The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-07-16
Gallant But Losing
Battle in the
House.
WiLCOX'S ABSENCE
COMMENTED ON
Congressman Powers OF Maine
Sneers at His In.
competence.
Especial to The Advertiser)

n gASHINGTON, D. c., July 3.-The
~ curtain has been rung down or
w Congress. Senators aud Elenl-
berS of the House have already
dispersed to the four quarters nf tbs
compass, for adjournment took place
-, July 4. the beginning OF the fiscal
wear. The last of the Hawaiians in
Washington has also fie1. Hon. Will
liam Haywood. who is something Of d
resicent of the Capital, after a win
ter Of long and very effective work,
has fied himself to the top of the AL
leaheny mountains, at Oakland, Nd.
and he won't come off that high perch
till he has got rested good and well.
NJ. ]. G.. Pratt who was the coplm;s-
sioner here in behalf os the fire claims
bill. took Il train two days ago for IL
Hnois. where Mrs. Pratt is visiting with
friends. They viii tarry a little in this
country and expect to sail for Honolu-
Ia about July "a.
Ny telegram by the last boat indi-
cated the failure of different Hawaiian
bills, the only two, in fact, in which
the Islanders are keenly interested-tle
fire claims amendment to the general
deficiency bill. and the coinage bill.
Two weeks ago the signs were favor
able to the passage of the coinage bill,
but there was such jam IN the House
towards the end of the session after
the Philippine bill had passed, that the
utmost endeavorS of the friends of the
measure availed not. Mr.. Haywood
camped in the Capitol practically for
three or four days, trying to find an
opportunity TO get the bin up. The
rules committee of the House had
promised a special rule, so that, if that
had been brought in. the bill could have
passed by majority vote. But, as al
ready stated. the time was so short no
opportunity could be had. Chairman
Southard of the committee on coinage.
weights and measures, waited one day
fOy two hours in company with Mr..
Haywood to get an audience with the
Speaker regarding the bill. 1t soon be-
came evident that. even should the bill
pass the House, it could not become law
n; this session, as the House committee
would not agree to the exact terms of
the Senate bill and the Senate would
without considerable debate
the t3rms of such a bill as the House
would pass. Then Senator Foraker,
chairman of the Senate committee on
the Pacific Islands and Porto Rico, was
in. After every effort had failed. which
was till within three hours of the end
,f the session. Mr.. Haywood gave up.
There is this satisfaction, however:
There is every prospect that the bill
viii pass the House early next session
and become a law. That cOnSumma-
ton Will probably be reached before
H.s inc of "a
has already passed the Senate and is ,
ia such n stage that the House is like !
~ 70 take il mp early the next session. :
Mr. Pratt and Mr.. Haywood both r
made a gallant fight for the fire claims ;
oiIl IN the House. AT one time it look
ID as though the bill might get ,
Trough there, but at that crisis Uncle .
Zoe" Cannon chairman of the commit ,
- on appropriations. gave the amend =
uenr several hard thumps on the head :
nd il died Il quick death. MT. Pratt >
lad been working quietly with the :
House for week or two. from the mo-
nent that the adoption of the amend =
rent by the Senate seemed assured
Tr Haywood turned in to assist him =
nd they literally had the House hop .
ing for 4 time. The friends of Ha-
raii in that body came TO the front >
randy. ;;
one thing that operated to kill the :,
hawaiian item was two items for the a
xpositions at Buffalo and Charleston. !,
-spectively The Republican leaders =
ought those two appropriations. both "A
I which were carried on the general
efficiency bin. viciously. The appro- p
ration Of $500 600 for Buffalo, which y
as claimed on the ground that the y
ssassinat ton OF Mckinley there had o.
,ade the exposition thereafter fail
re. was accepted by the House by a
arrow majority. but that for Charles