Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-12-18
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1s

FIFTY-F0URTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1s.
SENATE.
There was an unusally small attend
ance of Senators at the opening of to
days session: and there was not the
least sign or indication of excitement
growing out of the Presidents message
in reference to the Monroe doctrine.
Mr.. Hill introduced bill to repeal
the law which provides that no person
that held position in the q. S army
or navy at the beginning of the
late rebellion and who afterwards
served in any capacity in the military,
naval or civil service of the Confederate
States, shall be appointed to any posi-
ton in the army or navy of the United
States. He asked that the bill be put
upon its passage at once, remarking
that it was particularly proper and OPP
perfume, Eat this critical period of our
history" that such an offensive epithet
should be wiped out.
The Vice President asked whether
three was any objection to MIR. HIPS re-
quest that the bill be now considered.
Mr.. Platt said that the request seem
ed to him rather remarkable. 1t was
likely that all Senators would vote for
it, but in the absence of the Senator
from Massachusetts, Mr. Hoar, WHO
was the first republican Senator on the
judiciary committee, he would insist on
the bill going to that committee. There
was no immediate haste for the passage
of the bill. The country was not likely
to get into war before the reassem-
bling of Congress.
The bill was allowed to remain on
the table.
Mr.. Chandler introduced a bill "to
strengthen the military armament, " and
it was referred to the committee on
military affairs.
Mr.. Davis offered resolution, which
was agreed to, calling on the President
for all diplomatic correspondence and
other information respecting the estab-
lishment of post routes by Great Britain
or the Dominion of Canada over or up
on United States territory in Alaska;
also respecting the occupation or at
tempted occupation by any other means
of any portion of that territory by the
military or civil authorities of Great
Britain or Canada; also respecting any
other attempt by Great Britain or
Canada to assert any claim to the ter
ritory of the United States in Alaska.
The resolution for the appointment
of q select committee to investigate or
ganized efforts of. corporations to con-
troll the election of members of Con-
gress or to influence the legislation OF
Congress was taken up, and Mr.. Call
made an argument in favor GIFTS adop-
ton.
Mr.. Hale could see no good reason
why, if the subject was to be investi-
gated, it, should not be done by the
committee on privileges and elections
q committee that had always investi-
gated that class of subjects. He adj
mitted that, perhaps, the great corpora
tons of the country were beginning to
exert a stronger and more dangerous
influence on legislation than they had
done formerly.
The resolution was referred to the
committee on privileges and elections.
The Senate then went into executive
session.
HOUSE.
Immediately after the reading of the
journal, Mr.. Hit asked unanimous con-
sent for the present consideration of q
bill which he sent to the desk and had
read. It appropriated 100000 for the
payment of the expenses of the COM
mission suggested by President Cleve-
land in his message yesterday for the
purpose of determining the true divi-
sional line between Venezuela and
British Guiana. The reading Of the
bill was followed by applause.
Mr.. Boutelle asked if it were the in
tention to pass the bill without debate.
Mr.. Hit stated that that was his de-
sire.
Mr.. Boutelle said he hoped that in
view of the vastimportance and serious
gravity of the consequences that might
grow out of the passage of the bill, the
House would proceed in decorous and
deliberate manner in the consideration
| of this matter. The message of the
President upon the subject was read to
the House only yesterday and he did
| not believe that the members of the
House were so fully advised of the mat
ter as they should be when called upon
to act defuitively upon the proposition.
Numerous voices, "We are ready.w
Gentlemen around him, Mr.. Boutelle
said, declared their readiness to pro-
coed, "but" he continued, II do no ill
service to the honor and dignity of my
country when ask the ''ready" gentle
men on this side of the House and on
that to proceed with that decorum due
matter of such great responsibility,
affecting the welfare, probably, of the
two great English-speaking nations
of the world" Slight spplause.)
Mr.. Boutelle said that he had been
charged with being lingo, whatever
that might be, and he did not think it
was necessary for him to state wherever
he was known, that, should Congress
and the President find themselves in a
position where they felt it necessary to
call the country to arms, he would
be found tagging behind. The press,
this morning, he said, brought to the
House notice that in the consideration
of this affair the members should take
counsel of their calmness and delibera-
ton. The eyes of all the people, he
said, were upon the House and Senate,
this day, and to this matter the mem
bers ought to give as much considera-
ton as would be devoted to an appro-