Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-24
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. "a.
SENATE.


At the opening of the session of the
Senate to-day the chaplain prayed that
the blessing of the Holy Spirit might be
granted and rest upon the President
and Vice President of the United States,
both branches of Congress and all the
people CT the country. He prayed that
the honor and dignity and rights of the
country might be upheld
At the conclusion of the morning bus
mess the Vice President laid before the
S.nate the resolution of Mr.. Allen,
which was laid over from yesterday. II
provides for the appointment of FIVE
Sera ors to make an inquiry into the
condition of affairs in Cuba with view
to bringing the war to a peaceful end.
Mr.. Allen said that being satisfied
from the vote on his amendment yes
terday that the fate of this resolution
was quite we'll sealed, he would there
fore withdraw it from further consider
alton of the Senate.
Mr.. Hansbrough called up the bill
extending the homestead laws and pro
yiding for right of way for railroads in
the district of Alaska, but after brief
discussion he consented not to press the
bill until Mr. Spooner had delivered a
speech on the Corbett case.
Mr.. Spooner made legal argument
in favor of the admission of Henry W..
Corbett to the Senate. He said that as
lawyer he felt that he himself had no
higher or better right to seat in the
Senate than Mr.. Corbett.
An effective point was made by Mr..
Spooner when he cited the credentials
of John Walker of Virginia, who was
appointed to the Senate on March 81,
1890, by the Governor of Virginia. This
case, the first gubernatoral appoint
ment made to the Senate under the con-
stitution, Mr.. Spooner said was precise
" similar to that now under considera-
ton, as MIR. Walkers credentials show
ed that the legislature of Virginia had
had opportunity to fill the vacancy then
existing and had failed to do so. The
Senate accepted Mr.. Walkers creden-
tials and seated him. "Can it reason
ably be held" exclaimed Mr.. Spooner,
"that the disting pushed men then sitting
in the Senate knew less Of the constitu-
liona law than we know now"
HOUSE.
Without any preliminary business
the House to-day went into committee
of the whole and resumed considera.
ton of the sundry civil appropriation
bill.
Mr.. Sayers criticised the item in the
bill placing only the unexpended cpl
demic funds of past years at the dis
posal of the quarantine service. He
thought 100000 additional should be
appropriated.
Mr.. Cannon said that the largest
amount expended in previous year was
S2S7 900 in 1894. Last year but 1884,
900 was spent. February l, 1898,
there was an unexpended balance Of
S340, 900. In his opinion that was sui.
| ficient.
Mr.. Bailey declared his belief that
the matter of quarantine regulations
should be left to the states. He was
opposed not only to the additional ap-
preparation proposed by his colleague,
but to the use of the uneIpended bal
ance provided for in the bill.
Mr.. Williams thought it unfortunate
4; that this great question OF rational
quarantine had been precipitated in
connection with this appropriation.
The people OF his State and the board Of
health of his State believed the United
States should have exclusive jurisdic-
ton of maritime and coasfwi5e quar-
antine and were willing to give the
federal authorities exclusive and para
mount control. But once an epidemic
got foothold inside the State he in
sisted that the State should control.