Evening star., 1897-03-18
IN CONGRESS TODAY
Both Branches of the National Leg
islature in Session.
HOUSE ADJOURNS AFTER IS MINUTES
Report on the Pacific Railroad
Debts in the Senate.
E X ECU TIVE Sc SION

| When tie Senate met today there was
| a renewal of the influx of bills and me-
| MORALS. A smile went around the chamber
| when Mr.Stewart, resident of Carson City
| New. where the pugilistic contest occurred
| yesterday. offered bill for the relief of
| one Corbett. 1t proved to be private pen
| sion bill. One of the measures introduced
| by Mr.. Galiinger proposed an amendment
| to the Constitution prohibiting legislation
in behalf of any religious denomination.
| The correspondence of the State Depart
ment with Germany relative to life insur-
| ance companies, which was submitted some
time ago. was referred to the committee on
| foreign relations.
Mr.. Turpie of Indiana gave notice of a
| speech next Tuesday the election of
senators by popular vote, and introduced
a resolution proposing an amendment to
| the Constitution for this purpose.
| Pacific Railroad Debts.
| The first report since the session opened
was presented by Mr.. Gear of Iowa, from
! the committee Pacific railroads. and
| was favorable to the bill for an adjustment
| of the Pacific railroad debts by commits
| sion consisting of the Secretary of the
| Treasury, Secretary of the Interior and
| Attorney General. the commission to sub
| init It's nndlpgS to the President for ap
| proval or dfsapproval.
| Mr.. Gear asked that the bill be made
| the unfinished business of the Senate, with
| the prcviso that it should not be taken up
for a month. There was objection. how
| ever. from Mr.. Cocktail of Missouri, and
| after considerable discussion the bill went
| to the caleI.dar.
| There was objection. also. to Mr.. Gears
! resolution, calling on the Attorney General
| for information as to the foreclosure pro-
ceedingS against the Pacific roads.
Mr. Morgan of Alabama gave notice that
| he would later submit a minority report on
| the bill! for a commission.
resolution by Mr.. Lodge of Massa
chusetts was agreed to instructing the COM
| mittee on foreign relations to inquire
| whether the Islands of st. Croix, St. Johns
| and St Thomas of the West Indian group
| could be purchased by the United States.
! and if not whether there probability
| of their sale to other powers.
| AT l o'clock the Senate went into execu-
| tive session.
The Executive Session.
When the Senate went into executive ses-
sioa the nominations for foreign ambassa-
| dors and the arbitration treaty
| ported. Senator Morgan began speaking in
| opposition to the treaty. opposing 1t on the
same grounds as he did when the treaty
| was last before the Senate
The report in favor of the treaty was
| presented by Senator Davis, as chairman
| of the committee on foreign relations, and
was in the shape of resolution for rati-
| fication.
| Senator Morgan's speech was a statement
| of his position and that of Senators Daniel
and Mills and was in the nature of mi
nority report in opposition to the treaty
| He spoke al considerable length, going over
| much of the ground covered by himself and
others when the treaty before the Sen
ate during the last session. He made the
| point that Entiand's interests were
| antagOniStiG to those of the United States
and said that this country would best con-
| serve It's own interests by avoiding all en-
| tanglng alliances such as the present
trelty contemplated.
Senator Morgan continued his statement
| in opposition to the treaty on the ground
| that 1t was unAmerican, and more than
| once made the point that it was the work
OF the titled aristocracy of Great Britain
| Ihere Is no danger of a misunderstand-
! ing OF a serious nature between the people
| OF this country and the common people
| of England he said. and then stated that
he ranked such leaders as Gladstone and
| Bright with the English commoners.
| But he contended that the interests of
| the British aristocratic classes We're In
every way antagonistic to the interests of
the great masses Of the American paopin
| He also advanced the argument that ore
Congress could not, by its action. bind
another, and said that on this accornt tho
treaty was mere piece of buncombe.
THE right of declaring war" he said
rs given to Congress. and it Is implied that
IL Is gwen TO one Congress as much az
another. Hence, even If we ratffy the tre.
| ty, 1t would not be binding on future ses-
| sions.' Ses-
IT, in other words, the two nations foun,,
| sufficient provocation for going to war
they would proceed to hostilities regard
less of treaties of peace. If. on the other
hand, they found themselves disputinp
over trivial matter they would natural.
| iiy resort to arbitration, and there wouId
| be no more difficulty in arranging a sena-
| rate arbitration for each occasion in ~
iuture than there mas been in the mast
Mr.. Morgan's statement was READ fro,,
manuscript. and he gave notice thai h.
would have 1t printed for the use of the
Senate. 20 'ttS
AT the conclusion of Mr. Morean,s ,a
marks Senator Davis gave notice that no
would ask the Senate to take up rho tre.ty
again tomorrow. and said that he womb
then speak on it.
Senator Bacon of Georgia rejntroduced
ms amendment of last session exemDting
claims against the southern states from the
operation Of the treaty
The committee amendments were the
same as those which have been aIreadv
outlined in The Star
There no other debate but tbe nor
sonal talk among senators indicated a varv
strong opposition to the treaty. which
threatens its defeat. They adjourned with
the understanding that the subject should
be taken up again tomorrow
AT pm the Senate adjourned