Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-17
Proposed to Give It Right of
Way in the Senate
A REPUBLICAN, CAUCUS
ACTION TO BE TAKEN THIS AFT
ERN0oN.
Senator Quay, It Is Understood, WILL
ing to Lay Aside the State
hood Bill.

Soon after the Senate assembled today
Mr.. Quay called up the resolution which
came over from the previous day express
Ing the sense Of the Senate to be favorable
to vote on the statehood bill some time
before March 2.
When the resolution was read Senator
Jones, the democratic leader, said that he
had no objection to the resolution, provided
that 1t did not contemplate the arbitrary
fixing Of a date for vote by the majority.
He said that II the resolution meant only
to express the sense Of the Senate that a
vote should be had by unanimous consent,
with due regard to the wishes of the mi
nority. he would be glad to vote for It.
Not a Step Toward Cloture.
Mr.. Quay replied that the resolution was
not in the nature Of a step toward cloture.
He said 1t was intended simply to express
the feeling Of a majority Of the Senate that
a vote should be taken on the statehood
bill. He ventured the opinion that among
the opponents of statehood would be found
senators who, as he expressed 1t, were fair
enough to admit that vote should be
taken, and his resolution offered a means
for such senators going upon record to that
extent. Senator Quay said he did not de-
sire to urge the resolution upon the Senate
at this time, however, and asked that 1t
be placed on the calendar.
Senator Spooner thought that the resolu-
ton should be referred to the committee
on rules. and said he would make that
motion. Senator Quay came back at him
at once with the suggestion that the sense
Of the Senate should be tested upon that
question and that vote might as well be
taken at once.
Mr.. Aldrich remarked that he did not
suppose the senator from Pennsylvania
could get vote on that reference without
debate.
Mr.. Spooner's Motion Withdrawn.
Then It developed that Mr.. Spooner and
the anti-statehood forces were not anxious
for a test vote. Mr. Spooner withdrew his
motion to refer the resolution to the COM
mfttee on rules. and the resolution went to
the calendar. There it retains the position
from which it can be taken at any time by
a majority vote Of the Senate and passed, If
a majority desire. Thus. having secured in
advance acquiesence from the democrats In
his proposition that the Senate should voice
its belief that vote should be taken, Sen
ator Quay can, at any time, call up the
resolution Naturally. it will be subject to
pending measure has been subject for
weeks and 1t is not likely that the oppo-
nents of statehood will permit that resolu-
ton to come to a vote.
Iner6 Is no prODaDlllty tO6t senator
Spooner will endeavor to press a cloture
resolution upon the Senate. Senator Quay
very adroitly Invested his resolution Of its
semblance to cloture, thereby disarming the
democrats. Senator Quay has been inform
ed by his democratic allies in the statehood
fight that they would see the statehood bill
at the bottom of the deep. deep sea. al
though that is not quite the language used,
before they would consent to its passage
by a cloture resolution. The democrats
would not hesitate moment to vote against
statehood II 1t involved cloture.
Opinion Of the Steering Committee.
After the Senate adjourned last evening
there was an important meeting of the
steering committee Of the republicans In
Senator Allison's committee room. All of
the republican members of the steering
committee, except one, who Is friend OF
the omnibus BILL were present. The meet
ing was called to devise possible ways and
means Of obtaining vote on the Panama
canal treaty. The result Of the meeting Is
expected to be shown in move which viii
be made in the Senate this evening or to-
morrow looking to final effort to get up
the canal treaty for ratification.
At last nights meeting OF the steering
committee the danger which menaces the
treaty by prolonged discussion was gone
over thoroughly. 1t was pointed out that
the option which this government holds
upon the Panama canal property expires
March 4. Some Of the friends Of the Pana-
ma project were anxious that the treaty
should be ratified now instead Of being
postponed for consideration at a special
session Of the Senate after March 4.
The reason for desiring ratification before
March Is well understood in senatorial cir
cles. The belief is strong that IL this OPP
ton expires harder terms will be proposed
when another deal Is entered upon. The
argument which has been put forward for
Immediate ratification has been that an ad-
W. n n n a 70 ho
price Of the property Is not impossible.
This Afternoons Caucus.
Pursuant to the understanding reached at
last nights meeting Of the steering COM
mittee, the republicans of the Senate were
notified during the afternoon Of a republic
can caucus to be held this afternoon. In
that caucus it will be proposed to make the
Panama canal treaty a party measure and
to hold it before the Senate until vote Is
reached. 1t is realized that determined OPP
position to the treaty is manifested by only
one or two senators and 1t Is the opinion of
republican leaders that such slight oppo-
sition should not be permitted to defeat the
treaty.
Senator Quay. it is understood, is willing
to temporarily lay aside the statehood bill
for a reasonable length Of time in order to
give the two treaties right of way. He Is
willing that debate shall proceed for a
time Suff1Cient to prove whether a success
full filbuster can or cannot be made against
the treaty.
The caucus this afternoon will deal more
especially with the Panama canal treaty.
1t is realized that there is more opposition
to the Cuban treaty, and that 1t might be
difficult to hold the Cuban treaty before
the Senate against the wishes Of the friends
of the statehood bill. 1t may be stated that
the advocacy of the Cuban treaty among
the republican managers Is not nearly so
determined as the advocacy of the Panama
treaty. 1t was the belief Of the Senate lead
ers that 1t would be possible at the caucus
this afternoon to make the Panama treaty
a strict party measure and hold 1t before
the Senate with the acQuiescence Of Senator
Quay and the statehood forces for several
days until all debate shall be exhausted and
vote reached upon II.
Secretary Hays Intention.
AS stated. the option extended by the
Panama Canal Company to the United
States government to purchase Its fran
chise and properties expires March next.
1t is now manifestly impossible for treaty
to be carried to the point of completion In
the two weeks remaining Of the period
named In the option. Even II the Senate
should ratify the Panama treaty tomor-
row 1t would still require similar action on
the part of the Colombian congress. and
then considerable time must elapse be-
fore the final ratifications absolutely neces-
Sary to effect the treaty. can he EXCHANGED