New-York tribune., 1901-02-23
EXTRA SESSION PROGRAMME.
rHuIPPTNE AID CANAL LEGISLATION
LIKELY TO BE CONSIDERED


Washington. Feb. 30 CSpeciaD-An extra ses-
ron of Congress having been virtually decided
anon. the leaders in both houses now are ener-
fetcally applying themselves 20 the task of
trapping out programme so as 70 make the
,esson as brief as possible. In this they have
ne goodwill of the President. and he desires
~ ala them in any practicable way. The prob
on seems simple enough. provided that il is
snaIly considered desirable not 70 undertake
reneral legislation hut 20 conhne the session
strictly 10 two three subjects. The chief of
:hese. OF course. viii he Cuba II Speaker Hen
srrson who is assured of reelection, follows
sre e-edent and appoints only the committees that
Ein be absolutely necessary 70 transact the
special business in hand. the session can be con-
tned 70 the limits which il is expected viii be
prescribed. The Cuban matter. il is thought.
,nn he got out of the way in a couple of months.
even II the opposition in It's efforts 10 manufact-
are political capital out of IL should resort 10
svery known recourse Of obstruction. In view
y the fact however. that the Republican ma
tority in both houses viii he considerably in
creased. IL is not likely that the opposition can
make such a prolonged fight as II otherwise
might 90. OF tho Senate this prospect is par
ncularly true. Pettigrew and Allen. the long
distance takers" will be succeeded after March
Q BY Republicans. and Butler. the North Caro-
Tina Populist. win give place 10 a Democrat.
While IL is regarded as quite improbable that
the Spooner resolution empowering the Presi-
Gent 20 substitute civil for military rule viii be
6etsated AZ this session, SIN II is thought that
sdvantage viii be taken Of the opportunity az
forded by an extra session 10 get through
some additional legislation for the Philippines
81 thar one house can be engaged with Cuba
Uhil' me other is considering the Philippine
question
TALK OF RADICAL CANAL ACTION.
Another subject thar may be taken UP az the
extra session and dealt with in some direct and
uennte form is that OF an isthmian ship canal
Republican member OF the Senate Foreign
Relations Committee told The Tribune corre-
spondent to-day that if Great Britain allowed
The amended Hay Pauncefote Treaty 20 lapse
ty taking action on IL before the expiration
az this Congress on March an effort would
he made az the extra session 10 abrogate the
Clayton -Bulwer Convention as the first assertion
On the part of this Governments right and in
tention 70 proceed with the business OF CON
strueting an isthmian waterway without con-
sultins the wishes OF interest Of any other ma
non than the small Central American States
directly concerned. The Senator who made this
H'efesting statement dissvowed any knowledge
=" me companion report which was started as
soon as the purport OF his language became gen
e.a4iy understood by the members OF Congress
InA report Is that the State Department re-
.s"uy mas made representations 70 the British
lO'e'sn pftce IN accordance with this intention.
- course II Great Britain agrees 10 the Hay
lNuaoefote Convention before March the ex-
irene action suggested would not be under
evident that this would not prevent Congress
MAKING canal legislation one Of the subjects for
consideration. Therefore. II an extra session is
called Il is probable that only three matters
VII be dealt with-Cuba. the Philippines ana the
Nicaragua Canal