The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1870-12-21
XLIss goNGREsg-TAi1d- Session.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Dec. l0-Mr. Sner man re-
ported bill in accordance with the RECON-
mendaton of the Secretary OF the Treasury, to
authorize the Issue of an additional $500 600 Oc(
OF five per cent. bonds authorized by the fund
ing laws of the last session. He asked the
present consideration of the bill, but Mr.. Trum.
bull Objecting the bill went over. He also re-
ported Mr.. Coles gold BILL with a reeomme n :
dation that the same be negatived.
The Senate then took up Messrs. Morton and
Summers resolution on San Domingo, Mr..
Sherman making an neffectual effort to induce
the Senate to take up the House bill correcting
an ambiguity in the classification of sugar
dealers. 7,f rre
The resolutions of Messrs. Summer and Nor
ton were severally read.
A motion to postpone the calendar in order
to proceed with the San Domingo question was
carried after debate, 80 to %.
Mr.. Morton's motion to take up his resolu-
ton for the appointment Of Commissioners to
report on the condition Of San Domingo, was
carried after discussion, by the following votes
Yeas-Messrs. Abbott, Ames, Boreman,
Brown Buckingham, Carpenter, Chandler,
Cole, Conkling, Corbett, Edwards, Flanagan,
ell, Lewis, Morton, Nye, Osborn, Pomeroy
Poole, Ramsay, Rice, Sawyer, Sherman
SprAgue, Stewart, Thayer, Warren, Wiley
Williams. Window, IS. s.ei, -
Nays-~Bayard, Cassesly Davis, Fowler, Ham
ilton, Ind, Harris, McCreery, Morrill,, VI,
Sumner, Thurman. Upton, Vickers, II.
The resolution was then read and Mr. Buck
ingham moved to refer it to the Committee on
foreign relations. Mr.. Morton briefly advocated
the resolution, remarkipg that be could not see
any objection to it, and that an affirmative vote
would not commit anybody upon annexation.
Mr.. Schurz supposed the intention was tC
appoint scientific commission to go over the
Island of San Domingo and Investigate every.
thing there, water. earth, air and metal. and
the moral condition of the population. He ar.
gued that the serious matter of investigation
would take from three to five years, while in
tended as sham and humbug it ought not to be
undertaken at all. He favored the reference
to the committee as means of indicating with
precision the subjects entitled to investigation
Mr.. Morton replied that it was not proposed
to make geological survey. He thought thai
if the information indicated was desirable, il
might be readily procured within 60 days o.
less. Whatever was the effect of the report O
the omission, whether in favor or aaains
apne4ation the information thereby secure,
would be legitimate. 1t was provided that nj
compensation would be paid commissioners, 81
| there would be no inducement for them on tina
| account to spin out their time. He presumed
| the commissioners would be composed of mem
bers of Congress.
Mr.. Sherman spoke of the persistence will
| which the President had urged the acquisition
of Dominica, seeing it was not likely to be an
| nexed under the treaty making power. FO
| want of two-thirds vote in the Senate, tn
| President had gone SO far as to suggest its an
nexation By joint resolution as in the case G
| Texas. The pending resolution was doubles
| with view to such move. He reminded tn
| Senate that the Island could not be annexed a
| territory but must come in il at ALL as a State
the Constitution making no provision for til
| annexation OF foreign territory other than as
State, the question therefore was, would tn
| Senate recede from Its position apd admit Sa
l DOMINGO without
| there being able to speak the English languag
| or having the slightest idea OF our institutions
The resolution was Objectionable in its detail!
| The President was to select his own men q
commissioners. without word OF consent
the Senate. It was an appointment withou
compensation.
This feature Mr.. Thurman regarded ratl
er as an objection than otherwise. Who wonl
go TO San Domingo without compensation q
less he was iobber or the tool of jobbers. Th
tiouable.
Mr.. Morton explained that he had not allud
ed to army officers but to members OF Cor
gress as members of the Commission.
Mr. Thurman replied that that made I'll
matter still worse. He hoped the freside1
send his friend Casserly, and he double
whether his friend from New Jersey (Stccktol
would be sent, though that Senator bad bee
in diplomatic service. Would the PresideT
send ms friend the distinguished WnalrMan
the Copmittee on Foreign Relations, MI
Sumner. (Laughter) No doubt he would b
willing to send the Senator from Indian
(Morton)-but the Senator might not be will
ing to forego his seat in the Senate to go dow
to San Domingo for the purpose OF looking il
to the physical, mental and moral condition
the inhabitants. (Renewed laughter)
Mr.. Scott, referring to Mr. Morton's remar
that the commission probably would be mao
Of members Of Congress, said he favored j
reference with view to an amendment pr
hibiting any such appointment. All the re-
sons which would operate to prevent the a
pointment Of a member to public Office du
ing his term ought to prevail in such cas-
besides, no member of the Senate could be s
lected who had not already adiqdgad the que
ton,
Mr.. Patterson, replying TO the Intimate
that the Dominican treaty fafed at the la
session because of want Of information, argu.
that sufficient facts were not accessible to Il
Senate here in Washington. Then the fac
upon which the administration acted were n
sufficient to justify in negotiating treaty, al
none ought to have been negotiate without
the facts. He favored extending the propose