New-York tribune., 1902-05-19
REAL DEMOCRATIC TACTICS
OBSTRUCTION TO THE PHILIPPINE
BILL FORESEEN.
VOTE MAY BE DELAYED TILL. JUNE-CANAL
BILI-TEE CUBAN MEASURE
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrpuNE.I

BILI-THE CUBAN MEASURE.
Try TELEGRAPH TRIBUNEI
Washington, May 1S.-DemGcratic obstruction
to the passage of the Philippine Civil Govern
ment bill through the Senate before June will
he stubbornly persisted in despite all reports to
the contrary unless the minority members Of
the Philippine committee who are managing the
opposition are sat down on hard" by the old
element of Democratic Senators, like CockrelI,
Vest. Daniel Morgan, Pettus, Berry and Jones,
Of Arkansas. Apparently Senator Lodge is plac-
ing too much confidence in the promises of some
Of the Democrats to permit vote, and in this
way he is being deceived into the belief that his
bill will be placed upon its passage within few
days. At least twelve speeches on both sides Of
the question are yet to be delivered. Not more
than four or five friends Of the bill are to make
long set speeches, but eight of its opponents are
prepared to talk several hours.
Tomorrow Messrs. Burrows, of Michigan, and
Dolliver of Iowa. will speak for the bill. On
Tuesday Mr. Bacon of Georgia, will deliver his
first speech against it. He will be followed on
Wednesday by Mr. Wellington, of Maryland
who Is more uncompromisingly opposed TO the
measure than most of the Democrats. II
Mr. Wellington gets stirred up he may speak
two or three day;. The Maryiander will be
followed by Mr. Dubois. OF Idaho. who doubt
less will deliver the most pretentious speech Of
his career in the Senate He is the real head
Os the opposition forces having marked out
their course from the opening of the debate
and being wiling 20 resort to filibustering TO
defeat the measure. hut not enough Democrats
Vill join him in this To make that movement a
success Senator Hoar viii speak after Senator
Dubois. ana the Massachusetts Senator Is
pected to hold the floor for entire day and
perhaps for part OF two days. He has not had
To say qr th. far IlYr y,N1 he
takes the floor next Friday Saturday it is
thought he viii bring all OF his powers OF logic
and eloQueuCe against the measure and the IN
tire Philippine policy OF the administration. Mr.
Clay, of Georgia. viii follow Mr. Hoar. and then
NH come Mr. Patterson OF Colorado. for an
other speech The Colorado Senator already has
spoken dozen more times on the question
LONGER DEBATE PROBABLE.
This then, will carry the debate over into next
week with thu following Senators stin to speak:
Mr. Bailey. OF Texas and Mr. Teller, Of Colo
rado. against the bin, and Mr. Allison. of Iowa.
and Mr.. SpOoner. OF Wisconsin. for the measure
Mr. Spooner. under arrangements made by
senator Lodge is 10 close the debate for the
Republicans. and it is confidently expected that
he will deliver the greatest speech he has Yet
made on the Philippine question. Mr.. Frye may
feel called upon TO leave the chair and make
short speech before the debate closes the
Democrats have attacked the Paris Peace Com
mission, of which he was "A member. When the
debate is closed formally two days Will be de
voted to the discussion of the bill by sections.
Il is evident therefore that "A vote cannot he
reached much before the last day Of May. and
II the programme here outlined Is followed out.
II is not improbable that the final vote will not
be- taken until the first week in June
When the Philippine bill IS disposed of the
Canal bin will 5e taken up and pushed to
speedy conclusion, at least So far this
sion il concerned There is no inclination among
the Republican leaders To enter upon eIabo-
rate discussion of the canal question at present,
and, as a means Of avoiding that. II is con-
sdered likely that either the Spooner or the
HOdr proposition will b" adopted. and the whole
subject will thus he placed in the hands of the
President for a year more. The Spooner
amendment provides for an investigation by the
President OF the ability of the Colombian Gov
eminent and the French company To make a
clear title TO the Panama Canal If this queS-
tion be decided in the affirmative the President
VIII then be directed 10 proceed with the com
pletlon OF the Panama waterway, but il in the
negative the Nicaragua route is 10 be chosen
and work upon that canal is To be vigorously
prosecuted without further ado. The Hoar reSo-
luton leaves entirely 10 the President the final
settlement Of the question of route, and Is
broader than the Spooner proposition in that il
includes the Darten and all other suggested
routes across the isthmus.
CHANCES FOR CUBAN RECIPROCITY.
1t is believed that the canal question can be
got out of the way by June or 10. and then
Senator Platt Of Connecticut Will have the
right of way for the Cuban Reciprocity bill.
II Mr. Mcmillan. Of Michigan, a member of the
Committee on Relations with Cuba. returns 10
the city this week, Mr.. Platt may call meeting
of the Republican members of .he committee 10
consider the kind of bill that will meet the ap-
proVal OF the great majority Of Republican Sen
ators. The Connecticut Senator does not doubt
that such bill can be framed and put through
strict party measure II is not considered
desirable to depend upon Democratic votes, and
II is thought that most Of the Democrats Will
hnd excuse to oppose any sort of straight reel
procity proposition that might he brought for
a
ing the measure with all sorts OF free trade
features, and If they work in harmony along
this line Senator Patt's task will he made all
the easier, since not even the beet sugar Repub-
leans can afford to cooperate with the free
traders to defeat reciprocity. Meantime the
situation viii he considerably simplhed by the
Cuban Congress adopting the immigration and
contract labor laws of the United States. and
when this is done there will he tenable
ground left for beet sugar Republicans In either
the Senate House to stand