Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-12-25

ors May Now Enlist in the United
States Army and Navy-Thei
Disability Removed-The Only
Business Transacted in the Sen
ate-Congratulations from the Re
public of Brazil.
Washington. Dec. 24.-The Senate to
day gave a Christmas present to the
South, as Mr.. Hill, of New York aptly
characterized the bill repeating the
proscriptive disabilities, passed at the
close of the war, against the service OF
eX-Confederates in the United States
army or navy. The passage of such a
repeal, without dissenting vote in the
Senate, having a Republican plurality,
and with Northern Senators taking the
initiative, lent a gracefulness and sig
nificance on the action in marked con-
trast with former war controversies il
Congress. The Southern Senators, with
the exception of Mr. Daniel, of Virginia,
took no part in urging the repeal, and
several of them, including Mr.. Walthall
and Mr.. Cockrell, who served in the
Confederate ranks. voted for post
ponement by reference to committee,
but with such champions on the Re
publican side of the chamber as Mr..
Chandler, Hawley and Platt and on the
Democratic side as Mr.. Hill and Voor-
hees, the repeal was readily accom-
plished. In the two hours given to
speeches on the measure there was the
fullest expression Of a desire to bury
war animosities. The Senate did little
beyond debating and passing this bill.
MR.. ALLEN OFFERED
a resolution which was referred, urging
a Latin-American Union, in which all
the republics of the Western hemis-
phere wOuld make common cause
against European encroachments.
Rev. DR.. Milburn, the blind chaplain,
In an eloquent prayer on the Christian
season, made passing illusions to cur
rent public events by invoking peace
and good will among the nations of the
earth
On motion of Mr.. Allison (Rep.. Iowa.
the Senate agreed that when adjourn
men be taken it be until Friday.
In presenting a bill authorigi the
Secretary of War to issue Spriuslield
rifles TO State military organizations in
exchange for old guns, Mr.. Hawley
CRep., Conn., said: In order that this
shall not be construed so as to add TO
the war scare, viii say that it is mere
~ a qustiOn of business. Many of the
guns in use by State troops are of anti
Quated pattern. BY the adoption of the
Kragg-Jorgenson gun-which | think
was mistake-the war department has
on hand a large supply of good Spring.
field rifles and the National Guard
should have them in exchange for the
worthless arms"
Mr.. Squire (Rep., Wash.) spoke
against the injustice of employing for
Elm engineers on American ships re-
ceiying subsidies from the United States
government and offered a bill to over
come the practice.
The project of a pan-American polit-
ical union embracing North. South and
Central American republics was pre-
sented by Mr. Allen Pop., Neb) in
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION.
Whereas. recent events have shown
that European nations are making ag-
gressive attempt TO obtain a greater
foOthold on the American continent;
and
Whereas, such an attempt shows the
necessity OF a closer union of the Am
erican republics.
Resolved, That it is the sense of the
Senate that the United States of Amer
lea should as speedily as possible. in
viting 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 welfare of the members
thereof, and secure said republics from
European or other forein encroach-
mnts.
The resolution closes with a sugges-
tion for common unit of value be-
tween the republics OF America. The
resolution was referred to the commit
tee on foreign relations
Mr.. Hill (Dem., n. " again sought
to secure the passage of the bill repeal-
ing the Old prospective laws against the
enlistment of eX-Confederates IN the
United States army or navy. "It
would be most fitting and generous
Christmas present to the men of the
South" said Mr.. Hill.
Mr.. Sherman (Rep., Ohio suggested
that there should be committee consid-
eraion. Il will vote for this bill" said
Mr.. Sherman. THE time is past for
such discrimination. But added Mr.
Sherman, the usual course of commit
tee action should be taken.
Mr.. Chandler (Rep., n. H9
URGED IMMEDIATE ACTION.
Thirty years had elapsed since the war.
There was no reason for keeping this
prescription and there was abundant
reason for repeating it.
The other day" added Mr.. Chand-
Ter. I'VE came to the support of a Dem
ocratic President on a question of ma
tional affairs, and l sincerely hope that
the Senate will to-day, without criti-
cism and without voice of opposition,
unanimously approve this repeal"
Mr.. Gray (Dem., Del), while favOring
the legislation. believed committee ac-
ton would secure the most satisfac-
tory action.
MIR. Hawley rep, Conn.,, responding
fo some criticisms by Mr.. Gray as to
the course of former legislation in this
line said it was not to be wondered at
that there was some feeling over Ap-
nomattox and Gettysburg.
This law followed the close of the
war. 1t was not proscriptiye; 1t was
regarded at the time as perfectly Just.