Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-21
THE SENATE BLOCKADE
Statehood Bill to Shut Out
Other Business.
MR.. QUAY'S POSITION
HAS ENOUGH SENATORS TO
CARRY HIS PURPOSE.
Condition of Affairs is Not Displeasing
to Some Who Want Certain Meas
ures Kept Back.
MR.. QUAY'S POSITION

The parliamentary situation In the Sem
ate is very interesting as the result of Sem
ator Quay's decision to hold the Senate to
consideration of the statehood bill and to
shut out other business until an agreement
can be reached for a vote on that measure.
Senator Quay announced his intention to
pursue that course just before the Senate
adjourned yesterday afternoon.
The steering committee Of republican sem
ators met last night to map out plan Of
legislative action for the remainder OF the
session. The steering committee looked
over the situation presented by Senator
Quay's ultimatum, and found, it is said,
that he has a sufficient number of repunli-
can senators in addition to the solid den-
ocratic strength Of the Senate to enable
him to conduct pretty stiff fight in behalf
Of the statehood bill. The conclusion reach
ed by the steering committee was that Sem
ator Quay may be able to keep in the back
ground other legislation for several weeks
to come.
This state of affairs is not unwelcome to
many interests in the Senate. In fact,
there are many senators of prominence on
both sides Of the chamber who more
than pleased to have the Senate in fast
deadlock for little while in order to pre-
vent legislation action upon which would
be embarrassing to them from coming to
the front. 1t is we'll understood by ali
not contemplate keeping back the appro-
priation bills. Whenever an appropriation
measure IS ready for action Mr.. Quay and
his friends will let it come before the
Senate
Some Glad of Obstruction.
1t is we'll understood at the Capitol that
prominent senators will be glad of an ex-
cuse for not bringing up the immigration
bill, the eight-hour bill and other
measures. If it turns out that the Cuban
reciprocity treaty is endangered by this
program some republican senators and a
large-sized faction Of democratic senator's
will be secretly pleased.
The immigration bill Is being pushed for
consideration, and if permitted to come to
a vote probably would pass. There are
strong influences at work in opposition to
the bill Not only the steamship and rail-
way companies who perennially oppose It
but some senators believe that there is not
unskiled labor enough in the country to
do the rough work in the great era of
prosperity and that the importation OF
labor of that class should not be hampered.
The opposition to the eight-hour bill, Of
course, is well understood. On a test vote
many senators who want to see the bill de-
feated would be compelled to vote for its
passage. These gentlemen welcome eagerly
anything that would prevent roll call
upon that bill
Therefore the equanimity with which the
Senate steering committee has accepted
Senator Quay'S bold attitude in virtually
taking the Senate by the nape of the neck
and holding it up until 1t promises to do his
bidding can be explained. 1t is noted that
the republican senator's who ordinarily
would bitterly resent such a course on the
Part Of an individual senator are accepting
the situation with show of remarkable
Christian fortitude. They say that they are
accepting it because Senator Quay has
fifty votes at his back which VIII prevent
them from doing anything else.
Antitrust Matters Not Blocked.
The program of delay and obstruction
does not, however, menace the antitrust
legislation. 1t is well understood in Con-
gress that tacit agreement has been
reached among the various interests to pass
a moderate antitrust bill at this session OF
Congress in order to obviate the necessity
of an extra session with the danger of more
radical legislation. Senator Quay declares
that no antitrust bill shall come up until
the statehood bill is voted upon.
1t is said in well-informed quarters that
when the republican leaders of the House
and Senate agree upon an antitrust bill 1t
will be brought into the Senate. and there
will be no difficulty in giving it the right
of way over the statehood bill. 1t is
claimed that the democrats who are back
ing Senator Quay in his fight for the omni-
bus statehood bill could not afford to go on
record voting against proposition to
take up antitrust bill, passed by the
House and reported by Senate committee
with the probability Of being enacted into
law.
No Friction.
When the Senate had disposed of routine
morning business today Senator Quay put
into execution his threat of yesterday to
insist upon immediate consideration Of the
statehood bill. Senator Beveridge gracious
ly acquiesced in the motion and said there
was no disposition on his part to oppose
consideration of the bill. Everything went
along, therefore, as smoothly as could be
desired, and when the two senators re-
sumed their seats on opposite sides Of the
aisle they looked at each other and
laughed.
While Senator Quay has, it is claimed.
a sufficient number of votes to pass his
bill If 1t comes to vote, the republican
managers are determined that the bill shall
not pass. In that position they are sup
ported by the administration, and 1t II
broadly intimated that If the statehood bill
should pass in its present form 1t would be
vetoed.
Mr.. Hanna's Appeal.
A significant feature of the proceedings
late yesterday afternoon was the appear
ance of Senator Hanna in the fight. After
the colloquy between Senator Beveridge and
Senator Quay and after Senator Quay had
delivered his ultimatum to the Senate, Sen
ator Hanna took the floor. He made an
exceedingly impassioned appeal to his re-
publican colleagues to consider the state
hood bill with great care, and unmistakably
manifested his strong opposition to- the bill.
AS chairman of the national republican
committee he brushed aside the claims that
because of the plank in the platform advo-
eating statehood the Senate was compelled
to vote against its judgment and it's con-
science upon this bill He pointed out that
the plank was inserted as the opinion of the
convention, but necessarily subject to the
approval and disapproval of Congress. He
secuted the idea that Congress could be
bound by any such action in national con-
vention, and appealed to members on both
sides of the chamber to consider the bill
carefully and to act conscientiously.