The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-26
Determined to Defeat Senator Bever-
idge's Statehood Bill and Will
Demand Night Sessions.
LINES ARE DRAWN CLOSELY
AND IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS
ARE EXPECTED THIS WEEK.
Reform in the Lower HOuse-EulOgies
on Deceased Representatives De-
liyered on Sunday.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25.-The feature of
the week In the Senate will be the con-
tinuation of the contest over the statehood
bill. The lines are now more closely drawn
than they have ever been on this bill. They
are, indeed, so taut that all onlookers real
ize that they are about to break; but Few
unprecedented persons would undertake to
say positively on which side the disaster
must fall. The advocates of statehood were
much encouraged by the vote of last week.
and, contending that ii has been demon
strated that there is a majority of the Sem
ate favorable to the bill. they declare that
it is preposterous to ask them to yield,
while the opposition urges that the vote
was not a test at all and no real indica-
ton of the attitude of the Senate. They
say that the bill is standing in the way of
other legislation, and contend that 1t must
get out of the road and remain out when
the appropriation bills begin to press to
the front, as they will soon do 1t is prob
able. however. that with some exceptional
times the bill will hold its place in the
front ranks during the week.
1t is the intention, however, to use the
appropriation bills only in case there should
be an effort to hold night sessions in order
to secure action on the statehood bill Sen
ator Quay has more than once indicated
his intention of asking the Senate TO sit
continuously" which means that he is con-
templating night sessions. The general I'M
derStanding among the friends of the meas
ure is that the prolonged session test will
come early in the week possibly about
Tuesday night, but the Pennsylvania sena-
tor has so far failed to make authoritative
announcement on that point. Senator Quay
now asserts his intention TO press the bill
more strenuously than in the past, and the
opposition is just as pronounced in its dec
laration OF intention to resist its passage.
They say that the bill cannot pass. and
some OF them announce that they would
rather take the responsibility for an extra
session of Congress than have the state
hood bill become law.
When the question is again taken up
Senator Burnham will proceed with his
speech, and 1t is now the plan to have Sem.
ator Kean follow him. Senator Beverage
also will be heard in opposition to the bill.
Several senators will antagonize the bill
and be prepared IL necessary TO introduce
extraneous matter for the purpose of pre-
venting a vote. For instance one of them
has on his desk a copy of the encyclopedia
speech delivered by Senator Quay during
the consideration of the Wilson-Gorman
tariff bill. which he threatens TO read, and
another has at hand vOluminous history
of New Mexico.
If night sessions are attempted the op-
ponents of the bill will resort TO the usual
methods to kill time. On the other hand.
it is admitted the supporters of the bill will
take a bold stand against allowing any
other business to proceed until vote shall
be secured on the statehood bill. Some
would even go to the extent of excluding
appropriation bills. There Is some appre-
hension on the part of the bills supporters
that there may be an effort to unduly dis
cuss and delay consideration of the appro-
priation bills in order TO delay the state
hood bill, and such course will be re-
scented.