The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-20
SENATORS DECIDE TO GO SLOW
THE VENEZUELAN COMMISSION BILL
NOT PASSED YET.

Making of Their RePOrt-Senators
Morgan and Voorhees, Fighting
for Immediate Action on the House
Bill.
Washington, Dec. s19.-There was war
ta:k and there was peace talk in the Sen
ate to-day over the bill providing for the
appointment of a commission to investi-
gate the Venezuelan controversy, but
prompt action was prevented by the re-
publicans who insisted on referring the
proposed measure to the committee on
foreign relations. Public sentiment, as far
as heard from, favors the immediate pas
sage of the bill creating the commission,
which passed the House yesterday with
out dissenting vote.
Senator Morgan, chairman of the COM
mittee on foreign relations. called at the
state department this morning and had a
consultation with Secretary Olney on the
subject, and the latter urged the imme-
date passage of the bill as adopted by the
House. Upon reaching the capitol Sen
ator Morgan discovered that the repubi-
cans under the leadership of John Sher-
man and Henry Cabot Lodge would in
sist upon having the bill referred to the
committee, with the intention of amend
ing it so that the proposed commission
shall be appointed with the consent of
the Senate, and also that it shall be re-
Quired TO submit It's report within linn
ited time.
Senators Morgan and voorhees, urged
immediate action upon the bill, and in do
ing 50 they were merely indOrsng the
course Of the President and punching holes
in the contention made by the British
government The republicans could not
counteract the effect of the patri-
otic utterances of the two demo-
ing their hearty approval of the bold
position taken by the President, they in
sisted that the matter was of too much
Importance to be rushed through the SEN
ate without more mature deliberation. In
the meantime they We're strengthened in
their struggle for delay by d parliament
tary objection to a second reading of the
bill by Senator Allen, populist, which,
under the rules, carried the measure over
until tomorrow.
An effort viii be made by Senator Nor
gan tomorrow morning to persuade the
members of the committee on foreign re-
lations to meet with him and consider
the amendments that have been suggest
ed, so that when the Senate convenes, the
bill may be put through without further
delay. Some of the liberal minded repub-
licans, like Senators Teller of Colorado
Davis of Minnesota and Mitchell of Ore
gon, are in favor of such action, but
cannot resist the temptation to play poll
tics, so they will endeavor to have the
bill referred to the committee, which
probably means that no action will be
The patriotic members OF the Senate
who believe the President should have the
ter will try to pass the bill, notwith-
standing the political Juggling of Sena-
tors Sherman, Lodge and Chandler.
There is more moderation and con-
servatism among congressmen In discuss
ing the Venezuelan question to-day than
there was yesterday. Some of the parties
strength of their respective claims, say
1t would be wisdom on the part of the
United states government 10 proceed
cautiously and with great deliberation.
The men who thus assert themselves, as
sert that their Views would not be popular
at this moment when public excitement
is up to the highest pitch, hence they
do not dare give voice to their actual
sentiments Some significance is attached
TO the fact that the Secretary of the Navy
to-day ordered the force at the gun shops
in this city to work night and day until
further orders, to complete the great
guns for the several warships awaiting
their armament.
By the Southern Associated Press.
Washington, Dec. 1.-THE discussion
in the Senate to-day on the House bills
appropriating $4,000 for the expenses of
the proposed Venezuelan commission was
marked by a unanimity of sentiment in
favor of the position taken by the Presi-
dent in his recent message, and was sim
gularly free from passion and excitement
The debate proceeded by unanimous con-
sent as there was really no question be-
fore the Senate, objection having been
made to the second reading OF the bill
to-day and that objection carrying the
bill over till tomorrow. The debate was
opened by Mr.. Morgan, who Favored the
passage of the bill just as it came from
the House, and would vote for its refer
ence to the committee on foreign rela-
uons only on condition that it would be
reported back and acted on tomorrow.
The only other senator who favored i'm
mediate action on the bill, without its
being considered by the committee, was
Mr. Voorhees,, and his was the only speech
that breathed war and defiance. He de-
clared emphatically that Great Britain
could not go to war with the United states
as long as Canada was a hostage on our
northern border
Speeches were made, moderate in tone,
and against hasty action, by Senators
sherman, Lodge, Hawley and Teller.
Mr.. Teller,s speech was remarkable for
the declaration that if war should ensue
which he deprecated and did not think
probable-the United States would not be
without European allies: and he specified
Russia particularly as waiting to seize
the opportunity of opening the Darda-
nelles to her fleet extending her domin-
nation over China, and enlarging her
possessions in India.
At the close of the debate, Mr. Morgan
gave notice tkat there would be a meet
ing of the committee on foreign relations
tomorrow morning at 10 O'Clock, when
other resolutions embodying the princi-
PIE OF the House Dill, ana -Wnlcn nave Deen
heretofore referred to that committee,
would be taken up, so that a report should
pe made and action had tomorrow. The
House bill win have its second reading
as soon as the journal is read. and then
the motion of which Mr.. Sherman gave
notice to-day, to refer it to the committee
on foreign relations, maybe made. 1t is
rot at all likely that that motion win
meet any opposition, but whether the
blll can be considered in committee, re-
ported TO the Senate and there acted upon
peIole the adjournment tomorrow is very
lfoblematic 1t not the joint reSOlu-
uon 1or the holiday recess may fail.
As soon as the journal of yesterday was
read this morning, a clerk from the House
utHEered to the Senate the Venezuelan
commission bill, and the Vice President
4diq u before the Senate.
Mt. sherman moved that the bill be re-
erred 10 the committee on foreign reia-
IONS, Sut as his attention was called to
ne Iact that the present chairman OF
mar committee. Mr.. Morgan. was not in
e ,ne chamber, ne withdrew the motion tenn
Mr.. Cockrell, chairman of the commit
tee on appropriations, reported back IA
LpiaDly the concurrent resolution for the
-4u1ay recess, from Friday. Dec. -, un-
ing Friday. Jan. B.
ar. Chandler objected 10 the present
consideration Qf fHn eff.il