Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-04-30
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, April 80.
SENATE.

Immediately after the routine bust
ness the naval appropriation bill was
taken up, the pending question being
the amendment offered by Mr.. German
reducing the number of battleships pro-
vided for in the bill from four to two,
and the amendment to that amend
ment, offered by Mr.. Quay, to increase
the number to six.
Mr.. White, while declaring himself
10 favor of an effective navy, argued as
to the greater necessity for coast de-
lenses. particularly on the Pacific coast.
He quoted statements of Generals Miles
and Craighill and of Admiral Walker
10 support of his argument. 1--WE are
not perhaps SO bellicose within the last
few weeks" Mr.. White said, "as we
were a few months ago. But we were
on the fight, for quite while. Yet
we have made absolutely no prepare
ton. We are in a condition OF de-
fenselessness. And yet we talk as
though we were willing to meet
the world. And, as we stand to-
day, it is utterly foolish for us to at
tempt, upon any occasion or under any
condition, to challenge, seriously, the
power or authority of any of the great
nations of the world"
Mr.. Allen said the financial condition
of the Treasury would not warrant an
appropriation of four battleships unless
there was an overshadowing necessity
for the nation to prepare for some con-
temnlated war. When he first came
to the Senate he supposed that the
debates here were serious, since then,
that they were simply play between
the two great parties, as they called
themselves. He asserted that the Nc
Kinley act had not produced suffi-
Gent revenue and that, if the Har.
rison administration had remained in
power, it would have issued United
States bonds before the first of April,
1898. He remarked that rumor had it
that Secretary Foster would have profit
ed largely by their issue.
MIR. Platt asked MIR. Allen to give his
authority for that statement.
Mr.. Allen said he mentioned it as q
rumor.
"The Senator ought to be able," Mr..
Allison suggested mildly, sat least to
produce the newspaper in which he
read it. never heard of it before"
HOUSE.
Mr.. Mccall, chairman, reported from
elections committee No. the resolu-
tions agreed upon by the committee in
the contests of John A. Brown VS.. John
NJ. Allen, from the first Mississippi dis
trict; of w. P. Radcliffe vs.. John S.
Williams, from the fifth Mississippi dis.
trict, and of A. NJ. Newman VS.. ]. G.
Spencer, from the seventh Mississippi
district, declaring the contestees-Al-
len, Williams and Spencer-entitled to
the seats severally occupied by them.
The resolutions were agreed to without
discussion or division. The ground OF
contest in each case was that a certain
section of the Mississippi constitution
relating to elections contravened the
law of Congress providing for the rep
resentation of Mississippi in the House,
and that no valid election was or could
have been held under that section. The
committee said in their report that even
were they to declare the Mississippi
constitution invalid in respect of the
matter attacked by contestants, that
would not operate to deprive the State
of representation in the House, and in
view of the fact that no evidence was
taken on the subject. it was thought
best and right to confirm the titles OF
the sitting members to their seats.
The House then resumed the consid-
Grafton of the bankruptcy bill, Mr.. De
Almond leading off in the debate.