to the effect that
the Democrats will adopt such stubborn
and determined obstructive tactics this
winter to all important Administration
measures as either to defeat outright the
enactment Of these schemes into law or
to force upon the President the necessity
of calling an extra session OF Congress.
Mr.. Hanna, who undoubtedly speaks the
viii of his party, has declared repeatedly
since the election that three measures OF
particular importance would be put
through at the coming session. and that
there would be no extra session. These
are:
The Hanna-Payne ship subsidy scheme.
The Nicaragua Canal bill in harmony
with the terms OF the y-Pauncefote
Treaty.
The Army Reorganization bill
II IS evident that the great majority Of
Democrats in both houses is opposed 70
all Of these measures.
The question, then, naturally arises as
TO what extent they are going 20 carry
their opposition and what form it viii
take.
It goes without saving that Il all or any
of them are defeated or postponed it viii
be done in the Senate. The rules Of the
House are such as TO make there the viii
OF the majority absolutely certain Of Wig
erous assertion. The rules, or rather the
customs, OF the Senate, admit always Of
doubt as to whether or not the majority
can enforce Its will II is admitted that
If the Democrats IN the Senate-and by
this term is meant all the elements in op-
position to the Admlnistration-Tesor to
the old hlibusteriBg tactics they can Ge-
feat at the regular session any or all of
the measures named
The only method by which the Repabli-
cans could avert this would be Sy adopt
ing the elOtuFe. Senior Lodge, who seems
anxious 10 be the ueuthpieee OF
the Administration IL the Senate
as GeneEd Grcse2nor IS in the
House, is understood 10 be stroass-
ly in favor OF resorting 10 the cloture and
it is considered possible that in isis posi-
ton he Is rejecting the wish OF Mr.. Han
na-whien. OF course, means she wish OF
the President. II is almost certain thai
an effort Will be made by more than ore
opposition Senator 20 talk TO death the
Ship SuDzfdy Dill and also The Anglicised
Nicaragua Canal bill. Senator saettigrew
already Eals announced his intention Of
fighting bolk y these measures 20 the last
stitch and y-i5an Senator PsttgTeW sets his
head in this way there is no power in the
Senate that can change him or in any way
weaken mis- resolution Least OF al can
Mr. Hanna curb the waywardness Of the
South DAKOTA statesman Mr. PettfEre7Y
is fully aware OF Mr.. Hanna's direct inter
est in the success OF the ship subsidy
scheme and this knowledge viii cause him
10 tight all the harder.
An intimate friend Of Senator RaNIins
Of Utah IS responsible for the statement
that thas gentleman also has made Gp his
mind 90 oppsze at every turn and with
every means available the passage of the
-
lins is represented as being already pre-
pared 10 u eak all records in The Senate
for Long { stance talking when Mr
Hanna's Int measure is brought Toward
for fSSI consideration. One of his asso-
ciates say the Senator declared q few
days ago hat he would talk month, Il
necessary, and that he has an arrange
ment with Senator Allen OF Nebraska and
Senator Pettigrew=so consume nearly all
the tine II the session in dilaeory mo-
tons and redundant oratory after the
Ship SHcs5iy bill is called up.
It is not believed that the Senate Demo
Gratis VIII take any formal caucus action
against the bounty scheme. though they
viii vote almost solidly against It. They
will leave to Messrs- Pettigrew. RawIins.
and Allen the task OF defeating the meas
ure by the tactics outlined. though one or
two Of them may make long set speeches
against it.
Mr. Hanna undoubtedly will attempt to
force his party in the Senate soIidty 10
the support Of the bill by caucus action. Il
is not certain. however. that he can succeed
in this undertaking Five or six Western
Republican Senators are known to be oP-
posed TO the bill, and while they are too
well disciplined, perhaps, 10 openly an
tageniZe Mr. Hanna on the floor OF the
Senate, still they will probably fight him
bitterly IN the caucus. They are also said
TO be secretly encouraging Messrs. Pet
tigrew, Rawlins. and Allen in their fill
Republican Senators. 1t is said, NesSrs.
Hanna and Lodge would boldly espouse
the cIoture rule.
While this rule has never been adopted
by the Senate, except in very slight de-
gree and with unanimous consent at that.
the talk OF fastening it upon Senate
proceedings has BEEN growing noticeabiy
since the Republicans have had safe
working majority in the upper chamber.
II the qSestion Is raised at the coming
session Il would be almost certain TO pre-
cipitate a row that would result in post
poniBg the very legislation in which Mr.
Hama and the Administration are most
vitally interested IT, therefore il Is pos
sibie to force through these pet measures
without threatening the Senate with the
efoture it is believed that discussion OF
that topic will not be raised this win
ter But if Mr. Hanna learns that he
cannot get sny Of his bills through at
the approaching session it is considered
highly probable that he and Senator
Lodse will raise the issue of the eloture
and fight that out to a successful finish
this winter in order that at future ses-
sions of Congress the policies and puT-
poses of the majority cannot be frUs-
trated by thu minority.
This is what the Reed rules have done
IN The House, and II is thought that very
good argument based upon that expert
ence can be presented TO the country for
divesting the Senate Of its ancient delib-
erativ6 character.
At the same time Il is pointed out thai
this revolutionary proceeding would be
very distastefuI to Mr. Mckinley. who val
-nes peace above all other things, and that.
therefore, the President may strive earn
estly with Mr.. Hanna against provoking
the trouble that would ensue should the
big Republican boss persist il his deter
mination 10 reduce the Senate to the
business" plane of the House
To avert this kind of trouble It is said
7dr Mckinley would even prefer to have
an extra session on his hands. Still. it Is
stated that the President Is hopeful of be
ing able to persuade the recalcitTant Wes-
tern Republican Senator'S TO permit Mr
Hanna to force the Snip Subsidy Dill
through the caucus, pointing est to them
that If this is done they can excuse them
selves to their constituencies on the plea
that they fought the bifl bitterly n caucus
but that when it was adopted as party
measure they we're too good Republicans
to oppose theiq parry
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