New-York tribune., 1903-02-17
TO BREAK BLOCKADE.
.SEN4TES PROGRAMME
Talk of Closure THrozcs Fih6ust6rS
into CONSERVATION.
tBr TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE ]

Washington. Feb 16-The Senate demon
strated again to-day the facility with which
legislation deemed of real importance by the
party leaders is enacted. BY vive voce vote
the Philippine Coinage bill was passed this be
ing the second important measure, exclusive Of
appropriation bills, that has passed the Senate
since the antitrust programme was disposed Of.
It will be remembered that on Saturday Sen
ator Quay announced that he would not yield
the floor to-day for any purpose. and it was
further stated that the Democrats would never
permit the Philippine Currency bill to become
a law. Notwithstanding these positive asser-
tions. Mr. Quay raised no objection TO the con-
sideratien of the coinage bill. and the Demo
cratic protests were only halfhearted and were
not ressed 1t is known that since Saturday
Senator Aldrich had been doing some effective
missionary work the Democratic side of the
chamber, ana Senator Quay's amiability is also
attributed to the persuasive influence of the
Senator from Rhode Island.
That Senator Quay has throughout the State
hood contest proved amenable to the urgent
representations of the Senate managers has al
ready been told in these dispatches. and recent
events have strongly confirmed that proposition.
Senator Morgan is, however, beyond the pale of
influence from any quarter, and his flibuster
the Colombian treaty is the occasion of appre-
hension on the part of the Republicans and Of
ing adherence to a cause once espoused is pro-
verbal and his ability to consume hours in de
bate is appreciated all sides. With view to
devising a method of checkmating Mr.. Morgans
libuster and securing the ratification of the Co
lombian treaty before the expiration of the op-
tion on the Panama Canal companys property,
which ends March f. the committee on the order
Of business held a meeting this afternoon, and
while it is not deemed wise to make public the
he cai5 hat
Senator Morgan will find at early date that
his self-imposed task of talking the Colombian
convention to death has assumed herculean pro
portions.
The Statehood contest was also discussed at
some length at the meeting of the Steering
Committee this afternoon but il may be said
that the situation does not cause the leaders
so much anxiety is popularity supposed. They
are confident that the Omnibus bill will not be
a law, and that no extra session of Con
greSs will be necessary.
With view TO bringing to the attention of
the Senate the real purport of Mr.. Quay's reso-
luton offered Saturday. stating that it was
the sense of the Senate that vote should be
taken the Omnibus bill. Senator Spooner to-
day conceived the idea of offering a closure
resolution. It was to instruct the Committee
Rules to report a rule for debating the State
hood measure two hours and then taking vote.
The premature pODnCatlOn OF MT SpOOneG > III
tention has caused him to reconsider his pur-
pose, and the resolution may be abandoned, but
il is known that the mere report that such was
to be introduced caused CONSERVATION among
the Democrats, who frankly admitted that they
would promptly abandon the Statehood fight
rather; than become a party 10 the establish
r,4nt of a precedent for closure in the Senate.
The unanimous opposition of the Democrats to
such a resolution demonstrated that were its
consideration forced on the Senate the result
would he to rend asunder the Statehood forces
Senator Lodge is now working assiduously on
the Cuban treaty, and it would occasion little
surprise to those in touch with the situation if
that convention were ratified suddenly and as
quietly the Alaskan treaty lhere Is or
course considerable opposition to the Cuban
ARRANGEMENT. but il is admitted that the strong
interviews in its favor, printed IN me tribune
have produced a marked effect, and ii is now
believed that Mr.. Lodges logical arguments ana
Mr. Aldrich's persuasive powers VIII prove SUI
Nciant 10 moderate the opposition so as TO pre-
vent its proving serious obstacle to ratifcaton.