Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-12-09
F1FTY-FoURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 9.
'-fSo
SENATE.

SENATE.
Senator Caffery (dem. La.) appeared
and took the oath OF Office for his new
term beginning on the 4th of March
last.
Mr.. Cullom gave notice that he
would address the Senate tomorrow
on the subject of the Monroe doctrine.
Mr.. Berry introduced bill to form
the Indian Territory into the Territory
of Indianola and gave notice that he
would hereafter address the Senate on
the subject.
Among the numerous pension bills
introduced and referred was one by
Mr.. VOORHEES, to pay a pension of 5000
month to the widow of the late Sec
retory of State Gresham.
A bill to prevent citizens of the
United States from soliciting or accep-
ing title, patents of nobility or degrees
of honor from foreign nations (under
the penalty of fue and disfranchise-
ment was introduced by Mr.. Allen
and referred to the committee on for
I.eign relations. 1t excerpts from its
provisions ecclesiastical titles or de-
grees.
a resolution calling on the President
for copies of all correspondence in the
State Department on the subject of the
trial and imprisonment of John L.
Waller by the French authorities, at
Madagascar, was introduced by Mr..
Baker and was agreed to.
Mr.. Hale offered a resolution in
structing the judiciary committee to
inquire and ascertain what is the exist
ing law in the District of Columbia in
relation to the custody of minor child
rem, and especially whether the father
of any minor children may dispose OF
their custody after his death By the
provisions of his last will and tesla
ment. The resolution has reference to
the case of the Slack children now
pending in one of the District courts,
and Mr.. Hale said that he wanted to
know whether any such relic of barbar-
| ic law existed here.
Mr.. Harris suggested the committee
on the District of Columbia as the
proper committee to which the resolu-
| ton should be referred. Mr.. Hale ex-
pressed his willingness to have the
change of reference made.
Mr.. Vest argued against the making
of any report while the subject was
pending in court ofjustice.
MIR. Pugh objected TO the resolution
being referred to any committee.
A1r. Hale disclaimed any knowledge
of the Slack case. He had not even
read the reports of the testimony. But
he had seen that as in the presentation
of that case, it was alleged that the ex-
isting law in the District of Columbia
authorized the father of minor children,
by his last will and testament, to dis
pose of their custody after his death;
and he regarded such q thing as intol-
cradle. II that were the law the com
mittee should report new statute on
the subject.
After some further colloquy the res
olution was referred to tho committee
on the District of Columbia.
Mr.. Morgan called up the resolution
! offered by him last week on the subject
of the Behring Sea indemnity claims,
and proceeded to address the Senate.
Mr.. Morgan said the reassertiop by
the President of the justice and right
fitness of the demand of the British
government, made with the insulting
| arrogance of an ultimatum, requires Of
| Congress that its refusal at its last ses-
sion to vote the lump sum of 1925. 900
to satisfy this demand should be de-
Tended upon the principles and facts
that justify that vote. Mr.. Morgan
quoted from the official correspondence
laid before the British Parliament last
September. This document, he said,
had been circulated among news
papers in the United States by tie
British Ambassador as political
"fyer" or circulator, with the evident
purpose of reaching the people,
instead of the Congress, in order
to get popular prejudgment which
would enable Great Britain to escape
from negotiation respecting these
claims that would expose her want of
justice and would compel her to prove
the alleged facts on which they rested.
He commented with much severity up
on Sir Julian Pauncefote's statement to
Earl Kimberley that STRONG party
feeling" alone accounted for the rejec-
ton by Congress of the lump cum ar
rapgement. He referred to Sir Julian
Pauncefote's statement that the Senate
in the last Congress had refused him
leave to print detailed analysis of the
claims presented as "a paltry fling"
He closed by grayely suggesting that
| the Senate should not be deprived of
its constitutional power because it may
suit the present views of the President.
HOUSE.
Mr.. Hopkins asked unanimous con-
sent for the immediate consideration OF,
and the House passed. bill changing
the collection limits of the port of Chi
| cago so as to include the State of Hi
| nois.
Mr.. Price (dem. La.) presented him
self at the bar of the House and took
the oath of Office.
Various executive documents, includ-
! ing annual reports of the Attorney
General and the board of managers Of
soldiers home, we're presented and re-
ferred.
Resolutions for the appointment OF
three additional clerks in the House
document room, and of the en-
ployees of the House allotted
The minority and selected by
the democratic caucus-Isaac Hill as
sistant doorkeeper, Thomas a. Coax
ley and Thomas l.. Browning messen-
gers, and James F. English, chief page
were agreed to.
rrba ao1uidaretinu of a yeon1ntion