Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-02-16
18th CONGRESS.
Statehood Bill a Stumbling
Block in Senate.
With That Settled, Work Of Session
Could Soon Be Finished.
Only Three of Supply Bills Remain in
the House.

Washington, Feb. 15.-The Senate
still finds itself burdened with the
statehood bill ard while just as anx-
ious to dispose of it in some way in
order TO proceed unimpeded with other
business it is not even as confident OF
being able to do so as at the beginning
of last week. The feeling is none the
less strong, however, that the state
hood bill will be seriously in the way
at the close of the session unless dis
posed of very soon.
There are still numerous apprOpria-
ton bills to be considered. Senator
Cullom wants to call up various treat
les; Senator Lodge is anxious over the
fate of the Philippine bills; Senators
Penrose and Fairbanks are clamoring;
Senator Aldrich wants his national
bank bill considered; Senator Me-
Comas is urging the S-hour bill; Sena-
tor Quarles the land entry bill and
Senator Warren his omnibus bill. In
deed there is scarcely q. senator who
has not some measure which he de-
sires to press and all feel that the
statehood bill may be in the way of
consideration.
Senator Quay, moreover, yesterday
SdNt 1lOtltt lIldl ne WOulu lllSlSl vi
having the statehood bill taken up
promptly after the close of routine
morning business each day in order
TO cut off other measures. All thought
of compromise on the statehood mat
| ter apparently has been abandoned and
no course except to fight it out now
seems open.
1t is now quite definitely decided to
use the post office appropriation bill
as the vehicle for carrying the state
| hood bill provided the Senate shows a
Willingness to put the measure on one
| of the appropriation bills.
1t is expected that the post Office
| bill as amended by including the
statehood proposition viii be reported
| to the Senate. Tuesday or Wednes
| day, and Senator Mason, chairman
of the post office committee, announces
| that it his purpose to ask for almost
| Immediate consideration. When the
statehood amendment is reached the
critical test is likely to come. A point
| OF order viii be made against it, that
| it is not germane to the bill to which
attached. President Pro TEN Frye will
| sustain the point. if he rules on the
| question at all, but the supporters OF
| statehood contend that under the Sen
ate rules he can ard should leave the
| decision of the matter to the Senate
itself without passing on it from the
| chair A large number of senators ad
vocating the omnibus statehood bill re-
| Gently 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 accord
| ingly it was not formally laid before
| him. but such a suggestion may be
proffered later.
| If the amendment should be carried
| the statehood fight would be trans
| ferred to the post office bill with tho
resultant danger of an, extra session
If the fight became protracted.
The chief supporters of the two i'm
portant treaties now before the Sen
ate. the Panama canal treaty and the
| Cuban reciprocity treaty, are greatly
puzzled over the situation. The state
| hood bill stands squarely across their
respective pathways.