Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-12-19
THE 54TH CONGRESS.
Prompt Action 10 Support Of the Presi-
dents Yenezuelan Proposition.
MONEY FOR THE COMMISSION.
Patriotic Speeches In Behalf OF
Avoidance of Even Scmbtnnce of
ttc.tt,tion-Rcpcal of Anti-Confcd-
crate Military Service Law.

service LNWs
WASHINGTON. ID. c.. December IS
srNATE.-Thcre was an unusually small
a,,endance Of senators at the opeuIg OF
to.day's session. and there was not The
least sign or indication of excitement
growing GU; Of the Presidents n etsage
An reference to the Monroe doc'rhe.
Mir nm DemocraO. Of New York, in
PRODUCED a bill 10 repeal the law which
nrovides that no person that held COM
mission in the army or navy of the United
states al the beginning of the war be-
,ween the States, and who afterwards
served in any capacity in the military
naval. or civil service Of the Confederate
States shall be appointed to any position
in the army or navy Of the United States.
lie asked that the bill be put upon its
massage at once. remarking that 1t was
particularly proper and opportune. 'at
this critical period OF our history that
such an offensive eoithet should be wiped
ont.
The Vice President asked whether
there was any objection to Mr.. Hilfs re-
ouost hat the bill be now considered
Mr. Platt Republican,. OF Connecticut
sold that the request seemed to him
rather remarkable IL was likely that
an senators would vote for II. but In
the absence Of the Senator from Massa-
chusetts (Mr. Hoar. who was the first
Republican senator on the judiciary
Committee. he would insist on the bills
gong TO that committee
There was no immediate haste for the
,frx
likely TO get into war before the reas-
sembling Of Congress.
The bin was allowed to remain on the
table.
Mr.. Chandler Republican,. of New
Hampshire. introduced bill 10
strengthen the military armament
and Il was referred to the Committee
on Military Affairs.
ALASKA.
Mr.. Davis Republican,, Of Minnesota
offered a resolution. which was agreed TO,
calling on the President for all diplomatic
correspondence and other information re-
snecting the establishment Of post routes
by Great Britain or the Dominion OF
Canada over or upon United States terri
tory IN Alaska: also respecting the occu-
patton or ATTEMPTED occupation by any
other means of any portion of that terri
tory by the military or civil authorities
Of Great Britain or Canada: also respect
ing any other attempt by Great Britain
or Canada to assert any claim 10 the
territory of he United States in Alaska.
The resolution hereinafter offered by
Mr. Call Cor the appointment Of a select
committee 10 investigate the crganized
efforts Of railroads TO influence the cleo
ton Of congressman was taken up. and
Mr.. Call made an argument in favor of
its adontion
Mr.. Hale Republioan). of Maine, could
see no good reason why. II the subject
was 10 be investigated. II should rot be
done by the Committee on Privileges and
Electons-a committee that had s'ways
investigated that class of subjects.
He admitted that perhaps the great
corporations Of the country were begin
ming 10 exert a stronger and m"s dan
gerous influence on legislation than they
had done formerly.
Mr. Chandler sustained Mr.. Calls re-
iuest. and said that II he (Chandler) were
In grapple with corporations in New
Hampshire. as Mr.. Call was in Florida,
ne would confidently ask the Senate for
an investigation. and would ask his re-
quest to be complied with.
Mr.. Call denounced the railroad cor
porations In Florida as political power
that had Invested the people Of the con
troll OF questions connected with their
corporate interests. They had done IL
through bribery and corrupt means. and
even the two houses of Congress had
not escaped the imputation that the same
Influence had been powerless over them.
Mr.. Sewell Republican) Of New Jersey
made his first speech since his reelection
10 the Senate, in opposition 10 the reso
luton. unless its scope were confined
10 the State Of Florida. He saw no rea-
son why a select committee should be ap-
pointed TO drag railroad officers and d.
rsctors all over the United States. These
men. he said. were the peers Of senator's
they were eminent before the country
and were. as a class as honest as other
men.
Mr.. Gallery also opposed the resolution
The Senate, he said. would belittle itself
by entertaining loose. floating, indefinite
charges against corporations. II any
specific charge were made in the Senate
he would not be behind other senators
in voting for an investigation.
The resolution having been again read.
Mr. Hale Republican,. of Maine, re-
marked that II needed still further prun-
ing. II now applied TO the election OF
members OF the other house. as well as
Of the Senate. and such an investigation
was clearly outside Of the power Of the
Senate He moved to amend the resolu-
ton by combining ii TO the question of the
election of senator's.
HOLIDAY RECESS.
During the discussion concurrent reso-
luton for a recess from the 10Th of De
cember to the 90 OF January was re-
ceved from the House, laid before the
Senate and referred TO the Committee
on Appropriations.
Mr. Gallery, continuing. argued that the
States themselves were primarily charged
with such Investigations. and intimated
that II a bill on the subject should De
reported the Republican majority would
re-enact the late Federal election law.
The question was taken on Mr.. Hale's
amendment to confne the resolution To
The election Of members OF the United
states Senate. and IL was rejected.
Mr. Sewell Republcan). OF New Jersey,
moved 10 amend the resolution by In
serting after the word corporations" the
words "of the State OF Florida" and II
was rejected. The following is the vote
In detail-yeas, 20; nays 81.
Yeas-Messrs Gallery Cameron. Faux
ner. Frye. Gallinger. Hale Hawley, Hill.
Lodge Mcbride. Mcmillan, Morrill,. Per
kns. Platt. Proctor. Seweli, Sherman,
Shoup Smith. and Wetmore-2O
Nays-Messrs. Allen. Bacon, Baker
Bate. Berry. Blackburn, Burrows. But
Ter, Call Carter, Chiffon, Clark. Cock
rel. Davis Dubois. George. Harris, Jones
OF Arkansas. Kyle. Mantle. Mills. Mitchell
Of Wisconsin. Morgan Pener, Quay.