The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1895-12-27
HOUSE g . ACTS | S J QJII1IllC'KlL il j I LYs
BILL FOR VENEZUELA COM
MISSION PASSED.
The Bill Introduced by Mr.. Hit of Illinois
Mr. Boutelle of Maine and Mr.. Crisp of
Georg o&one Favor a Policy of Caution
-senh,o. Al handlers Defense Bill.

~
WAs4es, N, Dec. ig.-Mr HIT of
Illinois,e.-lDublica rose in the House
as soon as it9had been called to order
to-day and called for unanimous con-
sent for the consideration of the fol-
lowing:
"A bill making an appropria ton for
the expense of a commission to investi-
gate and report on the true division
line between the republic of Venzuela
and British Guiana.
Be it enacted by the Senate and
House OF Representatives of the United
States of America, in Congress assem-
bled. that the sum of $iOO, ,OOJ, or so
much thereof as may be necessary, be
and the same is hereby appropriated
Tor the expenses of a commission to be
appointed by the President to investi-
gate and report upon the true divis-
ional line between the repnb]ic of
Venezuela and British Guiana
When the words were read by the
clerk they were loudly .applauded on
both sides of the chamber.
MI. Boutelle prefaced' his remarks
by the statement that he disliked to
object to the consideration of such
Dill, ''but, said he, sit seemssthat
this subject is one of such serious i'm
portance that the House of Repre-
sentatives should proceed in a, decor
Gus manner to consider it, The
:. Presidents message was read yester-
day, and, it seems to me, gentlemen
may not be ready to pass upon bill
OF this Importance without delibera-
tion.'
MR.. BoUTELLE WANTED CAUTION. q
Cries of Ready, Ready" from the
Republican side interrupted Mr.. Bou-
telle, but he urged that the smatter
was one which affected the rela sions
OF the two great English speaking ma
tions of the world He SAID: II have
been accused of being a lingo, what
in that part of the country where am
known would believe that l would
hesitate IN my support if the honor,
dignity or safety OF the country re-
CURED, to take up arms against any
Or all OF the nations of the world. But
the press shows the country to be in a
state of feverish excitement 1t seems
that we ought to give this matter as
much consideration as we would give
to an appropriation Of a few thousand
dollars
Mr.. Boutelle referred to the Presi-
dents message as an extraordinary
one, and went on: sit seems that we
should send to the committee, to be
calmly considered, this great question
and the message in which the execu-
tive himself for the first time in the
history of such correspondence, has
outlined the possibilities of war be-
tween the two great Anglo-Saxon ma
tions Of the world.'
The speaker asked: ''Does the gen
tleman object?"
Mr. Boutelle said that he had merely
suggested hope that the bill would
go to the committee.
MR. HITS PATRIOTIC TALK.
Mr.. Hit announced that he only de-
sired to say word concerning the
bill and it's purpose. He would do so,
he said, without mentioning this side
or that side, for he hoped there would
be no two sides when it came to a
question Like this. Aside from it's
general discussion of matters OF ma
tional policy and interests, there was
a request made by the president for
help from the house to enable him to
exercise his executive functions.
''The first thing for us to remember
" e
the success cf our country depends
upon our maj8tai ming united front
that our goveraal It should speak for
all the peoples ehae United States.''
The suggesti-,, of the President was
for judicial investigation He was
sure it was made in the proper spirit
and the occasion required that the
country should act as one man. In
such a time the executive was ham
pered by, every criticism that comes
from his country. It should not be un-
derstood by the British press that the
country. but only by his own party.
consider the Monroe doctrine; they
outlined by the President and Secre-
would prove a help to those across the
sea. He hoped the bill would pass.
Mr.. Hit moved the previous ques-
tion, but Mr.. Crisp Of Georgia secured
his permission to say a word. He be-
gan: II speak for all this side of the
House, where there is no division as
to the propriety of passing the bill.
This House respectfully invited the
government of Great Britain to arbi-
trate the boundary question between
Venezuela and British Guiana. Great
Britain has declined. Now what are
we to do? If the American people
have a fixed opinion on any question,
they have decisive opinion that no