Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-09
IN CONGRESS TODAY
Both Branches of the National
Legislature in Session.
SENATOR MORGAN ON BERING sea
He Replies to Criticisms by the
British Ambassador.
BRIEF HOUSE SESSION

The chief interest in the Senate proceed
ings today centered in the speech which
Senator Morgan of Alabama, chairman of
the committee on foreign affairs, gave notice
last week he would deliver on the settle
ment Of the Bering sea awards. At the
opening of the session the oath was admin
istered to Senator Caffery of Louisiana, who
was reelected at the expiration of his
short term for full term of six years.
The First BiII Passed.
The first bill of the session 20 be passed
was one reported from the judiciary COM
mittee, granting to the state of Pennsylva-
MIA permission to occupy the United States
court rooms at Scranton and Williamsburg
during certain months for period of five
years. Mr.. Cullom of Illinois gave notice
that he would tomorrow address the Sem
ate on the Monroe doctrine.
Pension for Mrs. Gresham.
Among the bills introduced was one by
Mr. Voorhees, Qnd) granting a pension Of
500 per month to the widow of The late
Secretary Of State, Gen. w. Q. Gresham.
Mr.. Baker (kan.) offered resolution,
which was agreed to- calling upon the Pres
1dent, If not Incompatible with the public
interest, to transmit to the Senate all doc
uments and correspondence at the State De-
partment relating to the case Of ex-ConsuI
John L. Waller, now under arrest in
France.
An Echo of the Slack Case.
There was an echo of the Slack case
which has been agitating the local courts
wher Mr.. Hale OF Maine offered resolution
instructing the judiciary committee to in
vestiGate and report as to whether, in the
District of Columbia, a parent can provide
for the custody of his minor children by the
terms of his will.
Mr.. Vest of Missouri emphaticaIiy pro-
tested against passing any resolution bear
ing upon a case in the courts. but Mr.. Hale
contended that the purpose of the resoiu-
tion was not to influence the pending case,
but to ascertain whether such an ;ntolerable
and barbaric statute existed, in order that
provision might be made for its repeal.
After some discussion, the resolution was
amended so as to provide that the District
Of Columbia instead of the judiciary COM
mittee should make the investigation, and
as amended passed.
Mr.. Morgan's Speech.
At 1:30, at the conclusion of the prelmi-
nary business, Mr.. Morgan took the floor
and delivered a carefully prepared speech.
He said he felt it incumbent upon him.
self to reply to certain published comments
made upon his course in the Senate 10y the
British premier and the British ambassa-
dor.
He declared the Paris tribunal did not
attempt to determine the question of the
liability of the United States for seizures
Britain contended, however. the liability
was decided as necessary Inference and
President Cleveland, proceeding on that as
sumption, had, through the State Depart
ment agreed to pay $685. 900 in discharge
of this alleged liability of the United States.
But that agreement could not be carried
without the ratification of Congress.
Rough on Sir Julian.
At this point Mr.. Morgan turned his at
tention to Sir Julian Pauncefote. the Brit
ish ambassador, and his "doleful plants"
to Lord Kimberly. Mr.. Morgan was scorn-
full and sarcastic.
Does he not KNOW" the Senator asked,
that no executory agreement is binding
until ratified by Congress-
He quoted from Sir Julan's report to
Lord Kimberly that republicans populists
and forty-four democrats had voted againt
the appropriation in the House, and his
comment attrihuting to the House the me-
cessity of party expediency." Mr.. Morgan
declared contemptuously that it get
ting to be the fashion abroad to attribute
everything that did not please them to the
Influence of party politics." He charac-
terizCd Sir Julian's comments as unjust
and Offensive in the case of the House.
But net content with these reflections
on the House." said Mr.. Morgan, .he re-
ferS to Senators by name in a gratuitous
and insulting manner. He does this under.
the cover of the British flag After quot
ing Sir Julians comment on his (Morgan's)
British claimants as 'recalcitrant and ras-
cally Anlero ans" he declares that the
British ambassadors structures We're based
on the mistaken notion that the British
navigation laws should cover violations of
United States statutes"