The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-19
CANAL E-TRACKED
rprBLICAN SENATOR'S IN CAUCUS
so DECIDED.
ME TO BRITAIN'S ATTITUDE.
,uI WAIT HER ACTION ON TREA-
Try AMENDMENTS.

,snimousIy Agreed Not to Press
10 Matter ut Present-Some indie
nepdence shown, However-Sena-
TOR Hanna Urges Action on Ship
snbsidy Bill and Senators Ex-
,,ress Accord With His Wishes.
War Revenue Reduction Bill and
o+ber Matters Discussed.
washington, Jan. 1s.-The Republican
ssnators in caucus to-day unanimously
decided not to set day, at least for the
oresent for taking UP the Nicaraguan
canal bill After a general exchange of
views the senators concluded that so long
&C Great Britains attitude toward the
amendments TO the Hay-Pauncefote treaty
ia underlined it would not be wise or ex-
nadient to agitate the question of the con-
struction of the proposed canal.
This decision was embodied in a reso-
,ution presented by Senator Lodge, who
stated that the conclusion as there set
forth was the result of the best delibera-
.,ons Of the committees order of business.
Several senators, however, gave notice
that in case there should be a motion to
take up the canal bill they would not be
bound by the resolution adopted, but
would vote for motion to consider. In
this expression of independence Senator
Plat of New York was the leader. He
said he considered the proposed
canal of prime Importance and would
not refrain from voting to take
it up whenever a motion to that effect is
made Senators Simon, Foster and Bard
followed with similar declarations. They
did not, however. express determination
10 themselves initiate a movement in be-
half of the canal bill and it was sug-
gested that Senator Morgan could be
prevailed upon to allow the present status
to remain.
No decision was reached upon other
questions because no formal action was
considered necessary. There was, how
ever. considerable discussion of other
questions. Among these were the ship
subsidy bill the war revenue reduction
bill. the confirmation of Mr.. Harlan as
attorney general of Porto Rico, the rati-
fication of the treaty with Spain for the
ands not included in the original Paris
treaty and the appropriation bills.
Senator Hanna expressed his desire to
have the ship-subsidy bill passed upon
during the present session and said that
with the army bill out of Ghe way he
should ask that the decision arrived at
early in the session. to press the subsidy
bill be adhered to- All responses were in
accord with Mr.. Hanna's request. 1t was
intended that the subsidy bill should re-
ceive attention when the appropriation
bills were not up for consideration.
Senator Aldrich explained the necessity
Of getting the war revenue reduction bill
through this session, and he stated that
he hoped to be able to report it from the
Comittee on Finance during the early
part of next week.
He hoped to secure a unanimous agree
ment from the committee and urged that
70 secure promptness there should be no
effort 10 amend it by putting on tariff
amendments. That would, he said, open
up the entire tariff question. There was
general assent to this proposition, and as
surance was given that the caucus would
sustain him in that position.
Senator Foraker stated that he would
again seek to get up the Harlan nominal
ton at the first opportunity and he ask
ed the Republican Senators to remain in
sufficient numbers to guarantee quorum
because of Senator Pettigrews notice
that he should require a roll call on the
vote to confirm.
The Importance of getting the Spanish
treaty through was presented by Senator
Lodge, who said that the ratification or
the treaty was intended to clean up our
dealings with Spain.
Senator Proctor asked time for consid-
Grafton of the oleomargarine bill. The
committee probably would be prepared to
report next week