Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1896-12-15
FIFTY-FOURTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Dec. Is.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Prayer was offered by Rev. T. De.
Witt Talmage.
The credentials of Edmund Winston
Pettus as Senator from the State OF
Alabama-to succeed Mr.. Pugh-were
presented by Mr.. Morgan and placed on
file.
The concurrent resolution for the
holiday recess from Tuesday, December
%, to Tuesday, January 5. was report
ed back from the committee on appro'
priatlons and agreed to.
The pension appropriation bill was
reported back from the same committee
and Mr.. Hale gave notice that he would
call it up tomorrow.
Mr.. Allen offered resolution for the
appointment by the Senate of COM
mittee of nine Senators on the use OF
money in elections, with instructions to
investigate thoroughly the extent to
which money was used, if any, in con-
nection with the recent Presidential
election, either in promoting the noml-
nations or in influencing in any manner
the choice of Presidential electors, aud
to inquire whether or not any such
expenditures were excessive, IL
legitimate, corrupt or unlawful,
and especially to inquire and ascertain
to what extent, for such purposes, the
owners of silver mines, gold mines, the
bankers, the manufacturers, the rail
roads, or other corporations, or million
aires of all classes made contribution /;
and what contributions, if any, were
made by persons and corporations re-
siding abroad; and to report to the
Senate all the facts, and whether or not,
in the opinion of the committee, any
legislation of Congress is expedient and
necessary to lessen or prevent the use
of moneys in the elections. The COM
mittee is to have power to act by full
or sub committee, to send for persons
and papers and to sit during the pre-
sent session of Congress and until the
first Monday of December, 1897.
Mr.. Allen sent to the clerks desk
and had read, in connection with the
resolution, an editorial article from
the New York Tribune of December II,
headed: 1.-THE silver outbreak"
and one from the The Farm, Field and
Fireside. of Chicago, of December 5,
headed ELECTION echoes" The resolH.
ton was then, under the rules, referred
to the committee on contingent ex-
penses.
The bill approving certain acts of
the legislative assembly of the territory
of New Mexico in relation to the issue
of bonds was taken up, the House
amendments to it agreed to and the
Senate amendments disagreed to; so
that the bill now goes to the President.
The resolution offered yesterday by
Mr.. Morgan requesting the President
to furnish copies of the papers relating
to the condition of affairs in Cuba, par
ticularly as to the Competitor case,
was taken up, and Mr.. Morgan ad
dressed the Senate on the subject.
Speaking of the Presidents annual
message on the subject of Cuba, Mr..
Morgan said that it was of the most
impressive Importance as statement
of the leading facts, and that he had
not heard that Spain controverted any
OF the Presidents statements. He con-
demned "the cruel and inhuman
butchery" practiced by the Spaniards,
and said that if the United States want
ed to stop a war of humiliation and
determination, it had no time to lose.
Congress, he said, should not hesitate
to declare (for the reasons stated in the
Presidents rnessage), that the inde
pendence of Cuba is recognized. The
people and the property of the island
were, he declared, the prey of com
mssioned guerillas who had become
robbers, cut-throats, assassins. ravish-
ers and pirates and an end had to be
put to that saturnalia of blood aud fire.
After quoting some paragraphs from
the Presidents message, Mr.. Morgan
asserted that Congress had never been
presented with q stronger or more NOV
ing statement of facts than had been
thus solemnly laid before the political
and war making department of the
government. If the United Stat es
were to intervene at all, he
would prefer open war. And he
would vote for a resolution to that
efect-his justification being the laws
of nations as he understood them and
the feeling he entertained for those
who lifted up their appealing hands
and called for help against appalling
cruelty and misrule. NoState in Span
ish America had ever been forced to en-
dure such oppression, in peace and
war, as the President in his message
had justly charged to Spanish rule in
Cuba. The United States, he declared.
had no alternative but the single choice
between the continuous repetition of
the terrible evils portrayed by the
President or a base, humiliating and
cruel delay while rapine and destruc
ton were rampant, in the hope that
some fortunate turn in events might re-
lieve the United States from duty
which it owed to humanity and Christ
ian civilization.
At the close of Mr.. Morgan's speech
the resolution was agreed to.
By vote of Al to II, the bill grant
ing pension of $50 month to Nancy
G. Allabach, which was vetoed at the
last session by the President, was
passed.
The Senate then went into executive
session. At the end of the executive |
session the Senate adjourned until to-
morrow.
HOUSE.
By unanimous consent the TO flowing |
bills were considered:
House bill to amend an act OF the |
S0rd Conoreea an as To reduce from 30 |