The Portland daily press., 1897-07-16


pate in the Paris exposition of 1900.
Washington, July 15.-Soon after the
Senate opened today, Mr.. Stewart Of
Nevada called attention to the absence of
a quorum. There was a roll call and after
fifteen minutes delay, forty-five Senators,
bare quorum, was secured.
Mr.. Stewart then moved a reconsidera-
tion of the action of the Senate in passing
the resolution directing the Secretary of
War to proceed in the construction of a
breakwater at San Pedro, California. It
reopened long standing controversy over
the location of deep water harbor on the
Pacific coast and led to animated debat
between Mr.. Stewart and Mr.. White of
California.
Mr.. Stewart argued that the original
law provided for deep water harbor to
cost about So 900, 600. The report of the
Secretary of War disclosed that theHbreak-
water would cost this sum. The entire
harbor would cost about s., 800, 900.
Mr.. White answered that the govern
ment engineers had reported that the
breakwa would give harbor of COM
merce and in, addition to this there was
an inner harbor available. 1t was rather
surprising, Mr.. White added, that the
Senator from Nevada who presumably
represented the people of his2states and
not of California should interfere osthis
question. This stirred up hot contest.
With evident agitation, Mr.. Stewart de-
clared that be resented the intimations.
He had right as a Senator to adopt such
a course as he desired, and he had no per-
sonaI interest to serve, such as those who
represented terminal railroads.
Mr.. White responded that he did not
represent any terminal railroad. He
represented California and in this
question he had the concurrence of his
colleague from California, the California
delegation in Congress, and the people of
the state, and they felt that they could at
tend to the interests of the state without
the assistance of the Senator from
Nevada.
sit is rather singular proceeded Mr..
White, that when we have q matter
affecting the South Pacific railroad the
Senator from Nevada attempts to do the
duty of Senator from California Only.
one inference can be deducted-that the
Senator does not represent any con-
stituency whatever in this matter"
Mr. Stewart Indignantly answered: 81
repel this charge. do not allow private
interests to affect my vote or my action.
Southern Pacific or any body who is con.
nected with it. do not oppose every :
thing that comes up that may benefit the
Southern Pacific or the Northern Pacific
or the people at large. do not hold up
any man or corporation hate as red
flag against legislation.
The Senator called on Mr.. White to
show anything in his course in the Senate
to warrant such criticisms.
The motion To reconsider WAS disagreed
to on viva voce vote.
Mr.. Thurston, chairman of the COM
mittee on international expositions,
secured the passage of the joint resolution
accepting the invitation of the French
Republic to take part in an international
exposition at Paris in 1900
On motion of Mr.. Carter the Senate at
D. M, went into executive session. The
doors were opened again at LIB p. m.
and the Harris resolution requiring the
President to suspend proceedings to carry
into effect the alleged agreement to sell
the interest of the United States in the