Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-12-24
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. "a
SENATE.

SENATE.
Resolutions and memorials from
Ohio endorsing the action of the Presi.
dent in relation to Venezuela and in
favor of recognizing the Cuban revolu.
tionists as belligerents, were presented
by Mr.. Sherman and referred to the
committee on foreign relations.
A bill for the purchase OF the Dolly
Madison picture by Andrews was report
ed, and one for the purchase of statue
of the late Chief Justice Salmon P
Chase was introduced.
In introducing bill for the issue of
Springfield rifles to each State and for
the national guard thereof, in exchange
for the rifles now held by them, Mr.
Hawley explained that it had nothing
whatever to do with 1.-THE idiotic war
scare"
Mr.. Squire introduced bill requir-
ing the engineers on the subsidized
American line of steamships to be
American citizens.
Mr.. Allen offered the following reso.
luton Whereas, r, cent events have
shown that European nations are max
lug an aggressive attempt to obtain
greater foothold on the American con.
tinent, and whereas such attempt
shows the necessity of a closer union of
the American republics.
Therefore resolved, that it is the sense
of the Senate that the United States Of
America should, as speedily as possible,
invite all American republics to enter
into closer union, to be known as the
Pan-Americsn union, for the purpose of
promoting the general industrial and
commercial welfare of The members
thereof and secure said respective 70
publics from other foreign encrosch-
mentS.
Such unions should pc made of last.
ing benefit to the people of the several
republics forming it, and unit of value
should be established and maintained
therein, which shall be a full legal.
tender and circulate freely between the
various republics and the people
thereof.
The resolution was referred to the
committee on foreign relations.
Mr.. Hill asked the Senate to take up
and pass the bill introduced by him
last week to repeal the statute which
prohibits eY.Confederate officers who
had previously been commissioned
officers in the United States army or
navy from holding positions in the
army and navy.
Mr.. Sherman declared himself as
heartily in favor of the bill, but thought
that it should take the ordinary course
and be referred to the committee on
military affairs.
Mr. Hill argued that the bill was
perfectly simple one and needed no con-
sideration by committee. He thought
that it would be good thing, just
before Christmas, to make this present
to the old Confederate officers who had
formerly held commissions in the
United States army.
Mr.. Chandler favored the bill and
declared that it ought to be passed and
passed to-day. 1t was simple in its
character. As the Senate had, the
other day, unanimously without dis
tinction of perty, come to the support
of q democratic President when he
announced his national principles in
relation to Venezuela, so he hoped that
to-day, without delay, without criti-
cism, without amendment, freely and
generously this bill might be passed by
tho affirmative votes Of every Senator.
Mr.. Gray, while favoring the bill,
agreed with Mr.. Sherman thatit should
be referred to q committee in the regu-
lar way.
Mr.. Hawley, while favoring the bill,
justified the act which it was now pro-
posed to repeal. 1t was proper legisla-
ton st the time it was passed, but
that time had now passed away.
Mr.. Daniel favored the bill and pre-
sented resolutions of the Virginia Leg
islature favoring its passage and the
Presidents message. He said that
when the Confederate soldiers laid
down their arms, they laid them down
and were done with fighting. The dis
agreeable memories of the war were OBJ
liberated. and ever since the men OF the
south and of the north were one peo-
pie, with common country. 1t should
not be forgotten, he said, as to the
young men who had been educated at
West Point and Annapolis, that the ex-
penses of those institutions had been
contributed to proportionately by their
own States.
After further debate the Senate pass
ed Mr.. Hill's bill to repeal the act pro-
hibiting Confederate officers who had
held commissions in the United States
army from being appointed to places
in the army or navy, and the Senate
then adjourned until Friday.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Cooper offered a bill making
Palm Beach, Florida, q SUPPORT of de-
livery and entry. The necessity for
the passage of the bill was that Mr..
Flagler, the oil and hotel magnate, in
tended to put on a line of American
steamers between that port and the
Bahamas. At present there were no
facilities for entering and clearing the
vessels nearer than Key West, which
will involve weeks delay in every
case. The bill was passed.
An unsuccessful effort was made by
Mr.. Turner to gain unanimous consent
for printing in the Record Secretary
Smiths reply to the resolution OF in
quiry proposed last week relating to his
action in the matter of the Wichita
reservation.
On motion of Mr.. Dingley it was
agreed that when the House adjourned
it should be until Thursday.
The usual resolution from the COM
mittee on ways and means distributing
the Presidents annual message to the
es,o..I 49,, ,,;ttees having jurisdiction