Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-02-01
The NATIONS SCAPITAL.
To Protect Americans and Pre-.
serve Neutrality in Samoa,
Reagan Offers as Amendment.
n. Hale Reiefs 10 Leave NatteRS viii
the Administration.
The Oklahoma Bill Again Brousht Up
The Oklahoma Bill Again Brousht Up.
WAsHIsGroS, Jan. 81
Senate.

! 66E6L9.
The House made An amendment on the bill
TO Increase the pensions of those who losl
both hands, reported back favorable.
| Mr.. Chandler offered a resolution, agreed
to. calling on the Secretary of Treasury fol-
information as to the proceeds paid into the
treasury under the captured and abandoned
act.
| The consideration WAS resumed on the
diplomatic and Consular appropriation bill,
the pending question being an Amendment
referring To Samoa.
Reagan offered an amendment To insert the
words and for the protection of the rights
of American citizens, and TO preserve
neutrality and independence thereof.
Hale said he would not object to the first
clause of the proposed amendment but was
not willing for the Senate to declare affima
lively that it would preserve neutrality or
maintain the indepe ndenee Of any people.
The matter might be safely left to the execu-
tive.
Sherman agreed with the views pressed by
Hale.
Frye old not agree with Sherman that no
wroogs had been committed in Samoa a. ainst
American citizens. He thought the evidence
conclusive that wrongs had been committed
on them, but that was not at issue. He
hoped the Senator from Texas would not
sist on the amendment now. The two amend
ments did not comprise all Congress ought
To do. IL was nothing but German trading
frm that had absolute aud supreme power
today over the Samoan Islands and the Ger-
man consul received his orders from it.
He doubted whether Germany had any un-
derstanding Of what had really been going
Oh at those islands for the last two or three
years. The King of Samoa was friendly to
the United states and the enmity of the
German trading firm against the King arose
entirely from the fact that he was a friend
of the United States The Germans had,
without authority and with one of the grayest
insults ever committed against the United
States, deli )erately made the king a rebel. |
Tanmsese, if he was recognized king, one
of his nrst acts (under the instructions of
the German trading firm would be to give
notice for the abrogstion of the treay with |
the United States.
Sherman took the ground that the United
States could not be Invested of its rights in |
Psgo- Pago harbor by the abrogation Of the
treaty.
Frye disagreed from that view If ten
Year, had run out without the United States
having avaled itself of its rights under the |
treaty. it was clear To him that the moment
notice was given of the termination of the |
treaty rights of the L nlted States ceased The |
real question at issue today between the |
| nited States and the empire of Germany |
was not necessarily before the Senate for
discussion under these two items of appro
priation
Hale was willing to leave with the ad-
min,stration the conduct of all the proceed |
ings as to the relation between this country
and the Samoan Islands. Whatever rights
we have there should be firmly protected
and insisted upon and not given up. In view
of the letter of Prince Bismarck to the Ger
man envoy in Washington, | believe that
whatever has been done in the Islands of
Samoa in the direction of German interfer- |
ence and German Intervention has been the |
act of the German government and in per |
suance of policy. | hope a wise course
will be pursued and we shall not be involved |
in steps leading to great and deplorable re-
suits, unless it is clear that the rights of
American citizens have been lnterfered with. !
The amendments we're agreed to without
division.
The amendment raising - the rank of
ambassa ministers to England, France, |
Germany and Russia was rejected, yeas %,
nays 26.
The bill was passed and the Senate at
6.l5 adjourned.