The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-05
Will he Pressed and Opposed Warmly
i'm Debate, Giving Way Only to the
Appropriation Bills.
OTHER IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
CUBAN RECIPROCITY TREATY AND
MORGAN'S CANAL RESOLUTION.
Immi igratiOn. Militia and Philippine
Currency Bills-Only Routine Busi-
ness in the House.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-Many Of the
senator's who left Washington for the
Christmas holidays are still absent and the
present indications are that when business
is resumed at noon tomorrow there Will
not be a very full attendance. Before the
week is far advanced, however, the Senate
will be in regular working order and there
will be little cessation of work before the
4th of March. The prediction Is very gen.
eral' that the remainder of the session will
be exceedingly busy, because of the num-
Der of important questions which will be
pressed for consideration before final ad-
journment.
During the present week and probably for
some time to come, the omnibus statehood
bill will be the chief topic of discussion OH
the floor, but under the unanimous agree
ment by which the bill was made the un-
finished business ii cannot be taken up any
day before o'clock. 1t is the purpose Of
the friends of the bill to press its con-
sderation and not to allow the bill to be
sidetracked unless under very great pres
sure. The present purpose is to give way
only for appropriation bills, but there are
now no appropriation bills on the Senate
the senatorial leaders and especially OF
those who oppose the statehood bill. to press
appropriation bills to the front as rapidly
as possible. The Senate committee on ap-
proriations Immediately will take up the
legislative, executive and judicial appro-
priation bill, and it will be reported to the
Senate soon as possible. 1t is a bill
which demands considerable investigation.
and it is not probable that 1T will reach the
Senate much before the middle of the
month. When it is reported the committee
will seek to secure its immediate consid-
Grafton
According to the arrangement made be-
fore the holidays, the debate on the state
hood bill will be resumed at o'clock to-
morrow, Senator Nelson of Minnesota, be-
ing the first speaker on the list. He is a
member of the committee on Territories,
and, in addition to his opposition to the
admission of the Territories of New Mexico
and Arizona, he is stanch advocate of
the bill for the admission of Oklahoma and
Indian Territory as one State, which was
reported by the majority of the committee
as a substitute for the House omnibus
bill. He has a carefully prepared speech.
and it's delivery probably will require the
greater part of two days. Senator Burn
ham will be heard next and he probably
will speak for two days more. Other
Republican senators have agreed to speak
in opposition to the bill, and it is now esti-
mated that there will be no fewer than fif-
teen anti-statehood speeches before con-
sideration of the measure is concluded.
Some speeches in support of the bill are
promised, but the Indications are some
what against delivery of any of them dur
ing the present week, though it is possible
that Senator Foraker. who is an earnest
advocate of the omnibus bill, may be heard
some time within the next few days.
The time of the Senate each day, before
2 o'clock, will be earnestly contested for,
among the measures seeking early atten-
ton being the militia bill, the immigra-
tion bill, the eight-hour government labor
bill and the Philippine currency bill. Sen
ator Proctor has given notice that he will
call up the militia bill Monday morning as
soon as the routine business is disposed Of,
and he will try to keep this bill to the front
until action can be secured. Some features
of the measure are sharply antagOniZed,
and it may provoke considerable debate
There also is a disposition to amend the
immigIa alton bill. The supporters of this
measure do not yet seem inclined to con-
cede the changes demanded. Senator
Lodge. as chairman of the committee on
the Philippines, has given notice that he
Will press the currency bill as rapidly as
possible, and expresses confidence in its
passage before the session grows much
older. Senator McComas will urge consid-
Grafton of the eight-hour bill.
The committee on foreign relations IL is
expected will take up the Cuban treaty at
its meeting this week, but IL is doubtful
whether IL will be reported during the week.
1t has not been decided whether there will
be any hearings on the treaty. Thus far
no formal request for them has been made
and probably none will be sought until
after the beet-sugar convention, which is
| TO be held in this city during the week
| Senator Culom says he will ask the Senate
to give the treaty its attention at as early
dag practicable after ii shall be re-
| ported.
large number of new bills and resolu-
tions will be introduced at the beginning
! joint resolution by Senator Morgan direct
| ing the executive department TO cease ne
gotiations with the government of Colom-
bia for right of way for an isthmian canal
and TO close agreements with Costa Rica
and Nicaragua for the construction of a
| canal by the Nicaragua route.
On Tuesday, during the morning hour
! Senator Hoar will address the Senate in
| support of his antitrust bill. 1t is prob
/ able that his speech will give rise to more
| or less debate but any discussion on this
| subject must cease at o'clock unless
unanimous consent should be procured ia
| delay the statehood bill for time
HOUSE WILL BE QUIESCENT