Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-05
HE WANTS A VOTE
Mr.. PETERS Desire as to His Bond
Resolution.
BE BREAKS IN ON MR.. HILL
A Rule as to Pension Bills Adopted
in the House.
DEBATE ON BATTLE SHIPS

When the Senate met today Mr.. Call
G'la.) introduced resolution requesting
the President to protest against the execu-
ton of American citizens taken on board
the schooner Competitor by Spanish gun
boat, and to demand of Spain that the pris-
oners shall not be subjected to cruel treat
ment. Mr.. Call asked the Immediate adop-
ton of the resolution. and on viva voce
vote 1t was adopted with a faint response
few Senators being present.
MIR. WoIcotfs Objection.
Mr.. Wolcott (Col) quickly interposed
pointing out that this was a surprising
course, directing a protest and demand on
Spain without any consideration.
Mr.. Call insisted that the case was urg
ent, reports being current that the prison
ers We're to be executed. If Great Britain
was involved there would be no hesitation
In protesting.
Mr.. Wolcott answered that if the facts
Were as Mr.. Call stated it was the duty of
the President to protest, and it pre-
mature for the Senate to request the Pres
ident to do his duty. He objected to i'm
mediate action, and the resolution went
over.
The River and HarbOr Bill.
Mr.. Frye then moved to take up the river
ard harbor bill In doing so he said: Il
do not mean to antagonize the bond bill at
O'Clock. l regard the vote of yesterday as
the instructions of the Senate to me not to
urge the river and harbor bill against the
bond bill at 2 o'clock" With this explana-
tion there was no opposition to proceeding
with the river and harbor bill. 1t yielded.
however, for the passage Of a number of
bills on the calendar.
Bills were passed amending the statute
to improve the merchant marine engineer
service and thereby to increase the eff
hciency of the naval reserve; re-enacting
the law for free bridge across the Arkan-
sas river, connecting Little Rock and Ar
genta.
The reading of the river and harbor bill
thens proceeded, the amendments as re-
ported being agreed to with few exceptions.
Pressure for Contracts.
Opposition to the committee was develop
ed on several large items for southern wa
ter ways. The committee had struck out
the contract provision as to the improve
ment Of Sabine Pass Texas. thus eiminat-
ing the House plan of contract appropria-
ton of 81, 4H3.OoO and giving instead $780,
Wo for present use. instead of $4,000 given
by the House. Mr.. Mills, Texas, opposed
the committee changes and they We're de-
feated, thus restoring the House provision
for contracts up to sl,ni,OrO, and
a preseIt appropriation of SJo.Du. The de-
bate brought out statement from Mr..
RYE, III cNdTSe Oh the Dill, as 10 the great
pressure brought to bear in securing enor
nous contracts and the procession of peo-
pie besieging the committee room in behalf
of contracts.
The Savannah, Ga, harbor also occasion
ed contest, the Georgia Senators, Gordon
and Bacon. opposing the action OF the COM
Inittee in striking out the entire House pro-
vision for contract of s1,G3,pD for the
channel between Beaufort,S. c., and Savan-
nah Ga. The item was reinstated. the
amount being reduced to $751;
The Bond Resolution Up.
At o'clock the bill was laid aside thirty
pages having been disposed of. and the
bond resolution was taken up. AS Mr.. Hill
was about to resume his speech. Mr.. PEI
fer, author of the bond resolution, rose and
said: Mr.. President, 1 desire to ask the
Senate to remain in session." He had
not completed the sentence when Mr.. Hill
Interrupted with: Have / not the floor
|. Mr. President?' The presiding officer sus-
tanned Mr.. Hills right to the floor. thus
cutting off Mr.. PETERS announcement, If
the rules had been strictly observed. But
MIR. PETER, without asking Mr.. Hill to
yield, said Il will ask the Senate to re-
main in session tonight until this resolution
is passed"
Mr.. Hill said he was willing to yield, as a
rule, but he did not propose to be taken
from the floor arbitrarily, and he would not
yield to Mr.. PETER. The latter had, how
/ ever. accomplished his purpose Of warn
Ing senators ~ MS desire 10 reach a vote
en- the resolution tonight.
MIR. Hills Opposition.
Mr.. Hill proceeded with his opposition to
the resolutions. He was endeavorng, he
said to prevent the Senate from making
itself ridiculous" 1t did that often enough
he added This resolution called for facts
that were already reported to the Senate
Why therefore should Senators admit they
were '.ignoramuses" To be sure, said Mr.
Hill, there is no law against Senators max
ing fools of themselves, but they ought not
to do it needlessly by this foolish, con-
temptible. absurd" resolution.
''If you can't comprehend the reports
| already made then resign your seats" he
said savagely.
Mr. Hill declared that this was a move
to manufacture campaign material on the
eve of a presidential election.
The Senator yielded long enough to per-
NIT Mr.. Gordon to give notice of an
amendment to the pending resolution pro-
viding that the inquiry into bond issues be
conducted by the Senate finance commit
tee instead Of by a special committee Of
five Senators as originally proposed.