The Savannah morning news., 1903-01-26
FOR STATEHOOD BILL
IT'S FRIENDS WILL STRIVE IN THE
SENATE THIS WEEK.
THE OPPOSITION is STRONG.
EVERY EFFORT WILL BE MADE
AGAINST IT'S PASSAGE.

Advocates of the Bill Are EncOur-
aged by the Vote of Last week,
While Its Opponents Assert IL WAS
Not a Test-Quay Wants Night Ses-
siOns tn Secure the Pnssage-OppO-
nents Have FiIibustering Plans all
Prepnred-OJhcr Progressive Meas
ures.
Washington. Jan. 25.-The feature of
the week in the Senate will be the con-
tinuation of the contest over the state
hood bill. The lines are now more
closely drawn than they have ever
been on this bill. They are indeed so
taut that all onlookers realize that
they are apt to break before a great
while; but few unpreiudiced persons
would undertake to say positively on
which side the disaster must befall.
The advocates of statehood were
much encouraged by the vote of last
week, and, contendng that 1t has been
demonstrated that there is a majority
of the Senate favorable to the bill, they
say it is preposterious to ask them to
YIELD while the opposition contend
that the vote was not a test at all
and argue that it was no test of the
real attitude of the Senate. They con-
tend that the bill is standing in the
way of other legislation and say that
it must get out of the road and re-
main out when the appropriation bills
begin to press to the front, as they viii
do soon. 1t is probable, however. that
with some exceptional times the bll
will hold its place in the front ranks
during the week.
1t is the intention, however. to use
the appropriation bills to delay the
statehood bill only in case there should
be an effort to hold night sessions in
order to secure action on the state
hood bill. Senator Quay has more than
once indicated his intention of asking
the Senate to sit continuously" which
means that he is contemplating night
sessions.
0uay VIII Push 1t.
The general understanding among the
friends of the measure is that the pro-
longed test will come early in the
week, possibly about Tuesday night. but
Senator Quay so far has 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
declaration of intention to resist its
passage. They contend that the bill
cannot pass. and some of them an
nounce that they would rather take the
responsibility for an extra session of
Congress than have the statehood bill
become a law.
Several senator's, who antagonize the
bill, are prepared, IL necessary, to in
troduce extraneous matter for the pur-
pose of preventing a vote. For in
stance. one of them has on his desk
the consideration OF the Wilson Cor
man tariff bill. which he threatens to
read, and another has at hand a volum-
nous history of New Mexico.
If night sessions are attempted, the
opponents of the bill will resort to the
usual methods to kill time. On the
other hand, it is intimated that the
supporters of the bill will take bold
stand against allowing any other pro-
ceeding until a vote shall be secured
on the statehood bill.
Diplomatic Bill First.
Inc work or the week VIII begin
with the taking up of the diplomatic
appropriation bill tomorrow. This
measure is in charge of Senator Hale,
and he will attempt to put it through
with his usual dispatch. AS the bill
stands, 1t is not calculated to pro-
woke much debate, but there Is q prob
ability that there will be an effort to
attach to 1t Senator Lodges consular
reform bill as an amendment. If this
effort should be made, considerable
discussion is probable
There are several special orders for
the week. The exercises in memory of
the late Senator Mcmillan of Michigan
will take day, and some time will be
devoted Saturday to exercises in con-
nection with the statues of Charles
Carroll and Charles Hanson of Mary
land for places in Statuary Hall.
Senator Cullom will make an effort,
whenever the opportunity Offers to Sc
cure consideration of the Cuban
treaty, and he said to-day that he
would again move, If necessary, to
have the Senate go into executive ses-
sion during the week for the purpose
of taking up the treaty. Senator Gull
lom also has in charge the Panama ca
nal treaty and expresses a desire to
secure early consideration of 1t, but
as several members OF the Committee
on Foreign Relations before which the
treaty is pending. find it necessary to
be out of the city during the week, 1t
does not now seem probable that the
canal treaty will be reported out of
committee during the week.