Daily Kennebec journal., 1898-12-20
55th CONGRESS.
Senator PIatt Speaks in Favor
Of Branching Out. :
Maintains That America Has Every
Right to Acquire Territory.
The House Votes $3.50, 900 for Philadelphia
Exposition Of 1899.

Washington, Dec. 19.-The Senate had
a busy day and there We're several i'm
portant speeches. Mr.. Platt of Connec-
ticut spoke against the Vest resolution
which declares that the United States
has no power to acquire territory. He
said that the power of the nation to
acquire territory was as inherent as its
sovereignty. The United States had
the right to govern such territory in
the best possible manner until the peo-
pie of the acquired islands We're capa-
Bile of self government.
Mr.. Proctor of Vermont, and Mr..
Hale of Maine, exchanged divergent
views upon the subject of a commission
of senator's to visit Cuba. Mr.. Proc
tor thought such a commission was
necessary. while Mr.. Hale said he
thought it would be in extremely bad
taste and useless.
The Nicaragua canal bill was up
during the last part of the day and
Senators Berry, Allen, Hoar, Caffery
and Morgan discussed the measure.
AT the opening of the Senate's SeS-
sion the chaplain in his invocation,
made touching reference to the afflic-
tion of Mr.. Jones, (Ark.,) over whose
threshold of late thrice has passed the
shadow of death.
The vice-President announced the
committee on the centennial celebra-
ton of the city of Washington as the
capital of the nation as follows: Hoar,
Hale. Perkins, Simon. McLaurin, Clay.
and Turley.
Mr.. Lodge from the committee on
foreign relations. favorably reported;
the following joint resolution and ask
ed for its immediate considerations:
That the President and he is hereby
requested to communicate to Congress,
SO far as the same may be done with
out detriment to public interests, all
the information in his possession con-
cerning certain alleged outrages COM
mitted on the person of Bishop Earl
CranSton and other American citizens
in the city of Pekin, China. by subjects
of the Emperor of China; and what
steps. IL any, have been-taken by the
state department in the matter of de-
manding suitable indemnity therefor
The resolution was agreed to at once.
Cullom. ILL.,, gave notice that he
would ask the. Senate at the conclu-
sion of Platt's speech to take the anti
scalping bill from the table for con-
sideration.
Chandler, n. H, inquired if it was
Cullom's purpose to have the bill sent
to the interstate commerce commis-
sion. c1illom replied that he proposed
to ask for consideration at this time.
We'll, l give notice, Mr.. President,
responded Chandler, that there are
senators here who will insist that the
bill shall so to the committee"
Sullivan, Miss, protested against
what he termed IAN extraordinary
proceeding and demanded to know
what Cullom's purpose was.
Il propose to call up the anti-scalp-
ing bill for consideration, replied Cui-i
lom. I'VE can discuss questions rela-.
ting to the request when we come 10
them
Teller. Col, gave notice that tomor-
row he would address the Senate on
Vests anti-expansion resolution.
Platt, Conn.,, addressed the Senate on
the resolution declaring that under the
constitution of the United States no
power is given to acquire territory to
be held and governed permanently as
colonies.
Platt's speech was a constitutional
argument. maintaining the legal right
of the United States to acquire terri
tory and was particularly intended as
a refutation of the position taken by
Mr.. Vest in support of his resolution.
Il do not propose to discuss the pol
icy of expansion" said Platt, in the
preface of his argument. Il sha.:
maintain that the United States has
shown a great capacity for govern
ment in all trying times and under
many trying conditions and that it is
capable to meet any emergency likely
to arise.
II propose to confine myself to the
question of the right or power denied.
by the resolution. l shall contend that
the United States is nation and that
as such it possesses every sovereign
power not reserved by the constitution
to the states. or to the people them
selves: that the right to acquire terri
tory was not reserved and that. there
fore, the right is an inherent right--si
sovereign right, a right to which there
is no limitation. ] shall show that,
also, that in certainsinstances this in
herent sovereign right is 10 be inferred
from specific clauses of the constitu-
ton itself"
Further along Platt suggested that /.
might become necessary I'm the interest
Of commerce or some other interest for
the United States to acquire territory
in Africa. Shall we be bound by the
to organize a state from
such acquired territory and to admit
its inhabitants to citiZenshfp?'
At p. NJ, the unfinished aIsiness--
The Nicaragua canal Dill was informal
y laid aside in order that Platt might
conclude his speech.
In response to an inquiry Cuilom said
he would not call up the anti-scalping
bill, today.
Continuing, Plast contended that th- |
doctrine he was presenting was not
new, but it Was the doctrine of the /
fathers. and he quoted Gov. Morris a.,
advancing the theory that acquired
-erritory might be governed as d pri- /
vince but not rs a state. The remark /
applied to the possibility of the acquir- |
nert of LouisAna and Canada.
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