Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-21
EXTRA SESSION SEEMS SURE
Senate Steering Committee Strives Hard Il
Clear Of Legislation.
APPROPRIATION BILL NOW IN DANGER
stntehOod's Enemies VIII stay Any
Measure Containing Proposals 20
Increase S~isterhoOd of states
During Present sitting

doors. .
The Panama canal treaty was Immediately
laid before the senate. Senator Morgan
(Ala.) yielded the floor to Senator
Burton (Kan.), republican, an advocate
OF the omnibus statehood bill. He
spoke especially of the Importance Of
the passage Of that measure, Indirectly
referring to the treaty. His contention was
that while the canal treaty might be a meri-
torious measure the statehood bill was
equally so and that IT. should be voted upon.
q Senator Burton's speech was drawn out
by some criticisms of the decision of the
republican caucus. Senator Quay (Pa.) made
complaint of the publication and Senator
Hoar Mass.)l said the CAUCUS discussions
were not for the newspapersA d
Senator Burton referred only briefly to
the caucus and then made. an argument Of
an hour and a half's duration in support Of
the admission of the three. proposed states.
| MIR. Burton was generally, congratulated
upon the conclusion of his remarks.
-~ Dubois Criticises Treats.
Mr.. Dubois (tdaho) followed with a
speech in criticism Of the treaty and Of
what he characterized as the summary ac-
tion Of the republican caucus. He COM
planned that the committee had tried to
force a vote upon the measure that had not
been considered at all and this could not
be, done. He added that the attention
which had been given to the treaty had
! shown that it was full Of defects and these
we're sufficient to Justify the demand for
thorough investigation. When he con-
cluded, Senator Morgan continued his re-
marks against the treaty in it's present
shape.
The most interesting event Of the day
transpired before the beginning of the
routine proceedings, when Senator Quay
rose to a question of personal privilege.
He sent to the desk and had read an
article from a New York paper of this
morning, accusing him OF violating a
pledge, which the paper stated ne had made
in the republican caucus Wednesday to
support the treaty to the exclusion Of every
other subject.
Quay Makes a Denial.
He said such was not the case, but, on
the contrary, he had protested against any
action which would displace the state
hood bill. He called upon other sena-
tors to testify to this effect, and several
did 80, among them Senator Foraker (o.),
who said he was quite sure Senator Quay
had made no such pledge.
Senator Lodge (Mass.) stated that he
had not heard him make any remark. lem
ator Nelson Mimi suggested the belief
that the pledge was at least implied.
Senator Hoar thought the proceedings of
the caucus should not be revealed, not
even in an executive session Of the senate.
Senator Burton expressed the opinion
that there should be a committee, on publ
cation and, having taken the floor for that
purpose, went on with HhfshI statehood
- ~ b.. $50 .Lf.#.n ..E fNE EEnNE
Urges Open Debate. 3 al
Then Senator Morgan esumed and
spoke for an hour after.
He gave way to Mr.. Quay, but before the
latter had we'll begun Senator Carniack
CTenn.) moved hat Senator Morgan be al
lowed to discuss the canal question in
open senate.
In support Of the motion he said the
question was of general Importance and the
country should be placed in possession OF
the details.
The motion precipitated a general debate
in which the rules Of the senate, the ad.
visibility of the cloture, the necessity Of
maintaining, in the senate, a forum Of fret
speech and many other kindred topics were
discussed.
Most OF the speakers opposed Mr.. Car
mack's motion on the ground that It wal
not expedient to air relations with otbei
countries before the world.
The speakers differed widely. however, al
to the expediency of the policy of della!
which it was freely charged was now being
pursued in connection with the Panami
treaty on the one hand and with the state
hood bill on the other. Some OF the sen
ators avowed themselves advocates Of thu
~cloture. Others expressed the conviction
that the prolonging of the present situation
would lead to the speedy adoption OF sucl
q rule.
Speaking in this vein, Senator Hale me.
expressed the conviction that the presen
situation in which friends of the statehooI
bill had Joined with the opponents of tn,
treaty, was due to a previous understand
ing between them and Senators Quay an
Morgan.
Mr.. Morgan earnestly denied any sucl
combination.
At this point Mr.. Quay, expressing i'm
patience with the interruption, asked leav
to proceed with his speech. No one objecte
and the course Of the controversy wa
shifted without putting Mr.. Carmack's mo
tion to a vote.
Mr.. Quay's speech consisted of a long re
port on the Isthmian canal question. TIL
reading he asked the clerk at the dask t
perform, but objection vas made and tn
matter was submitted to a vote The re
suit was adverse to Mr.. Quay's request, tn
vote standing 20 to "a. He then began t
t read the document himself and continue
I for two hours or more. .f s.
q At $3.50, in accordance with a decision q
/. the steering committee, Senator CulloI
ml.) moved a recess until IL tomorrow
q morning and the motion prevailed.
Fear Extra Session.
The decision Of the steering committe
against a night session was reached.
. The committee decided that the sent
y ment Of the senate was against anothe
= night session until an effort had been mad
to. adjust the somewhat tangled legisla
tive condition In the senate.
In order to bring about such an adjust
ment it was suggested that some comprc
mise might be made on the statehoo
n bill. The opponents OF the statehood OF
never have believed that the measure coul
be carried as a rider to the postofice al
e preparation bill, but the friends Of n
measure have discovered that they haN
enough votes not only TO carry 1t, but
o~yerrule the chair should he decide Il
rider was not in order.