Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-02-14

tHc pItStul secretary mas ItCOSulZtls
and as the Perrine in question is re-
lated by marriage to the President Of the
United States. an interest is given the
inquiry which 1t might not otherwise
have
An effort was made by Mr.. Morgan to
have the business Of the morning hour
continued, 50 that he might address the
Senate on the joint resolution introduced
by him yesterday for the abrogation of
the Clayton-Bulwer treaty. The chair
man of the Committee on Foreign Re-
lations, Mr.. Sherman, however insisted
on a motion to proceed to executive
business. and majority OF the Senate
sided with him. And so, at 1920, the
Senate resumed, behind closed doors,
consideration Of the arbitration treaty,
and at 4:45 p. NJ. adjourned till Monday.
House of Representatives.
General debate on the sundry civil ap-
preparation bill gave opportunity for seve-
raj speeches upon radically different
topics. ranging from the policy Of river
and harbor improvements TO Cuban inde-
pendence. The House plunged at once
into consideration OF the measure, which
had been taken up for a short time Fri
day afternoon. The largest single item in
the bill is the appropriation for works in
continuation OF the Improvement of rivers
and harbors, amounting to about Sl6OcO,Op.
and the river and harbor system natural
ly came in for large share Of discussion
After general speeches on the bill by Mr.
Cannon, chairman of the Committee on
Appropriations, and by Mr.. Sayers, the
leader of the minority on the committee
Messrs. Dockery and Hepburn spoke
against the contract system for making
the improvements and against the policy
itself, and Mr.. Catchings defended both.
Mr.. McMillin, responding TO a statement
by Mr.. Hopkins, that under Republican
administration Of the Mckinley law 1t
produced revenue sufficient to meet the
expenditures OF the government, with a
surplus besides, criticised the decision or
the Supreme Court, which made the in
come-tax feature Of the Wilson law inef-
fective. But" he said, "the whole court
ought not to suffer from the action Of one
man. Everybody knows that the man
who tore down the Constitution, uprooted
the decisions of 100 years, and destroyed
the power Of the government TO tax the
wealth of the country was named Shlras,
and his name should always be remember
ed in connection with that reprehensiDle
and ver-to-be-criticised decision"
To this Mr.. Grosvenor replied. He said
he should leave criticism Of the Supreme
Court and of Mr. Shiras. who could not
respond. to the gentleman from Tennes-
see. He desired, however, to let the gem
tlcman have the full benefit Of the pro-
position that the Mckinley law was IN
ADEQUATE as q revenue-raiser, and that
the Wilson law was a splendid production.
That would strike the country as some
thing remarkable "The Mckinley law"
Mr. Grosvenor asserted. produced not
onlv revenue for the expenditures OF the
government. but surplus as well, until
the Deity. for some reason which He mas
not made known. menaced the future or
the country by permitting the election OF
Grover Cleveland and a Democratic Con-
gress."
NOTHING ABOVE CRITICISM.
Mr.. De Armond, referring TO Mr.. Gros-
venor's reply to Mr.. McMillin's lust
criticism" Of the Supreme Court in the
matter of the income decision, said he
Welded 10 decisions OF the Supreme Court
that general respect which every lawyer
was taught was due TO the highest law
tribunal Of the nation. But ne
continued, II belong TO that class or
people. and represent a constituency, VINO
do not believe that any institution Of the
country or any person or body engaged
in administering the affairs Of the nation,
is so sacred that 1t is not subject to
inst criticism. One Of the greatest mena-
ces TO the prosperity and progress
of the republic lies in the usurpation by
the judiciary, lies in the use OF that SUD-
tie. never-ceasing power which over
turns the decisions of hundred years,
affects the elections OF Presidents, and
makes strange law by strange methods"
Speaking Of the action OF Mr.. Shiras
Mr.. De ArmOnd said: He changed MS
70 fro we "a
a tax Of from forty to sixty millions a
wear. and transfer II 10 poverty and toll.
Men may change their minds, but when
forty TO sixty millions annually are IN the
scale and a trained Judge without
further argument and additional light
changes his mind, why should there not
be comment on It? His name VIII De
kept alive. not in honor. but because the
American people have been outraged by
| him."
He would go further, Mr.. De Almond
said. and charge that the crime OF the
hour was that the power OF the judiciary
was not more strictly limited. There was
a sentiment in the House and Senate
both. which tended 10 minimize the power
of the Legislature and secure additional
nower TO the Executive and to the Su-
nrerne Court There was every reason
why the legislative power should be
strengthened. that it might more properly
represent the people, and why that of the
Executive and the courts should be re-
stricted.
APPEAL FOR CUBANS.
Mr. De Armond closed with fervld
and impassioned appeal for interven-
ton in behalf Of the Cuban revolution
lists. II asked upon what ground the
/ intervention should be made, ne would
| saw that IL should be done Upon the
high ground that this nation Of free
men. sons of free men, sympaih.zcd
with the efforts OF those near our shores
70 become themselves free naii. Ihe
| c1,bans he said, had been lured into
| the rebellion by the people OF the United
| states. Every wind from this shore car
| ried to them messages OF sympathy and
snnnort. He had noped that ms ad-
ministration would respond IN some
suitable way 10 the swelling sentiment
OF the country i'm favor OF the ''uoahs'
! and his hope now was that the incoming
administration would put itself IN har-
mony with the overwhelming desires OF
the people (Applause.)
"Had the election last November re-
Quilted In the elevation OF that match
Ices leader. william Jennings Bryan
| noud Democratic applause), to the
presidency. / have no doubt that Amerl-
.an sentiment would have been fully
and promptly carried into effect upon
his accession 10 power
Mr. De Almond, with his usual vigor
of utterance, denounced the condition