The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-02-19
Treaties Held Up.

Canal ard Cuban Reciprocity
Treaties Held Up.
Washington. Feb I6.-The senate
still finds itseSf burdened with the
statehood bin. and while just as aux-
ious 10 dispose Of il in some way. in
order TO proceed unimpede3 with other
business. i; is not even as confident
Of being able 20 do so as at the besin-
nins OF last week With only II work
inc days OF the session lett. senators
+ generally feel that the matter must ne
gotten out OF the way, but whom a sug-
gestion ot this kind is made the reply
invariably IS that there has been no
lack Of legislation. and that all bills
4 TO which there has not been serious
f opposition have been passed. and that
not a single appropriation bill has
been DELAYED for a moment by the
+ statehood bill
senator Quay. moreover. save notice
that he would insist on having tie
statehood bill taken up promptly after
the close OF routine business each
day in order 70 cut OF other measures.
All thought OF compromise on the
statehood matter apparently has been
abandoned. and no course except TO
fight il out now seems certain. The
Democrats have refused absolutely to
accept a compromise which would link
Arizona and New Mexico. ana Senator
Quay has decided not 70 make any
agreement which would not be salts
factory 10 his allies. His intention.
therefore Is TO stay with the bill 70
the end" and the question now
awaiting his decision is whether or
not 10 adopt the bold and hazardous
course Of pressing the measure as n
rider 20 one Of the appropriation bills.
II is now quite definitely decided TO
use the Dostofice appropriation bill
as the vehicle for carrying the state
hood BILL The measure viii be re
ported this week. When the statehood
amendment is reached the critical test
IS likely TO come II the amendment
should be carried the statehood fight
would be transferred to the postor7ce
bill. With the resultant danger OF an
extra session II the fight became pro
trac-ed. IL the amendment does not
prevail. the general opinion is that the
statehood advocates either will have 10
accept a compromise or allow the en-
tire measure 10 fail with the expira-
ton Of the session. for the opponents
Of Statehood show no disposition 20
yield.
The Chief supporters or 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. The one day
given TO the Panama treaty has served
merely 20 demonstrate that il will re-
quire considerable time TO secure &C
ton on IL After Senator Morgan had
talked most Of the day Thursday last
he told so,ce of his senatorial friends
that he had only begun his discourse.
and IL was made evident thar there
would be sufficient opposition on tho
part OF other senators to prevent the
success OF the treaty by the more
physical e&ertion Of the Alabama sona-
tor.
The present purpose IS not 70 ar
tempt To take up the Cuban treaty un-
til the Panama treaty is out or tho
way. Most Of the Democratic senators
and two or three Republican senators
VIII vote against the Cuban acrce-
ment, but II n vote can be reached il
Is believed that 1t viii be ratified.