The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-13
Two Measures
Discussed.
Mr.. HOAR'S PROTEST
Resolutions from Massachu-
sets and Maine Presented.

Washington, Dec. 12-Discussion Of
two questions, each of interest and i'm
portance at this time was begun by
the Senate at its session today.
Territorial expansion and the con
struction of the Nicaragua canal occu-
pied the attention of the body during
The greater part of the afternoon.
AS soon as the routine morning bust
ness had been disposed Of, Mr.. Vest of
Missouri called up his resolution offered
last week, declaring it to be uncon-
scitutional for this government to
acquire foreign territory except for
coaiing stations or some like purpose,
unless its intention was to confer
statehood upon the territory and ciu
zoDship upon its inhabitants Mr.. Vest
declared that 1t was a basis principle
of this government that the powers
Of the government were derived from
the consent Of the governed" and main
talued that the federal government had
no authority either in morals or in the
constitution TO go beyond mat princi-
pie. He held that the principle had
been sustained by the supreme court
IN various decisions. and that no public
man of prominence and no recognized
tribunal had ever been reckless enough
10 controveTt it.
Mr.. Plat of Connecticut took issue
with Mr.. Vest, and announced that at
some cony enient time in the near flu
ture he would offer some remarks upon
the resolution, in the course of which
he would endeavor to show tnat the
Missouri senator was wrong in his in
depreciation of the constitution and in
accurate in his deductions from the
law.
Mr. Morgan opened the debate ON the
canal bill with three hours appeal
for action at this session The whole
country, he said. would be disappointed
II congress did not act He was will
ing to take any measure which would
result in the building of the canal. He
agreed to accept an amendment speci-
fically excepting the canal from neu-
trality with regard 10 any country
with which the United States might be
at war.
AT the opening of the Senate, Mr..
Hoar of Massachusetts and Mi Hate
of Maine presented resolutions OF citt-
Zens of their states demonstrating
against the extension Of American Sow
ereignty over the Philippines and
against the acquisition of foreign ter
pie of such territory. The resolutions
were referred to the committee on for
eign relations.
Mr. PettigreW introduced a bill au
thorizing A A. Bartlett to raise the
battleship Maine and transport 1t TO
the United States.
Mr. Hoar introduced a resolution di-
recting the president of the Senate and
speaker of the House TO appoint COM
lnittee of five members of the Senate
and House TO prepare and carry out
plans for the preparation of the cele-
bration Of the centennial Of the city of
Washington as capital Of the United
States.
Mr. Hoar also introduced the follow
ing resolution: That the committee on
military be instructed to inquire and
report as soon as may be, whether
same policy may not be established by
Why which soldiers in the regular
acmy who have families or parents de-
pendent upon them for support, or
whose education or opportunities for
business viii be seriously interfered
with by longer continuance in the mil