Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-16
SENATE FACES DEADLOCK
Treaties, Bills, and Money Votes Side
tracked BY Statehood Debate.
END SEEMS FURTHER OFF THAN EVER
Both Sides stHu Determined and Fight
May BE Transferred to POstOmce
Bill with Omnibus Meas
ure as Rider.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 15.-The senate still
finds itself burdened with the statehood
bill, and while just as anxious to dispose
OF II, It is not even as confident Of being
able to do 30 as at the beginning Of last
week.
With only fourteen working days OF the
session left, senators generally feel that
the matter must be got out OF the way,
but when a suggestion Of this kind is
made the reply invariably is that not
withstanding the statehood bill has held
the right-of-way practically during the en-
tire session. there has been no lack Of
legislation and all bills to which there
has not been serious opposition have been
passed and not a single appropriation bill
has been delayed for a moment.
statehood Blocks
The feeling is none the less strong, how
ever, that the statehood bill will be Sc
riously in the way at the close Of the ses-
sion, unless disposed OF soon. There are
still numerous appropriation bills to be
considered; Senator Cullom Qll) wants to
call up various treaties; Senator Lodge
(Mass.) is anxious over the fate Of the
Philippine bills: Senators Penross (Pa.) and
Fairbanks Qnd.) are olamoring for time
/ for the immigration bill; Senator Aldricn
(R. H. wants his national bank bill con,
sidered; Senator McComas (Md.) is urging
the lighthouse bill; Senator Quarles (Wis.)
the land entry bill and Senator Warren
CWyo.) his omnibus claims bills. Indeed,
there is scarcely a senator who has not
some measure which he desires to press,
and all feel that the statehood bill may be
in the way of, consideration. Senator Quay
(Pa.l, moreover, yesterday gave notice that
he would Insist on having the bill taken
up promptly after the close Of routine
morning business each day la order to
cut off other measures.
All thought Of compromise apparently
has been abandoned, and no course ex-
cept to fight II out now seems open. The
democrats have refused, absolutely, to &C
cept a compromise which would link Ari-
IONA with New Mexico and Senator Quay
has decided not to make any agreement
which would not be satisfactory to his
allies. His intention, therefore, is ito
stay with the bill to the end"
Tack Measure to Postal Vote.
1t is now definitely decided to use the
postofice appropriation bill as the vehicle
for carrying statehood, provided the SEN
ate shows a willingness to put the meas
ure on any of the appropriation meas
ures.
1t is expected that the postofice bill as
amended by including the statehood prop
%osition. will be reported on Tuesday or
Wednesday and Senate Mason, Qll.) chair
man Of the postofice committee, announces
that 1t is his purpose to ask for almost
immediate consideration. When the state
hood amendment is reached the critical
test is likely to come. A point Of order
will be made against 1t, that it is not
germane to the bill to which attached.
President Pro TEN Frye will sustain the
point II he rules on the question at all,
but the supporters nj statehood contend
that under the senate rules he can and
should leave the decision of the matter to
the senate itself without passing on It
from the chair.
A large number of senators advocating
the omnibus statehood bill recently signed
a petition to Mr.. Frye, asking that this
course be taken. He asked. however, that
the paper should not be presented to him,
and accordingly II was not formally laid
before him, but such a suggestion may
be proffered later.
II the amendment should be carried the
statehood fight would be transferred to the
postofice bill, with the resultant danger
Of an extra session II the fight became pro-
tracted. II the amendment does not carry
the general opinion is that the statehood
advocates either will have to accept a
compromise or allow the measure to fall
with the expiration OF the session, for the
opponents of statehood show no disposi-
tion to yield.
Friends of treaty Puzzled.
The chief supporters OF the two i'm
| portant treaties now before the senate.
the Panama canal treaty and the Cuban
reciprocity treaty, are greatly puzzled over
the situation. The statehood bill stands
sduarely across their respective pathways.
After allowing a day for consideration Of
the Panama treaty, Senator Quay has de-
elined to yield any more time and as a
consequence Senator CuIlom, who is in
charge OF both treaties, finds the end of
the senate approaching without seeing his
way clear to get either ratified. The one
day given to the Panama treaty has served
merely to demonstrate that It will reQuire
considerable time to secure action on IL.
Senator Morgan (Ala.) talked most Of the
day and afterward told some of his sem
atorial friends that be had only begun his
discourse. It was then made evident that
there would also be sufieient opposition
on the part Of other senators to prevent
the success OF the treaty by the mere
physical exhaustion Of the Alabama sem
ator.
The present purpose r not to attempt
to AXE up the Cuban treaty until the
Panama treaty is out of tbs way. Most
Of the democratic senators and two or
three republicans will vote against the
Cuban agreement; but II a vote can be
reached 1t is believed that It will be rati-
fed.
50.
Tomorrow the Indian appropriation bill
will be taken up again and its eonsidera-
ton probably concluded. Senator Tillman
Is. CO. has announced his intention TO
speak during the day. in reply to Senator
~spooner's (Wis.) recent speech on the race
question in the south and IL is not inn
probable that quite general debate may
ensue, regardless of the fact that time in
the senate is precious.
On Saturday a part Of the day will be
devoted to eulogies Of the late Representa-,
tive Burke OF Texas.
HOUSE WORK WELL ADVANCED