Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-12-20
DISCUSSING THE BILL
Senators Talk on the Venezuelan
Commission Act.
SOME AMENDMENTS PROPOSED
None Adopted and the Original
House Bill Passed.
B REF HOUSE SION

One of the most eloquent and significant
prayers III the history of congressional
procedure was delivered by the blind chap
lain of the Senate, Rev. DR.. Milburn, at
the opening of the Senate proceedings to-
day. With the Venezuelan resolution
pending and the debate about to be renew
ed, the direct references to the horrors Of
war and the invocation against the she'd
ding of blood between the two great En-
glish-speaking people were followed with
GREATNESS attention by the crowded gall
leries and with noticeable attention and
respect by the Senator'S AT the close of
the prayer, on motion of Mr.. Mitchell
(Ore), the Senate directed that the invoca-
tion be spread at length on the Record
an unusual mark of respect.
The ChapIain's Prayer.
FORBID" invoked the chaplain in im-
pressve tones, that the two foremost
nations Of the world, which bear the mama
of Christians, with one language, one faith,
one baptism, one Lord, shall be embroiled
in war with all its horrors and barbarisms.
Grant, We beseech Thee, that we may be-
saved from imbruing our hands in each
others blood. Let the spirit of justice and
magnanimity prevail among the rulers of
both nations and among the people, the
kindred people, of the two lands SO that all
differences and difficulties may be amicably
and satisfactorily settled, and the Lords
name may be glorifed by the establishment
of concord, amity and brotherly kindness.
May this become an august and memora-
BILE Christmas in the history of the En-
2liSh-speaking world and of the whole
earth. Let health. prosperity. brotherly
kindness and charity pervade all our land
and our motherland And may God be
Savior. be established. We humbly pray
Thee in His sacred name. Amen.
After the prayer the chaplain moved to
the arena in the rear of the chamber.
where he received the congratulations ard
thanks of many Senators.
A resolution was agreed to- asking the
Postmaster General for information as to
the alleged practice Of hning postal en-
ployes.
Mr.. Mitchell COre), in introducing a bill
concerning the tariff on wool, gave notice
that he would move to have it Incorporated
in any tariff measure coming from the
finance committee.
Imports From Great Britain.
Mr.. Chandler On. HI secured the sus-
per sion of the rules and the adoption of a
resolution calling on the Secretary of the
Treasury for information as to the imports
into the United States during the last five
years from Great Britain and her de-
Tendencies; also as tc the extert of Brit
ish tonnage entering The ports of the
United States.
The resolution of Mr. PETER. directing the
interstate commerce commission to inquire
into the recent traffic agreement between
various railway lines, was agreed to.
The resolution of Mr.. Allen (Neb), for a
come ge of silver 10 meet the exigencies Of
war, came over from yesterday, and Mr.
Allen addressed himself to it in a facetious
vein. He read, with running comments
Mr.. Chambers bill Ito increase the arlna-
meht of the United States"
He referred also to the belligerency of the
bills presented by Mr. Hale (Aie) to in
ia naN md Nv al
quiring as 10 British aggression in Alaska
And yet said Mr.. Allen, this was all the
result of an enunciation of the Monroe doe
trine. This doctrine was put forward by
the President as though it was something
new-as though ii had never been heard Of
before. In the judgment of Mr.. Allen. the
President recognized that, having lost the
confidence oil the American people, il was
desirable to adopt this means to restore to
some extent the respect and confidence of
the people. If the threatening front pre-
scented by the President, If these belligerent
bills We're offered in good faith, then, sad
the Senator, ii was essential to prepare for
the tremendous outlay attending such a
conflict He urged as measure of fnan-
cial safety that the free coinage of gold and
silver on equal terms be considered by the
finance committee
Mr.. Plat Comm sought to sidetrack the
resolution by moving reference to the
Mr.. Harris CTenn) added an appeal as to
the perfect harmlessness' of the resolu-
ton as II did not direct action, but merely
asked the finance committee to consider the
desra bility of action.
The Resolution Agreed To.
The motion to refer was defeated, 24-36
The resolution was then agreed to without
division.
Mr.. Plat sought to have struck out the
warlike preamble.
Mr.. Allen consented to have this struck
out
The Venezuelan Commission.
e This cleared the way for 4 renewal of the
direct consideration of the Venezuelan COM
mission bill, as discussed yesterday, and as
amended by the committee on foreign rela-
tons today. Mr.. Morgan presented the
amended bill, and asked its immediate con-
sideration. The amended bill is as follows:
That the sum of 100000, or so much there
of may be necessary, be and the same is
hereby appropriated for the expenses OF a
commission, to consist of three members 10
be appointed by the President, by and with
the advice and consent of The Senate, to in
vestigate and to report to him the facts in
regard to the divisional line between the
republic of Venezuela and British Guiana.
Provided, that section of the act approved
July 81, 1894, making appropriat ions for the
legislative, executive and judicial expenses
of the government shall not apply to any
commissioners appointed under this act
Mr.. Morgan briefly explained the feature
of the provision which was intended to
overcome that feature of the present law
which did not permit public official TO
occupy two government places with COM
rensation.
Favored the House Resolution.
Mr.. Plat urged that the House resolution
be adopted without change. He depre-
Gated the talk of war The American peo-
pie would not seek war, nor would they, IL
need be avoid any responsibility. But the
conditions did not warrant heated talk of
hostilities The Senator reviewed the Presi-
dents message. There Were some things
in it to which all assented; some which
were open 10 question.
In referring. to the committee amend
ments. Mr.. Plat said:
ANY amendment will be construed in
England as a refusal by the Senate to up-
hold the President. There should be roth
ing done to allow this false impression to
get abroad.
The idea seems to prevail in England
proceeded Mr.. Platt, that this entire mat :
ter is a part Of American political CAM
paigning. II is most important that she
british authorities and people have their