Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-31
WILL CLEAR SHORTLY
The Legislative Situation in
the Senate.
OUTLOOK FOR QUAY
OPPONENTS OF THE STATEHOOD
BILL ARE DETERMINED.
Talk of Compromise is Being Revived
Opposing Factions Have Three
Days Of Truce.
OUTLOOK FOR QUAY

That circumstances alter cases is being
exemplified in the statehood fight in the
Senate. The shifting weather vane isn't
marker to parties and individuals in the
Senate in their changing attitude upon par
liamentary questions in connection with
this bill.
Thursday the republican managers were
loud in their denunciation of the action of
Senator Quay in proposing his statehood
bill as rider to appropriation bills. They
were outraged at a proposition so clearly in
defiance of Senate rules, according to their
conception of the rules. Senator Lodge,
Senator Hale and others opposed to the ON
nibus bill declared the amendments clearly
out of order and obnoxious to the rules Of
the Senate governing in such cases. But
just before adjournment Senator Foraker
called attention to the fact that the Senate
had in a previous session attached the Phil
ippines civil government bill to the army
appropriation bill rider Senator Clay
of Georgia was unkird enough to print in
the Record the names of the republican
senators who voted for that alleged strain
ing of the Senate rule including the names
of Senators Hale, Lodge and others who
now are deplorlng the proposition Of SEN
ator Quay.
Senator Clay did not, however publish
the names of the democratic senators who
went on record in protest of the rayishment
of the rule. These same democrats, who
held up their hands in horror and raised
their voices in declafm against providing
civil government for territorial depend
ency through the legislative medium of an
appropriation bill, now are willing to use
the same medium to bring three states into
the Union and add six senators to the body
of which they are members.
Senator Kean, who is opposed to tri-state-
hood, called attention to the fact that while
legislative riders have been attached to ap-
preparation bills by vote of the Senate,
~ Tv,,;@ LoI
been created by an appropriation rider No
one thus far has come back with an answer
to that suggestion.
Future Progress Of the Bill.
AS stated by The Star yesterday a cam
vass of the committee to which the Quay
amendment was referred shows that the
committee will report 1t favorably. 1t is to
be referred to the committee on appropria-
tions. If after debate on the motion to
refer it is thug referred. that committee will
not report it favorably. But Senator Quay
having est blished one phase of the validity
Of his amendment, through the first favor
able report, can, it is said, make the mo-
ton in the open Senate to attach the rider.
The motion will be assailed. but will not be
ruled out on a point OF order, the chair, 1t
is claimed, being compelled to submit it to
the Senate for decision without debate. IT
Senator Quay still possesses majority, the
Senate will decide as it did in the case of
the Philippines bill that the motion is in
order 1t will be adopted and the rider will
stick. All this, of course, assuming that he
holds his forces intact and maintains his
present strength.
The next legislative move would occur in
the House. and there some skillful parlia-
mentary work would have to be done. The
statehood boomers say that motion would
be made to concur in the Senate amend
ment to the bill. and that the same vote
which passed the omnibus bill would secure
concurrence, thus taking the question out
of the hands of the conferees.
Opponents Are Resolute.
The opponents of the omnibus bill do not
believe that the House is now in favor of
that bill after the illumination of public
discussion.
The statehood bill, they say, is not to be
passed. The attempt to force the admission
of the states through an appropriation rider
has intensified the determination of the op-
ponentS to prevent 1t.
The legislative situation in the Senate will
clear in a few days. 1t has been shown that
Senator Quay cannot hold up appropriation
bills or treaties. The antitrust legislation
which has been outlined by the republican
managers will soon be presented for consid-
Grafton and will be taken up In due season
in the Senate.
Such is the belief of the managers. On
posed to that opinion is the assertion of the
statehood boomers that 1t will be the omni-
bus bill or nothing for the rest of the ses-
sion. The republican managers are ready
to meet them on that proposition and will
beat the statehood bill in its present form
II 1t requires an extra session TO arrange
the treaties.
The talk Of compromise on the statehood
Dill IS being revived. The opposing ia ctions
are 10 nave three days Of truce, while the
senate is otherwise occupied, and 1t is inti-
mated that some conferences will he hold
which may result in clearing the situation.
Adopted as a Rider.
The Senate committee on agriculture to-
"a od
as rider to the agricultural appropriation
bill The vote was to in favor of the
amendment.
The action was taken after very lively
session of the committee. in which strenu-
Gus opposition was urged against using the
appropriation bill for a statehood rider. but
the sta tehood boomers were in the majority
as Senator Quarry had figured they would
be, when he proposed the amendment to the
agricultural bill.
The action of the committee was not IN
expected by the opponents of the bill and
its effect practically has been discounted.
In the language Of a prominent senator.
who is opposed to the admission of the ter
the possibilities of debate and puts the agri-
cultural appropriation bill into the pot
where 1t will simmer with other bills
1t is said that the agricultural approprfa-
ton bill, with this amendment attached.
will be debated as thoroughly as the state
hood bill, and will be prevented from pass
Ing unless some OF the senators who favor
statehood prefer the passage of the agricul-
tural appropriation bill without the amend
ment to the failure Of that supply bill and
an extra session Of Congress.
Many of the opponents of the statehood
bill think that the old-line senators who
now favor statehood will not support Sem
ator Quay in his unusual tactics and des-
perate attempt to force the bill through the
Senate, and that his following will distn-
tegrate. But before that issue is tested
there will be fuller and freer discussion OF
all phases Of the case.
The army staff bill, which was Intended
to be incorporated in the army appropria-
ton bill, will not take that course The