The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-03-25
XLIXth CONGRESS- FIRST SESSION.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON. March "a.
The chair laid before the Senate letter
from the Postmaster General replying TO the
Senate resolution concerning the numper OF
offered by Mr.. ingalls,, and adopted yester-
day. The Postmaster General says tnat tne
extraordinary demands on the clerical IOrce
of the department has delayed compliance
with the resolution of March 4th calling 1or
information as to the fourth class poStmas-
ters. The information, however, Will be
ready in three days.
On the suggestion of Mr.. Hoar the letter
was laid ON the table for The present, Mr.. In
gals not having been present during Its
reading.
The resolution heretofore offered by Mr..
Van Wyck relating to the Washington Gas
Light Company, led to some debate. Three
corporations in this city, Mr.. Van Wyck
said, substantially controlled the Congress
of the United States. These were the Wash
ington Gas Light Company, the national
banks and the railroads.
Mr.. Dawes said the Senator from Nebraska
(Mr. Van Wyck) was member OF the body
SO controlled"
Mr.. Van Wyck admitted this but remarked
that he was only one.
Mr.. Frye said it was fortunate that the
Senate had somebody to save It.
The president of the Gas Company, MIR.
Van Wyck said, had admitted under oath
that he had kept lobbyist at $4,000 q year
u influence IeBlSldJlUu III OOuSkcoS- W pIO-
tect the interests of the company" The res
olutOn was referred to the committee on the
District of Columbia.
The chair laid before the Senate a petition
from 800 citizens of the Pacific coast pro-
testing against the cruel treatment of unof-
committee on foreign relations.
The Logan bill to increase the efficiency
of the army was then placed before the Sen
ate.
t.
would not discuss in detail the Indian policy
but he saw no reason in the Indian question
for an increase of the army. We could take
a number of Indian children from hostile
tribes, place them in Indian schools. and the
Indian wars would cease. The children
would constitute hostages for the good con-
duct of the parents.
Mr. Platt said we had no army. 1t was
misnomer to call the present skeleton"
an army. Our nation would in the future
have something to say about the worlds at
fairs and out to have an army not large but
enough to at least constitute fair police
force. The argument that we had no imme-
diate need of an army was arguing that be-
cause it was not raining today 1t would
never rain. There was one thing we must
do continued Mr.. Platt, we must enforce
on this continent the Monroe doctrine that
we will not allow any foreign nation to set
its foot for colonial purposes or purposes OF
conquest upon the western hemisphere. Yet
we are in no condition to say that. II any
nation of Europe should attempt to cOloniZe
South America or should choose to take a
hand in any conflict that arose in South
America with a view to conquest we are IN
no condition to say to that nation you must
not do it. The history of nations showed
we could not avoid war or complications
with foreign powers Senators should look
the situation clearly in the face AS to the
militia, Mr. Platt said, it was undoubtedly
the strength of the republic, but it would be
principally of service as an adjunct to a
well-organized. even though small, standing
army, which, in our position, was neces-
sity.
The hour of 2 o'clock arriving, the army
bill went over and the resolutions reported
from the judiciary committee were placed
before the Senate:
Mr. Morgan addressed the Senate in Oppo-
sition to the majority report He entered
upon an exhaustive analysis OF the question,
not only as it effected the immediate case un-
der consideration but the mutual relations
generally of the executive and the Senate.
Mr.. Mitchell OF Oregon Il concurred IN !, the ne
report of the majority of the committee In SO
far as it asserted that it was the duty of the
executive officers to furnish, when called up
on by the Senate, papers relating to the ad-
ministration of his office by a suspended Of
fetal.
the majority report, did not understand the
question as Mr. Mitchell did. He thought
thought the Senate should have documents
on file and that when refused what the Sen
ate deemed necessary it would refuse to pro-
ceed to consideration of nominations.
When the debate ceased it was under
stood that the resolutions should be disposed
of before adjourned Saturday, and that in
the meantime the debate should be resumed
Immediately after the morning business.
Mr.. Voorhees, obtained the floor but gave
way for motion to adjourn. He will be the
first to speak on the resolution tomorrow
and will be followed by Mr.. Evarts.
The Senate then at $50 p. m. adjourned.