The age-herald., 1901-02-06
PRESENT WEEK SEALS
 FATE OF HANNA'S BILL


 Washington, February 5.-(speciaI )-ThS present week should make it apparent whether or not the Republicans are going to be able to pass the shipping bill this session. The policy of the Republicans Is to make no more speeches than they think necessary to refute criticisms made by the opposition. The Democrats are making determined stand against this bill and seem little more inclined to talk at considera- ble length than had been expected. They declare that they are not filibustering but are having full debate It can not be said that they are filbustering but they find enough to say to seriously delay, the bills passage, and in the mean time the approA priation bills tine war revenue reduction bill and the oieomargarine bil which IS also on the Republican programme, are being delayed. However, with sessions be- ginning at Il o'clock in the morning instead of at 12 o'clock and night sessions each days work in the Senate is as long as two ordinary days. The Democrats are insist ing upon the constant presence O. a quo- rum and the Republicans compelled to yield to this. It is somewhat embarrass- ing, for Senators get tired like other mors tals and no one of them likes to put in two days work in one.
 It is probable that about the middle of the week appropriation bills will be taken up in the first two hours of the day in or. der to get them out of the way. This gives those who choose an excuse to delay the passage of the appropriation bills by des batting them unnecessarily long. and in con- sequence is not altogether helpful to the shipping bill. It is probable, also, that the war revenue reduction bill will be treated
 
 in the morning hour Ordinarily it could be passed in a day, but In the present cir cumstance it may be used to delay the shipping bill in order to persuade the Re. publican managers that it is as well to lay that aside.
 The friends of the shipping bill hope to secure a vote upon it before the end of the week, but if it is voted upon by the middle of next week, thy can be very well satisfied.
 Although the Democrats are inclined to insist that it is best not to pass any legis- lation dealing with the Philippine question until the Supreme Court has delivered its opinion on the insular cases, the Republican Senatorial managers expect to pass the spooner bill some resolution granting the President authority to establish civil government in the Philippines before the session is ended. They say that all that is necessary is to formally grant the Presi- dent the power to establish civil govern. ment, which means making the present Philippine commission the law-making power of the Philippines. There is great determination on the part of the majority to do this. They know the President Is so anxious to be rid of the war power, which he deems abnormal, and which they themselves Mink should not be continued because of tho precedent it establishes, that the failure of Congress to act will make an extra session certain.
 Old and experienced Senators say they never knew time in the history of tho Senate when majority of the Senate, if it was able to keep together, unable to pass the legislation it desired, no matter what threats were made by the minorityj and though Pettigrew is peculiar individ- ual and his tactics are comparatively new, they think he can be prevented from ob- structing legislation to the last moment The most conservative Republican Senators think 1t would be unfortunate to change the rules of the Senate so as to permit of cloture, preferring to avoid so doing even though the freedom of debate in the Sen- ate loses much time. But if 1t becomes nec- essary to adopt oloture, I am informed that the Republican majority is prepared to do The question arises as to how they could stop debate on proposition to amend the rules unless the presiding officer pursued the drastic course of putting the question on the adoption of the rule providing for clot- ure, even though several members were de- manding recognition to discuss the question It appears that when Governor Morton was Vice President and the force bill was under considera ton, the majority wished to secure a vote upon it and the dilatory tactics of the minority were preventing 1t. MT. Nor ton was unwilling to overturn Senate tra- ditions by putting the question before every Senator had had his say, so plan was pre- pared by several shrewd Republicans who are adopts at parliamentary law and usually wont to have their own way, by which a vote could be secured without violating Sem atorial traditions provided, of course, a majority of the Senate was anxious for a vote. This plan was never carried, out be- cause the alliance between the Democrats and several Republican Senators-the Re- publicans opposing the force bill if the Democrats stood by them on the silver ques- tion-whereby the Republican majority, as far as the force bill was concerned com- pletely disappeared. The Republican Sena- tors who know of the adroit plan to force a vote will give no intimation regarding 1t, because they say by so doing they would make 1t impossible to carry 1t out. This plan may be used on the Philippine resolu ton, ALBERT HALSTEAD,
 PR0SPlCE.