Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-10
MIR. 0ameron's Resolution for Reccg-
milton Of Independence.
SPECIAL ORDER FOR The QUESTION
Mr.. Vest Resumes His Criticism Of
the Secretary Of Agriculture.
MATTERS IN THE HOUSE

tariff financial bill was expected to be
brought to final issue in the Senate today,
but there wss small attendance when the
Senate opened.
Mr. Davis (Minn.), author of the Davis
resolution enunciating the policy of the
government on the Monroe doctrine, gave
notice that on Monday next he would ad-
dress the Senate on the resolution.
Mr.. Cameron's Cuban Resolution.
Mr.. Cameron (Pa.) offered the following
joint resolution relative to the termination
of the war in Cuba:
Resolved. That whereas the President of
the United States in his last annual mes
sage TO this body says: Neither the
warmth of our peoples sympathy with the
Cuban insurgents, our loss and ma
terial damage consequent upon the futile
endcavcrs thus far made to restore peace
and order, nor any shock our humane sensi-
bilities may have received from the cruel
ties which appear to especially characterize
this sanguinary and fiercely conducted war;
have in the least shaken the determination
of the government to honestly fulfill every
interna tional obligation, yet it. is to be
earnestly hoped, on every ground, that the
devastation of armed conflict may speedily
be stayed and order and quiet restored to
the distracted island, bringing in their train
the activity and thrift of peaceful pur-
suits" and
Whereas he also declares that the pres
ent revolt is more active than the one
WHICH continued from lS0S TO 1885, ana as
IL appears there are no means OF securing
permanent peace to Cuba except by the
recognition of its right to self-government
| the good offices of the United States are
earnestly recommended to the favorable
| consideration of the Spanish government
for the recognition Of the independence of
Cuba.
Mr.. Quay called up the resolution to re-
commit the tariff finance bill. Mr.. Cor
| man suggested that the subject go over
| until tomorrow, and Mr.. Quay assented
| owing TO the pressure of other business.
After the Deficiency Bill.
On the request of Mr.. Call (Fla.) the Gu
ban question, embodied in the. resolu-
lions reported from the committee on for
eign relations, vas made the special order
of business after the disposal Of the urgent
deficiency appropriation Lill.
Mr.. Thurstcn (Neb) briefly called atten-
ton to published reports that he au-
] thor of a nill recently introduced giving
pensions to eX-slaves. The Senator ex-
| planned that the measure was introduced
by reuuest,' and he was entitled 20 no
| credit for it. He believed. however, that
the government assumed a just moral obi
| cation VIXEN it called people from bond
| age. not cnly to the privileges, but TO the
responsibilities of freedom.
With the routine business cleared away,
| Mr.. Smith On. j. addressed the Senate on
| the Monroe doctrine. There was special in
| tereSt In The Senator's speech, from the
! fact that he differed radically from his
| New Jersey colleague (Mr SewelD, and
| also from the rerCrt that Mr.. Smith had
| confe, red with executive officials concern
| ing the pending resolution on the Monroe
! doctrine. His speech viii be found else
where in The Star.
Mr.. Lindsay ky.) gave notice of an
| amendment to the Horse tariff bill, pro-
| posi- x to repeal the provision of the pres
| ent Is riff Jaw which provides duty of one
| eighth of a cent per pound OF all sugars
3 hove r1 nd m a
| discolored sugars.
| Mr.. Vest Resumes.
| Consideration was rest med of the reso-
luticn directing the Secretary of Agricul-
ture to carry out the law for the distribu-
ton OF seeds, and MIR. Vest (Mo) renewed
| his criticism of the Secretary.
| The Senator called attention to a pub
| lished interview with the Secretary of Ag-
| riculture, inviting impeachment, and imply
| ing that the President would veto this res
| olution If Congress passed it, In view OF
| these statements. Mr.. Vest said, the Presi-
! dent should have full information On the
| subject, and he proceeded to show from
| Agricultural Department reports that the
| Secretary had himself, though opposing
| this seed laws used the appropriation for
| his own purposes by making excessive
| seed distributions in his own state of Ne.
braska. 1t mad received in one year 221 ,9G4
packages of seeds. or 10000 more than its
quota. In another year designated by Mr.
| vest Nebraska received One-n1nth the
| entire seed distribution of the country.
| 1T is enough" declared the Senator. etc
make the star-eyed goddess of reform hang
her head and blush for shame
If the law had been prostituted. who mao
| done it more than the Secretary of Agri.
| culture? asked Mr.. Vest. If the Secretary
| could strike down a law, even as to the
| distribution of seeds, then it must at last
| result in destroying the basic doctrine or
| which the republic was founded.
| Mr.. Vest offered a substitute resolution
| directing the Secretary OF Agriculture to
| purchase and distribute seeds, as in pre-
| viouS years, and to procure them by open
purchase or contract
| Secretary Morton Defended.
Mr.. Bate (TennD said it was not fair OF
| just that the Secretary of Agriculture
should be accused in this manner without
his view of the subject being understood.
| The Senator said the Senate speeches were
| "infammatory and declamatorX." deal
| ing with abuse and sarcasm, when, in the
| opinion of Eir. Bate, the Secretary had
i acted with wisdom and justice. He had
| found this seed distribution running wild
| and he had brought it within proper Inn
| its and had stopped extravaganza. Why
| was Il this Secretary was to be hung and
| quartered and kicked out and excluded
| from decent society," asked Mr. Bate, as
he proceeded to justify the Secretary's
| course.
| The Senator said he had looked into the
| charge of the Senator from Missouri (VesO
that orchids, lilies of the valley and palms
| were sent to the receptions by the PreSi-
| dent and cabinet officers and had found
| that not sprig, or a green, or a rose. had
| ever been sent by the Secretary of Agri-
| culture to the White House or to the home
| OF any cabinet officer.
| Does the Senator mean to say inter-
| rup;ed Mr.. Vest, that the botanical garden
| or propagating gardens have not furnished
| flowers for banquets and receptions Of the
| President and cabinet officers?'''
| Il mean to say this official had nothing
| to do with furnishing them, responded Mr..
| Bate.
| Mr.. Vest explained that he had intended
/ to show that the Secretary in starting out
| as a refornler had failed to reform this
prcfigate expenditure, but 1t was not in
| tended to say the Secretary had direct con-
| troll of the subject
Mr. Bate went on to show that the Secre
| tary of Agriculture had nothing to do with
! the botanical garden, and no control OF
| flowers sent from the propagation gardens
| The Secretary had never sent flower OF
| a sprig to the White House. That was un.
| der the entire control of Col. Wilson, ar
| officer whose fidelity had never been ques
| toned. And SO, declared Mr.. Bate, the
! sarcasm and invective as to orchids and
| lilies of the valley and the dog-fennel, ant
| the light of the chandeliers the red wine
| was mere IS)etry and vanished into the air
| AT 2:i5 pm. the Senate went into execu
| tive session.