The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-02-26
THE STATEHOOD DEADLOCK.
Senator Quay's Obstructive Tactics--Will an
Extra Session Be Necessary?-Passage of
an Important Pension Bill.

an lCpOItdQt teGS10u Bill.
After all, statesmen are but human,
and they carry into official life the same
characteristics that dominate them in the
business world. When man wants to
win point he wants to win it, and that
is all there is to it. He will go to any
length, stop at no expedient to gain that
point.
Two examples of this determination to
win are confronting Congress today. SEN
ator Quay is determined that New Mexico,
Arizona, Indian Territory, and Oklahoma
shall be at this session of Congress admit
ted to full Statehood. He has not ma
jority of Republicans with him, else he
would have put the issue to the touch long
ago. There is a fighting chance that
by the means of Democratic votes he can
pass his Statehood bill, which is the House
bill. Mr.. Quay is either too good Repub-
iican to put this to the test, or else he
fears the majority he requires will not
show up at the proper time. Hence, Mr..
Quay, quietly and serenely, in his thin,
squeaky, little voice, that can be scarcely
heard at the Clerks desk, each day moves
that the Senate go into consideration OF the
Statehood bill, which is the continuing or
der, and each day the Senate has to do
this, and then legislation is blocked for
the whole day except by consent of Mr..
Quay, who seems perfectly willing that
matters of minor importance shall be tax
en- UP, but who declines to let any other
important business come in between him
and his Statehood bill.
The other example of determination is
the President of the United States, who
has announced his determination to call
an extra session unless the Canal treaty
is voted upon. -
The President being the highest in au-
thority and having the last guess, will
probably win out.
Apropos of this is Senator Morgan. |
This very wise old gentleman does not
like the treaty and has set out. to talk it
to death and from the record he has made
in the last three weeks he is quite COM
petent to accomplish his fell purpose. He
can outtalk phonograph, having the per
petuaF' attachment not possessed by the
SO that he never runs down.
He sometimes pauses for an hour or so
to let somebody else get in a sentence or
two, then at it he goes again.
Several compromises on the Statehood
bill have been suggested. One is to admit
Oklahoma only, and alone, as a State.
Senator Spooner advances the theory, sup
ported by the opinion Of Attorney General
Knox, that this can be done, and, later,
Indian Territory can be attached and
made part of Oklahoma as State.
The proposal of the Republicans to
make one State Of New Mexico and
Arizona, is vigorously combatted by the
Democrats and some of the Republicans
to be majOrity-and by all the
people of the two Territories. They de-
clare that they would rather not be add
mitted at all than to come in as one State.
4 new proposition has been made that the
.wo come as the State of Montezuma,
with provision attached to make Arizona
separate State, when attaining a pOpu-
alton of 100000, if the citizens of that
section so vote. This proposition does not
meet with much favor, as it would be 10
Tears at least before another census is
AIKEN, and test could not be made till
hat time.
Meantime, most of the appropriation
,ills are being held up in the Senate, as
veil as the treaties. The Statehood bill,
which Senator Quay is nursing, has been
ttached to both the Agricultural and
'ost-office Appropriations bills. One or
ore the Senate this week. There will
ONE direct test vote on the Statehood
PROPOSITION. There is a conflict of Opin-
on as to the legality Of attaching the
bill as rider to an apprO-
riation bill, and the general impression is
hat Senator Frye, President pro tenn, will
ule against it. Senator Quay claims
hat lie has enough votes TO overdue Sucn
decision. If he has, his Statehood bill
passed. But has he? 4
In case this is true, ard the Appropria-
ion bills go to the President with the
rider attached, he has emphati- q
allied declared he will veto the bill, and IL
It the blame fail where it WILL O
And there you are! An extra session "
Congress is imminent--both Houses
l case the Appropriation bills fail For al
My the House has jurisdiction over the te
litiation of appropriation bills. If the T
preparation bills alt pass, there yet re- Ia
lains the treaties, and it does not look u
ossibe at this time for them to pass. 1t =,
curious tangle, and such a condition .
as not existed in the Senate in many es
ears. ''
If an extraordinary session is called, it OF
leans good deal more than appears on y
lie surface. 1t will be new Senate and %
new House. There will be a new
peaker and new committees in the =
.ouse, and the committees of the Senate q
ill have to be rearranged, as several of u
Ie Charmen are retiring from that body, Sp
well as a. number of members of the fo
mmittees. alb
In the House it is conceded that m IN;
r. Cannon will be elected Speaker. That ST