New-York tribune., 1901-02-26
THE FEELING IN THE SENATE.

REPUBLICANS sATIsFIED-T -TILLMAN AND PETIT
GREW TALK OF FILIBUsTERING.
Washington. Feb. % CSpeciaD.-Senator Till
man anpears TO think that the Spooner amend
rnent 10 tho Army Appropriation bill, empower
ing the President TO substitute civil for military
rule in the Philippines. is a much more repre-
heusible measure than the Cuban proposition
Discussion of the Spooner amendment WAS
beeun to-day ana consumed nearly the enufe
time Of the Senate.
Unless the Republicans agree TO drop
spooner amendment shall exhaust every par
liamentary twist and turn to defeat II, even AT
the risk OF beating the Army Appropriation DILL
said Mr.. Tillman TO The Tribune correspondent
.sThe life Of this Congress is now so short that
a good stiff flibuster could defeat any pending
measure. II the Army Appropriation bill is de-
feated, an extra session Of the new Congress VIII
he absolutely necessary. and. as the Repubhcans
don't want an extra session. reckon they can
be induced to drop the Spooner amendment
shall serve notice on them tomorrow that they
can't mass the Spooner amendment. Then. If
they think ] am fooing, shall proceed to snow
them that l am not. AS to Cuba. and the prop
ositions reported by the committee. have not
vet made up my mind. The Platt amendment
has heen referred TO the Committee on Military
Affairs which I hope Will tone it down consider
ably We must keep faith with the Cubans' anu
il I satisfy myself that the terms prescrlnea og
the Platt amendment are not in keeping with
the solemn pledge made TO the world IN the
Teller resolution / shall fight that proposition
as hard as intend TO fight Spooners Phlllpplhe
amendment"
Mr.. Tillman's talk pleased Mr.. PettigreW I'M
mensely The South Dakotan. who has just
seven more DAYS TO serve IN the Senate, was ex-
ceedingly angry this morning when he learned
of the unanimity with which the committee had
reported the Platt amendment. THE Democrats
and Popu!ists on the Cuban Committee have lald
down shamefully,'' declared Mr. Pettigrew-
Senator Teller has been vowing all along that
he would never agree TO any proposition snort
of a demand upon the President to Withdraw
from Cuba and turn the island over TO its people,
but now he seems TO have completely reversed
himself. AS 10 the Democrats, have never had
any faith in their professions. Their slde OF tne
chamber is wholly unorganiZed ana Whohy
without leadership. and whenever any important
question comes up they scatter like lock OF
sheep But / had hoped that Teller and Buter
would stick. As for my own part small ilake axe
a speech against both the Philippine anu tne
Cuban proposition. but i do not intend to nm mn
buster against either of them alone. However
L will gladly Join a group of Senators IN a
flibuster against these measures, as / know
that several OF us working together could oeieat
them"
Mr. Pettigrew camed down considerably when
he learned of Mr.. Tillrnan's efforts TO organize
f1libustering movement against DOtn the SpooHei
and the Platt amendments. and declared HIM,
self 'in" with the movement
However. as nothing can be known as 10 the
strength Of the movement until tomorrow, the
Republican leaders tonight are counting con-
hdently on the success of both amendments, and
thus avoiding an extra session. Every Republi-
can in the Senate is satisfied with the Platt
amendment. Senator Beyeridge. OF Indiana, who
is usually spoken of anneXationist, is par
ticularly complimentary to the Cuban Commit
tees work Il have studied the Platt amend
ment closely" said MIR. Beveridge and regard
il the finest example Of constructive states
manship that has been presented in Congress
for a long time. / have doubt at all OF the
adoption of the amendment which Will settle for
all time any fears Cuba"