The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1903-02-20
MAY FORCE EXTRA SESSION
Aided by Democrats the Pennsylvania
Senator Can Hold Every
thing in Check.

es 1I0SOAOOA OAll. oAu WLllC just a. H.
ious to dispose of it in some way in
order to proceed unimpeded with
other business, it is not even as con
fident of being able to do so as at
the beginning of last week. With only
II working days of the session left,
senators feel that the matter must be
suggestion of this kind is made the
reply invariably is that no%twithstand-
ing the statehood bill has held the
right of way position practically dur
ing the entire session, there has been
no lack of legislation and that all
bills to which there has not been
serious opposition have been passed
and that not a single appropriation
bill has been delayed for a moment
by the statehood bill.
The feeling is none the less strong,
however, 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 appro-
priation bills to be considered. Sena-
tor Cullom wants to call up various
treaties; Senator Lodge is anxious
over the fate of the Philippine bills;
Senators Penrose and Fairbanks are
clamoring for time; Senator Aldrich
wants his International banking bill
considered; Senator McComas is urg-
ing the eight hour bill; Senator Quar-
. les the land entry bill, and Senator
Warren his omnibus claims bill.
Indeed, there is scarcely a senator
who has not some measure which he
desires to press and all feel that the
statehood bill may be in the way of
consideration. Senator Quay, hc.v.
ever, yesterday gave notice that he
Tould insist on having the statehood
hin taken up promptly after the close
Of routine morning business each day,
III order to cut off other measures
All thought of compromise Oh the
statehood matter apparently hac been
abandoned and no course except to
Gsi.-- it out seems to be ope2. The
democrats have refused absolutely to
accept a compromise which would ink
nH1lzcna with New Mexico, AMI :;ena-
tor Quay has decided Tot II make
any agreement which woul1 no. he
satisfactory to his allies. His :u:,.n-
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 a
rider or amendment to one of the
supply bills, it being conceded that
some friends of the statehood bill
will not carry their support to the
length of attaching it to the supply
bills. 1t is now quite definitely de-
cided to use the postoffice %appropria-
ton bill as the vehicle for carrying
the statehood bill, provided the senate
shows a willingness to put the meas
ure on one of the appropriation bills.
1t is, expected that the postofice
bill as amended by including the state
hood proposition will be reported to
the senate very soon, and Senator
Mason, chairman of the postofice
committee, that it is the
purpose to ask for almost immediate
consideration. When the statehood
amendment is reported the critical
test is likely to come. A point of
order will be made that it is not
gelmane to the bill to which it is
attached. President Pro Tenn. Frye
will sustain the point if he rules on
the question at all, but the supporters
of statehood contend that under the
senate rules he can and should leave
the decision to the senate without
passing on it from the chair. A large
number of senators advocating the
omnibus statehood bill recently sign
ed a petition to Mr.. Frye, asking thai
this course be taken. He asked, how
ever, that the paper should not be
presented to him and accordingly il
was not formally laid before him, but
such a suggestion may be proffered
later. If the amendment should be
carried the statehood fight would be
transferred to the postofice bill, with
the resultant danger of an extra ses
sion, if the fight becomes protracted
# the amendment does not prevail
the general opinion is that the state
hood advocates either will have to
accept a compromise or allow the