Daily new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1897-1906, 1903-02-16
IS NEARING The END.
Only Fourteen More Working
Days of the Present SEES
sion Left.
STATEHOOD BILL THE FEATURE.
Compromise Abandoned and Measure
Will Be Settled in Open Fight.
Only Matters of Minor Importance
to Be Considered Today.


Washington, Feb. 16.-The senate
still finds itself burdened with the
statehood bill, and while just as anx-
ious to dispose of it in some way, N
order to proceed unimpeded with
other business, 1t is not even as con-
fident of being able to do so as at the
beginning of last week. With only
IA working days of the session left,
senators generally feel that the ma
ter must be gotten out of the way,
but when a suggestion of this kind is
made the reply invariably is that not
withstanding the statehood bill has
held the right of way position practi-
cally during the entire session, there
has been no lack of legislation, AMI
that all bills to which there has no.
been serious opposition have been
passed and that not single appro-
priation bill has been delayed for q
moment by the statehood bill. The
feeling is rome the less strong, how
ever, that the statehood bill will be
seriously in the way at the close Of
the session unless disposed of very
soon. There are still numerous ap-
preparation bills to be considered.
Senator Cullom wants to call up
various treaties; Senator Lodge is
anxious over the fate of the Philip
pine bills; Senators Penrose and Fair.
banks are elamoring for time for the
immigration bill; Senator Aldricn
wants his national bank bill eonsid-
cred; Senator McComas is urging the
eight-hour bill; Senator Quarles the
land entry BILL and Senator Warren
his omnibus claims bill. Indeed, there
is scarcely senator who has not
some measure which he desires 70
press, and all feel that the statehood
bill may be in the way OF considera-
ton. Senator Quay, moreover. Sal
urday gave notice that he would IN
sist on having the statehood bill
taken up promptly after the close of
routine morning business each day In
order to cut off other measures. All
thought of compromise on the state.
hood matter apparently has been
abandoned, and no course except to
fight 1t out now seems open. The
Democrats have refused absolutely to
accept a compromise which would
link Arizona with New Mexico, and
Senator Quay has decided not to make
any agreement which would not be
satisfactory to his allies. His inten-
ton, therefore. is to "stay with the
bill to the end" and the question now
awaiting his decision is whether or
not to adopt the bold and hazardous
course of pressing the measure as 6.
rider or amendment to one of the APP
preparation bills.
1t is expected that the postoffice bill
as amended by including the state.
hood proposition will be reported to
the senate on Tuesday or Wednesday,
and Senator Mason, chairman Of the
postoffice committee, announces that
Il Is his purpose to ask for almost i'm
mediate consideration.
The chief supporters of the two i'm
portant treaties now before the SEN
ate, the Panama canal treaty and the
Cuban reciprocity treaty, are greatly
puzzled over the situation. The state
hood bill stands squarely across their
respective pathways. After allowing
one day for consideration of the
Panama treaty, Senator Quay has de-
clined to yield any more time, and as
Is In charge of both treaties, finds the
end of the senate approaching with
out seeing his way clear to get either
treaty ratified.
The present purpose is not to at
tempt to take up the Cuban treaty I'M
TIL the Panama treaty is out of the
way. Most of the Democratic sena-
tors and two or three Republican
senators will vote against the Cuban
agreement, but if vote can be reach
ed it is believed that it will be ratified,
Today the Indian appropriation bill
will be taken up again and it's consid-
Grafton probably concluded.
House Forecast.
The appropriation bills are well adj
vaneed in the house for this stage of
the session With less than three
weeks of the session ahead, only three
Of the supply bills remain to be acted
on. Two of these, the naval and forti-
facation bills, are on the calendar and
will be passed this week The gel
eral deficiency bill will follow next
week. Delays on these bills in the
kenate, however. now promise to
crowd things during the final hours.
The Fowler currency bill, which has
been postponed from time to time, Is
to have a special rule making 1t a
continuing order at the first oppor.
tunity this week But If it reaches
the stage of consideration it will be
sidetracked when an appropriation
bill or conference report is ready.
Consequently considerable skepticisn
is now manifested as to whether II
will be brought to vote. Today Is
suspension day, but only matters Of
minor importance will be considered.
Mr.. Moon (Dem., TENN still refuses
assent to requests for unanimous con.
sent because the Indian territory bill
Is not given consideration, and H..
course compels recourse to suspen.
sion day for bridge bills and other
minor measures which usually &C
6roueh by unanimous consent.
80 ss-.-@-.,se RI = -----r-. -