The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-19
TWO VEHED PROBLEMS
Cuba and the Philippines May
Cause an Extra Session.
The President Reported Anxious TO
Avoid the Necessity OF Calling
Der Conferences witt Republi-
can Leaders ut the White House.

President Mckinley yesterday continued
the conferences with the republican Sen
ators and Representatives, begun Sunday
night. when Senators Allison. Aldricn'
Hanna, Plat of Connecticut. and spooner
remained with him in his library until
midnight. talking about a probable extra
session Of the Fifty-seventh Congress
There has been no change in the situation.
but the Presidents attitude was thus eN-
planned by one of the Senators to whom
he talked freely yesterday:
'If the legislation now mapped out for
passage by the majority party in Con-
gress-that is. the appropriation hills and
the Spoouer amendment to the Army APP
preparation bill giving the President pow
er TO establish civil government in the
Philippines-is enacted and the Cuban
question settled in way entirely salts
factory TO the United States, the extra
session will not be called. If The Cuban
question is not so arranged and the new
constitution is completed at an early day
an extra session will be called for the
consideration of the Cuban question alone
and if the proposed Philippine legisla-
tioD should fail it will be called for the
double purpose Of disposing of both ques-
tions."
II is not likely that an extra session
will be necessary on account of Philip
pine legislation, because it is evident from
the statement of Senators on both sides Of
the chamber that there will be no filibus-
tering against the Spooner proposition as
an amendment to the Army Appropriation
bill. The opposition made known their pur-
pose in the statement of Senator Teller
in open session last week to demand a
full discussion of the subject before the
amendment is adopted. This will be
granted and the opposition Will not, there
fore, filibuster against taking a vote.
AS II seems reasonably certain therefore
that the Appropriation bills and the Phil
ippines legislation vii be enacted. the only
condition that will make an extra session
necessary is the failure of the cOnstitu-
tlonal convention to make a declaration
with regard to the future relations of the
United States and Cuba that would be en-
tirely satisfactory to this Government.
One of the Senators who understands
fully the Presidents views was asked yes
terday what condition of things would
replied that if the constitutional conven-
tion should postpone or prolong its work
until fall, or if the delegates should pro-
vide in the constitution for the settlement
Of the question in a manner SO satisfactory
to the Government OF the United States
that the President would feel justified in
approving 1t without first submitting 1t to
Congress, there would, of course, be 10
necessity for an extra session, providing
of course, that the legislative calendar, as
it now stands, is disposed Of.
What the Senator did not say is that
the President is as anxious to avoid an
extra session as the Senators are who
have been talking to him on the subject
to have the Cuban question disposed of in
Havana instead of in Washington. To
this end it is possible that the President
may send a commission of some sort to
aid General Wood in the work of i'm
pressing upon the Cuban convention the
desires Of the United States Government.
Should an extra session be called il is
to be announced in advance that nothing
but the Cuban question and the Philip
pines question (if by any possibility the
latter should not be disposed of at this
session. shall be considered. This, of
course, would be understood as applying
only to matters of a legislative character
and would not include the treaties and
other executive business that can be
dealt with by the Senate alone.
1t is said by members of the Foreign
Relations Committee and lawyers gen
orally in the Senate that II Great Britain
does not take some action with regard
to the Hay-Pauncefcte treaty between
now and the 4th of March the convention
thereby lapses. as. according to these
authorities the extension of time granted
at the request OF Great Britain ends with
the expiration of Congress. If, therefore.
no proposition is made for another ex-
tension it means that Great Britain does
not care to resume the negotiations This
being so. a joint resolution will be Of
fered In Congress at as early date as
possible 10 abrogate the Clayton Bulwer
treaty in order to prepare the way for
the passage of the Nicaragua Canal
Construction bill.
The resolution is already drawn up and
the outlines Of report upon it prepared
so that there may be no delay in dispos-
ing of the question. There is. of course
an overwhelming majority in Congress in
favor Of abrogating the treaty, and wirh
this instrument once out of the way the
passage of the Canal bin would follow.
THE HOUSE ROUTINE.