The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-12-20
TH|RDED|TION
3:l5 O'CLOCK.
WAR FEVER.
The Eyes of the Nation on
Congress.
Consideration Ofthe Venezuela
Commission Bill.
The Blind Chaplain's Great Plea for
Peace.
The Blind Chaplain's Great Plea for
Peace.


eloquent and significant prayers in the
history OF Congressional procedure was
delivered by the blind chaplain OF The
Senate, Rev. DIR. Milburn, at the opening
OF the Senate proceedings today.
With the Venezuelan resolution pend
ing and the debate 10 be renewed the
direct reference to the horrors OF war, and
the invocation against the shedding of
blood between the two great Enlgish
speaking people, were followed with the
breat bless attention by the crowded gal
leries and with noticeable attention and
respect by the Senators.
AT the close OF the prayer, on motion
OF Mr.. Mitchell (Rep., Ore)., the Senate
directed that the invocation be spread at
length on the record-sn unusual mark of
respect.
Mr.. Mitchell rep, ore.,) } in introduc-
ing bill concerning the tariff on wool,
gave notice that he would move TO pass ii
incorporated in any tariff measure COM
ing from the finance committee.
Mr. Chandler Qiep-, y. H. secured
the suspension of the rules and the adop-
tion of a resolution calling on the Secre-
tary of the Treasury for information as to
the imports into the United States dur
ing the last five years from Great Britain
and her dependencies; also as 10 the ex-
tent OF the British tonnage entering the
ports OF the United States.
The resolution OF Mr.. PETER, directing
the interstate commerce commission to
inquire into the recent traffic agreement
between various railway lines, was agreed
TO. -
The resolution OF Mr.. Allen Pop,
Neb., for a coinage of silver to meet the
exigencies OF war, came over from yester-
day and Mr.. Allen addressed himself TO
it in facetious vein. He read. with
running comments, Mr.. Chancler's bill,
"To increase the armament Of the United
States He referred also TO the bellig-
erency of the bills presented by Mr.. Hale
(Rep., Me.,) 10 increase the navy, and
Mr.. Davis rep, Minn.,) inquriring as
TO the British aggression in Alaska. And
yet, said Mr.. Allen, this was ell the re-
suit of an enuncistion OF the Monroe doc
trIns.
This doctrine was pat forward by the
President as though it was something
new, as though it had never been heard
OF before. In the judgment OF Mr..
Allen, the President recognized that
having lost the confidence OF the Ameri-
can people it was desirable to adopt this
means TO restore TO some extent, the re-
s)ect and confidence OF the people. III the
threatening front presented by the Presi-
dent, il these belligerent bills were offer
ed in good faith, then, said the Senator, it
was essential to prepare for the tremen-
dous outlay attending such conflict.
He argued, -a=measure- o. financial
safety, that the free coinage OF gold and
silver on equal terms be considered by
the finance committee.
Mr.. Platt rep, Conn, sought to
side-track the resolution by moving
reference TO the finance committee.
Mr.. Harris Dem. Tenn.,) added an
appeal as to the "perfect harmlessness of
the resolution as 1t did not direct action
but merely asked the finance committee
to consider the edvisability OF acting"
The motion to refer was defeated, 24-36.
The resolution was then agreed to without
division.
This cleared the way for q renewal OF
the direct consideration of the venezue-
Ian bill as discussed yesterday, and as
amended by the committee on foreign re-
lations today.
Referring to the committee on amend
ments, Mr.. Plstt said: "Any amendment
would be construed in England as a re-
fusal by the Senate to uphold the Presi-
dent. There should be nothing done to
allow this false impression to get abroad.
The idea seems TO prevail in England" "
proceeded Mr.. Platt. "that the en-
tire matter is part of American po-
liticsl campaigning. 1t is most import
ant that the British authorities
and people nave their minds disa-
bused OF this error. The American peo-
pie were never more I'm earnest since the
breaking out OF the revolution, than they
are today" Then Mr.. Plstt preceded to
show that any amendment would indi-
cate TO England that the law making
powers OF the government were not will
ing 10 90 10 the same extent That the
President was in upholdinhg the Monroe
Doctrine. lie said also that he knew OF
ne constitutional objection TO the ap.
pointment OF the comm issicners.
Concluding he said that to amend the
bill would lead to misconception la En-
gland and repeated his suggestion that