Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-29
Effect of Mr.. Quay's Latest
Move on Statehood Bill.
A DESPERATE RESORT
FEELING AMONG PROMINENT
SENATORS.
Will See Appropriations Fail Rather
Than the Statehood Measure
Be Adopted.

Senator Quay will not get his statehood
bill through, but he will have a lot of fun
out of the effort; Furthermore, he will give
everybody connected with the case a run
for his money. Senator Quay's latest move
in the statehood fight decidedly complicates
the situation, although the opponents OF
the senator are trying to put on glad
face and make out that everything is
lovely.
Late yesterday afternoon a little while
before the Senate adjourned Senator Quay
arose in his place during a temporary lull
in the debate, and In his small voice an
nounced that he had couple Of amend
ments to offer No one paid any attention
to the announcement nor to his subsequent
remark that he desired the amendments
referred to the committee on organization
and conduct Of the executive department
of which Mr.. Quay is chairman.
Neither his colleagues on the floor nor the
observers in the gallery were aware OF the
contents of the amendments. They were
not read, although that fact might not nee
essarily make much difference, as the read
ing of papers handed In is not always in
teligible to hearers few inches away
from the reading clerks desk. Anyway,
the amendments got in without attracting
the notice of an individual. Mr.. Quay sat
down, smiled In his gentle way and soon
thereafter moved that the Senate adjourn
Long about midnight last night some one
discovered that the amendments which he
proposed were amendments to the sundry
civil appropriation bill and to the agricul-
tural bill, and were in fact the text of the
omnibus statehood bill. The senator had
caused them to be referred to his commit
tee, it is supposed, in order to have them
favorably reported to the Senate and to
prevent them from being subject to a point
order. proposed amendments
priation bills.
Senator Quays clever move caused
amusement today to persons to whom it did
not affect and chagrin and worry to
great many senators whom it may effect
The opponents of the statehood bill took
the matter with apparent cheerfulness and
said that Senator Quay had now unmaSked
himself and exposed the statehood bill ad-
vocates as the real obstructionists in the
Senate.
The Situation Now.
These facts are apparent in the situation,
today: First, that Senator Quay can get a
favorable report upon his amendments from
his own committee, which stands seven to
two in favor of the omnibus bill; second
that If his supposed strength stands by him
ne can put the amendments on an appro-
priation bill
The sundry civil appropriation bill Is the
great pork barr'l'' of the session. 1t car
ries all of the special appropriations in
terested for their constituents. Every sena-
tor OF prominence has one or more impor-
tant chunks in the pork barr'l," and even
senators Of less influence manage to get a
rev slices. The embarrassment failure
OF the sundry civil bill is proposition too
horrible to contemplate. Senators shudder
at the bare thought of it. The advocates Of
the statehood bill themselves would be suf-
ferers.
Senator Quay's action is interpreted to
mean that he is In earnest in his determine
ton to block legislation unless he can get
action on his bill. His latest move Is re-.
sort to desperate tactics, and the doubt is
expressed whether he will be able to hold
his full strength in a move which would re-
suit in defeating the sundry civil app -opria-
ton bill. He has not called a meeting of
his committee yet to act upon his amend
men;
Will Not Hold Continuous Session.
One effect of the introduction of the
amendment will be to remove the necessity
for applying pressure for continuous ses-
sions of the Senate. Senator Quay told his
friends today that he would not attempt to
hold the Senate in continuous session, the
idea being to observe what effect this latest
move will have upon the republican man.
ayers who are responsible for the conduct
of business.
Senator Culom, who has the Panama
canal treaty and the Cuban reciprocity
the outlook for action upon those meas
ures in the near future. He was inclin I'd
to think that Senator Quay proposes to
hold up the treaties as we'll as appropria-
tion bills. There was more talk today of
special session of the Senate for con-
sideration of the treaties after March 4.
Senator Dietrich of Nebraska, in giving
notice today of his intention to address the
Senate upon the subject of commercial re-
lation with Cuba, said that the Cuban
reciprocity treaty seemed to be 'n statu
Quay"
Confident of an Extra Session.
Prominent senatorial callers at the White
House today were confident that there
would be extra session of Congress
should Senator Quay succeed in keeping
the omnibus statehood bill tackled on to
either OF the appropriation bills to which
he has fastened 1t.
The situation is such In the Senate that
the opponents of statehood will prefer that
appropriation bills fail at this session
rather than the omnibus bill go through.
This determination is manifest that Sen
ator Quay is said to be aware of 1t. Sena-
tors who oppose statehood resolute on
this. They will submit to an extra session.
and shoulder responsibility for it If neces-
sary. rather than let the statehood bill be-
come law. So the probability of an ex-
ira session grows stronger with each day s.
failure of the Senate to do work.
The anti-omnibus statehood senators feel
that if an extra session should be forced
1t would be practically limited to appro-
priation bills The statehood bill would die
with this session of this Congress, and with
new Congress would have to pass the
House again. Senator Lodge and other
senator's have taunted Senator Quay with
the fact that he cannot afford to let the
bill get back to the House, and declare
that the House would knock the bill into
mincemeat could 1t get hold of the meas
ure again. This Is said to explain the ac-
ceptanee of the measure just as it came
from the House by Senator Quay to pre-
vent conference or the acceptance or re-
lection of amendments by the House
The chances of an extra session are ad-
mitted even by those favoring omnibus
statehood.
Rev. Charles S. Hoyt Dead.