The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-03-23

by the Foreign Relations Committee
Senator MorGan's Vigorous Opposition
to It's RatifcatIon-The Question of Pur.
chase of the Danish vest Indies Again
Raised-Money Wanted for Expenses of
the Postal Congress.
SENATE.
Washington. March lS-A large num-
Der of bills Cmost of them survivors of
the last congress) We're introduced in
the senate today and referred.
The correspondence with the German
government relating to insurance COM
companies was taken up and referred.
The constitutional amendment for
popular election of United States sena-
tors was re-introduced by Senator Tur-
pie, democrat, of Indiana, who an
nounced his purpose to address the
senate pom it next Monday.
Senator Gear, republican, Of Iowa,
from the committee on Pacific rail-
roads, reported the bill which was
pending last session for the adjust
ment Of the government debt through
a commission to consist Of the secre-
tary of the treasury, the secretary of
the interior and the attorney general
the settlement to be submitted in
writing to the president for his APP
prevail or disapproval and not to be
binding unless approved by him. He
desired to have it made the "unfinish-
ed business" for a month hence; but
objection was made by several
tors and the bill was placed on the
calendar.
Coo+0~ r ol~o 1,,b1;aa- - Mo-
sachusette, offered a resolution, which
was agreed to, in%structing the COM
mittee on foreign relations to inquire
and repOr whether the islands of st.
CrOix, st. John and st. Thomas, in
the West Indies, can now be purchaS-
ed from the Danish government, as by
the treaty of 1867, and whether if they
be not purchased by the United States,
it is probable that they Will be sold by
the Danish government to some other
power.
At the close of the morning business
the senate at 1 o'clock p. m. proceeded
to the consideration of executive bust
ness, and at 2:15 o'clock adjourned un-
til tomorrow.
Immediately after the senate went
into executive session this afternoon
Senator Davis, for the committee on
foreign relations, submitted a report
on the general treaty Of arbitration
with Great Britain, with certain
amendments made by the committee.
He offered a resolution that the treaty,
as amended, be ratified, and his start
ed the discussion.
Senator Morgan, of Alabama, took
the floor Immediately and began a Wig
OrOuS speech against the ratification
of the convention. The statements Of
the senator from Alabama were large
ly repetitiOns Of the speeches made by
Iy~ ~ t1~ Il ,,-iy ~ Z hn LOST rnc
sion, when the unsuccessful effort was
made to ratify the treaty. He took the
ground that it would be unwise and
impOlitic for the United States to tie
it's hands by a treaty OF arbitration of
any sort whatever, so long as the 9TH
er contracting party was Great Bri-
tain. That country, he cOntended, was
the general enemy of all nations; it's
hand was raised against all other pow
erS in it's struggle for territorial ag-
grandiZement, the possessions
of the world. There was in this treaty
he argued, a hidden pitfall into which
the United States was about to plunge.
and he urged senators to refuse to
sanction a treaty that gave our nat
ural enemy every advantage; a treaty
that was useless and formulated in re-
Spouse to a sentiment that ought not
to exercise the slightest control in the
management of the affairs Of a great
| nation. He spoke also for his colleagues
on the committee, Messrs. Mills and
Daniel, but it is probable that before
the debate has proceeded very far both
of these men will have something to
say for themselves. The chances are
that the debate will continue through
several days.
| HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The house r~e-assembled at noO pur-
suant to adjournment, a very large
proportion of the members being pres
ent, and the public galleries were well
filled.
The ~chaplafn's prayer and h read
ing Of the journal occupied fifteen min
uteS.
The speaker laid before the house
the recommendation Of the postmas-
ter general for an appropriation of
5000, 900 to be Immediately available, to
enable the government to defray the
necessary expenses of the postal con-
| gress, which will assemble in Washing
| ton in May next. The department finds
having the congress on it's hands, with
and entertainment.
Mr.. Henderson, republican, OF Iowa,
stated that the committee on ways
and means would not be ready to re-
port until tomorrow, therefore he NOV
ed that the house adjourn until Fri
day.
This was agreed to without division
and at 1916 O'Clock the house was de
clared adjourned by Speaker Reed.