Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-24
Bill Allowing E1-Confederates in the
Army Passes the Senate.
A LIVELY DEBATE ON IT FIRST
Senator Hill Finally Wins His
Point in the Matter.
BRIEF USE ESSION

inter-
est was centered mainly in the maturing
legislation at the other end of the Capitol.
Rev. DR.. Milburn, the blind chaplain, in an
eloquent prayer on the Christmas season.
made passing allusion to current public
events by invoking peace and good will
among the nations of the earth
On motion of Mr.. Allison uowa) the Sem
ate agreed that when adjournment be
taken it be until Friday
To Issue Springfield Rifles,
In presenting bill authorizing the Secre-
tary OF War to issue Springfield rifles to
STATE military organizations in exchange
FOR old guns, Mr.. Hawley Comm said: Il
order that this shall not be construed so as
to add to the war scare. l will say that it
is merely question of business. Many Of
The guns in use by state troops are of an
tlquated pattern. By the adoption of the
hragS-Jorgensen gun-which | think was
mlstake-the War Department has on
nahd a large supply of good Springfield
rthes' ana the National Guard should have
thef IN exchange for the worthless arms"
Mr.. Squire WaShD spoke against the in
Justice of employing foreign engineers on
american ships receiving subsidies from
the United States government and offered
Dill to overcome the practice
A Pnn-American Union.
The project of a Pan-American political
I
American republics, was presented by Mr..
Allen (Neb) in the following resolution:
whereas recent events have shown that
European nations are making an aggres-
sive attempt to obtain a greater foothoId
on the American continent; and
Nv hereas such an attempt shows the ne .
cessity of a closer union of the amarican
republics:
ftesolved That it is the sense OF tha
senate that the United States of America
should as speedily as possible Invite ali
American republics to enter into a closer
union, to be known as the Pan-American
Union, for the purpose of promoting the
general industrial and commercial welfare
OF the members thereof and securing said
republics from European or other foreign
encroachments"
The resolution closes with a suggestion
lor common unit of value between the
rePupllcs OIL America. The resolution was
referred to the committee on foreign rela-
tions.
The bar Against Ex-Confcdcrates.
Mr.. Hill On. " again sought to secure
the passage of the bill repeating the old
proscriptive laws against the enlistment of
eX-confederates in the United States army
or navy. 1T would be a most fitting and
generous Christmas present to the men of
the south" said Mr. HILL
Mr.: sherman 1Ohio) suggested that there
should be committee consideration.
man. The time is past for such dscrimi-
nation, but the usual course of committee
action should he taken"
Mr. Chandler tN.H) urged imma adate ac-
tlon. Thirty years had elapsed since the
war. There was no reason for keeping this
prescription and there was abundant rea-
son for repeating it.
THE other day." added Mr.. Chandler we
came to the support of democratic Presi-
dent on a question of national affairs and
sincerely hope that the Senate will today,
without criticism and without voice of OPP
position unanimously approve this repeal"
Mr.. Gray (Del), while favoring the legisls-
ton, believed committee action would secure
the most satisfactory result
Mr. Hnwley's RemnrLs
Mr.. Hawley Comm, responding to soma
criticisms by Mr.. Gray as to the course of
former legislation in this line, said it was
not to he wondered at that there was some
feeling over AppomattoX and Gettysburg.
This law followed the close Of the war 1t
was not proscriptive. 1t was regard I'd at the
time as perfectly just The Senator said he
had the greatest respect personally for some
of these confederate soldiers; but country
that had any respect for itself was COM
PEELED at the close of a great war to protect
itself against abuses of that day. when ex-
eonfederates frequently enlisted in the Union
armies Immediately after leaving the south
ern lines.
The Senator, without opposing the meas
ure, felt that committee action would give
the step greater force if it was to ne taken.
Mr.. Daniel VaD spoke of the wish of tho
south to have one country and one people.
When the war closed the south laid down it's
arms. 1t was anxious now to obliterate the
fierce memories of the war. Mr.. Daniel
presented the memorial of the Virginia leg
islature urging this repeal and also COM
mending the Presidents message on Ven-
ezunla
Mr.. Voorhees, 0nd) expressed the hope
that this last process of healing should be
A1rn1iv q al ta n
firmed the civil appointments of Gen Long
street and that other great southern soldier.
second only to Lee-Joe Johnson" Mr.
voorhees, said the repeal would actually aos
complish little, but 1t would be an express
sion of good WILL
Willing to Forgive.
Mr.. Platt Comm spoke of the attacks
made on him by southern newspapers be-
cause he suggested the other day, that this
bill go to committee. From one end to the
other of the south" said Mr.. Platt, Tho
press condemns me. applies to me all kinds
of epithets. declares that 1 am lacking in.
patriotism and finally sends me marked
copies of their condemnation.
But" continued Mr. Platt, this country
has forgiven much, it is ready to forgive
more. And am SO full o. forgiveness on
this day before Christmas that am ready
to forgive these eX-confederates and Join
today with the Senator from New York
(HilD in supporting this repeal
the northern ranks, urged the repeal and
condemned the Bloody flag" politics of the
past the Senator caused some amusement
by referring TO the time when the command
with which he served captured that com.
manded by the Senator from Missouri
CCockrelD.
Mr.. Hill closed by pointing out the delays
and absurdities of committee action. He
created a laugh by pointing out the incon-
siderateness of Mr.. Platt in hot sending him
some of the complimentary southern press
sL-p-'' said Ina I'm
lit is so seldom nowadays that the press
says anything complimentary of me-"
The Motion to Refer Defeated.
Mr.. Sherman moved to refer the bill to
the committee on military affairs. The
motion was defeated-S to 30--as follows:
Yeas-Bacon, Cockrell, Elkins, Frye.
Gray, Sherman, Teller. Walthali-S
Nays-Allen, Baker, Bate, Brice, Butler.
Cameron, Chandler Clark, Daniel, Davis,
Harris, Hawley, Hill, Lodge, Martin. Nor. .
rill, Murphy, Nelson, PETER, Perkins, Platt
Pritchard Roach ShoJp Suujre Stewart