The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-12
PLEA FOR AMENDMENT.

Mr.. Lewis Oem., Wash) made a
plea for the senate amendment Tor
$4,000 for a survey OF the improve
ments proposed from Salmon bay to
Smiths cove, explaining that Warsh1ps
might be anchored in Lakes Union and
Washington when the project was
completed. The house voted to non
concur.
The most interesting debate was on
the appropriation Of $4,000 to improve
Pearl harbor in the Hawaiian islands,
which was rejected by vote of 30 to
So.
Mr. Hit Qn), past and prospective
chairman of the committee on foreign
affairs, earnestly urged the Importance
of taking steps to confirm the title of
this government to the harbor in view
of the senate proposition to abrogate
the Hawaiian treaty. Mr.. Hit said
in part: ''The senate has now before
it a bill which will abrogate the
reciprocity treaty. There Is conten-
ton on the part of the Hawaiian gov
ernment-and that contention would be
supported with the utmost support
that could be given by the govern
nlents of Great Britain and Japan
that the grant in the supplemental con-
vention would fall with the original
treaty and thus we would lose Pearl
harbor. The treaty in which is ex-
pressed the consideration granted to
the United States for the favor Of
reciprocity, Says expressly that 1t snail
continue while that treaty Is In force.
That consideration was the absolute
exclusion of all other governments in
the world from any right to lease or
hold any part Of the territory of the
Hawaiian islands.
sI do not wish to discuss the ques-
ton of annexation, for I think 1T has
nothing whatever to do with this ques-
ton. If the Hawaiian Islands were
annexed tomorrow the necessity for
the adoption of this amendment would
remain as urgent as ever. We have
tried for thirty years to secure naval
stations in many parts OF the world
and not one have we today. The navy
of Great Britain, which is so power
full, can be placed in any part of the
globe and be within reach Of supplies
as well as facilities for repair. Our
nation in case Of war would be help
less as soon as its coal ran out. In
the Pacific ocean the great powers Of
the world-England, France, Germany.
Spain-all possess one, two, ten, TWEEN
ty spots from which to fit out ships
that would devastate our coast.
"How important does England deem
this advantage when she has poured
out such millions upon these little
reefs and peaks and hills of the Ber-
mudas? For what has all that been
expended? Not to fight with France
not upon the possibility Of a struggle
with Russia, her great rival. 1t is be-
cause those ships carry guns that may
come into our ports; it is because they
will be the most terrible weapon
against us in the contingency of war.
Now. If that treaty fails-if it is abro-
gated-Great Britain will instantly
Y,ress for new relations with Hawaii.
Instantly Japan will be pressing and
fiercely pressing. In the kilograms OF
this morning I read that the cruiser
Ninevah has already arrived at Hawaii
to press threatening claims upon that
feeble government. We will only hold
II with our guns in position. and this
very treaty in diplomatic discussion
has been construed to give us author
ity to erect Notifications there"
SPREAD EAGLE SPEECH.
Mr.. Mcfillfn Then the gentleman's