Birmingham state herald., 1895-12-25
DEBATE IN THE SENATE Over the Immediate Passage of Hills Ex-Confederate Bill. MANY MEMBERS TAKE PART And the Measure Is Adopted After Much Use
 less Talk.
 A PAN-AhERlCAN UNION PROPOSED In Resolution Offered by MT. Allen of Nebraska-Senator Vest Mcdifies His
 Coinage Resolution-Adjourn- ment to Friday.
MANY MEMBERS TAKE PART
A PAN-AmERlCAN UNION PROPOSED

Washington, Dec. 2i.-The attendance of the senators at noon today was quite as good as usual no falling off on account of the Christmas holidays being noticea- ble. The senate galleries were pretty well filled. Resolutions and memorials from Ohio, indorsing the action of the presi- dent in relation to Venezuela, and in favor of recognizing the Cuban revolu- tonists as belligerents, were presented by MT. Sherman, republican, of Ohio, and re- ferred to the committee on foreign rela- tions.
 In introducing a bill for the issue of Springfield rifles to each state and terri tory for the national guard thereof, in exchange for the rifles now held by them, MT. Hawley, republican, of Connecticut, explained that it had nothing whatever to do with the idiotic war scare. The bill was referred to the committee on mili- tary affairs.
 Mir Squire, republican, of Washington, introduced a bill requiring the engineers of subsidized line of American steam ships to be American citizens Referred to the committee on commerce.
 MT Allen, populist, of Nebraska, of fered the following resolution:
 "Whereas, Recent events have shown that European nations are making an ag gressive attempt to obtain greater foot hold on the American continent; and,
 Whereas, Such attempt shows the ne ceSsity of a closer union of the American republics; therefore,
 Resolved That it is the sense of the senate of the United States that America should as speedily as possible invite all American republics to enter into closer union, to be known as the pan-American union, for the purpose of promoting the general industrial and commercial wei fare of the members thereof, and secure said respective republics from European or other foreign encroachmentS. Such union should be made of lasting benefit to the people of the several republics forming 1t, and unit of value should be established and maintained therein, which should be a full legal tender and circulate freely between the various re- publics.'
 The resolution was referred to the com mittee on foreign relations.
 MT. Hill asked the senate to take up and pass the bill introduced by him last week to repeal the statute which prohibits eX- Confederate officers. who had previously been commanding officers in the United States army or navy, from holding posi- tions in the army or navy.
 MT. Sherman, republican. of Ohio, de- clared himself as heartily in favor of the bill, but thought that 1t should take the ordinary course and be referred to the committee on military affairs.
 MT Hill argued that the bill was per fectly simple one and needed no consid- eration by committee. He thought that it would be a good thing just before Christmas, to make this present to the old Confederate officers who had former ly held commissions in the United States army
 Mr Chandler, republican. of New Hampshire. favored the bill and declared that it ought to be passed and passed today. It was simple in it's character. As the senate had the other day unani- mously, without distinction of party, come to the support of democratic pres ident when he announced national prin- ciples in relation to Venezuela, so he hoped that today. without delay, with out criticism. without amendment, freely and generously. this bill might be passed by the affirmative vote of every senator.
 MT. Hawley, republican, of Connecti- cut, while favoring the bill, justified the act which 1t was now proposed to re- peal It was proper legislation at the time 1t had appeared, but that time had now passed away.
 Mir Daniel, democrat, of Virginia fla vored the bill and presented resolutions of the Virginia legislature favoring its passage and the presidents message. He said that when the Confederate sol diers laid down thier arms they laid them down and were done fighting. The dis agreeable memories of the war were ob- liberated and every one. the men of the south and north, were one people with a common country. It should not be for gotten, he said as to the young men who had been educated at West Point and Annapolis, that the expenses of those institutions had been contributed to pro- portionately by their own states
 Mr. Sherman submitted the motion to refer the bill to the committee on militia ry affairs.
 Mr. Voorhees,, democrat, of Indiana, was inclined to favor the motion to refer. He attached no great importance to the bill now except as an expression of na- tionality, brotherhood and total reconcn- iation He called attention to the fact, however, that Confederate officers of the highest rank who had resigned their com mission in the union army. Longstreet, Joe Johnston. Maury and others. had been confirmed by the senate for many important positions.
 MT. Platt, republican, of Connecticut, had examined the bill and was sat1shed that 1t was in proper form. and he was so full of forgiveness this morning-the day before ChriStmas-that he was will ing to join the senator from New York in presenting this Christmas gift to those officers who fought in the Confederate army, and who, he was sure, would re- joice to fight in the army of the whole country if the opportunity presented it. self of which he believed there was no prospect at present.
 Mir Allen, populist of Nebraska ex- pressed his belief that the bill would not have been heard of if war had not been threatened, and if President Cleveland had not been twisting the British lions tail" He hoped, however, that the mo- ton to refer would be withdrawn, and that the bill would be passed at once.
 MT. Hill said that he had not supposed that the bill would have occasioned such a long debate Every senator had heard the bill read. and yet for divers reasons no senator wished it to pass immediately It would have to be referred to a commit tee which knew all about it, and which would have to take some time to consider 1t. Why, he asked. go through these use- lass forma2 He had la hnrad Under the