The record-union., 1898-06-01
Not the Slightest Material Puogress Made
on the Bill.
Speeches Made by Messrs. Lodge OF
Massachusetts, and Elkins OF
West Virginia = The House
Passes a Concurrent Resolution
Providing for the Preparation
of a Code Of Civil Laws for
Alaska.

WASHINGTON, May 81 - Another
day has been passed by the Senate in
fruitless discussion of the war revenue
measure. Not the slightest material
progress was made at to-days session
toward disposing of the bill. Speeches
We're made by Mason Of Illinois, Lodge
of Massachusetts and Elkins of West
Virginia. Mason strongly advocated an
amendment to the bill placing a tax
upon wheat -four adulterated either
with clay or with corn flour, and pre-
sented long statement by the National
Association of American Millers in
support of his contention. Lodge had
intended to defend his action in offer
ing the Hawaiian annexation resolu-
tion as an amendment to the pending
bill, but refrained because he said,
secret session would be demanded If
that discussion was started. After
commenting somewhat severely upon
the arrogance of the minority, which
prevented action upon question which
the Administration and a majority IN
both branches Of Congress desired to
dispose Of, he began a discussion OF
some of the questions arising out of
the present war. Evidently believing
this not a proper subject for public
discussion, Turpie Of Indiana forced
secret executive session.
In the open session that followed Ell
kins discussed the general features Of
the pending bill, opposing the corpora
ton tax, tax on bank deposits and the
issue Of greenbacks, and strongly ad-
vocating the issue of bonds.
The Chaplain's invocation was
glowing tribute to the life and charac-
ter of Gladstone, "the greatest of all
commoners, the noblest person of our
time, great in his gifts, greater in the
use he made of them"
Money of Mississippi presented the
credentials of William j. Sullivan, APP
pointed a Senator from Mississippi by
Governor McLaurin, to fill the vacancy
made by the death of Senator Wahhall.
The oath was administered to the new
Senator, who received handsome floral
pieces.
> Lodge made his statement concerning
his motives in Offering the Hawaiian
annexation resolution as an amend
ment to the war revenue measure. In
beginning Lodge said that as he had
no special desire to speak behind closed
doors, he would not call up the amend
ment which he had offered to the pend
ing bill. He said that it was a generally
recognized principle in this country
that the majority ought to rule, and
that any violation of that principle was
a travesty on justice. He referred 10
the practical and emphatic exposition
of the principle in the Fifty-first Con-
gress. and declared that since that the
exposition then made had been ap-
proved by the courts and by the people.
A situation had now arisen however,
in which it was being demonstrated
that the minority was still ruling, and
in this case it was minority origin
ally selected by the majority. Lodge
maintained that if measure was ex-
posed to Congress which the Admins
tration desired should be enacted into
law, and which commanded the support
OF majority in both branches, it ought
in all justice to be passed. Such
measure had been presented, but in the
circumstances there seemed nothing
left for the 'fhapless majority to do but
to enter its feeble protest against the
arrogant minority.
on the floor Of the Senate 1t was pos
sible for an humble member to call the
facts to the attention of the country.
He deemed it particularly desirable in
this time of war that the country should
be made acquainted with all the facts
OF the present anomalous legislative
session.
White CD Of California. leader of the
anti-annexation minority in the Senate
said that when any of the opponents
of annexation had attempted to discuss
the questions growing out of the war
they had been forced into a secret ex-
ecutive session. He had himself de-
sired to discuss the Hawaiian question
in the open but the privilege had been
denied to him He thought no discrim-
ination ought to be made.
Turning to the victory of Admiral
Dewey, Lodge said that We We're COM
PEELED to go back as far as Trafalgar
TO find victory more complete and
more sweeping in its results than that
of Admiral Dewey. Now that Dewey
has Manila under his guns and entire
Iy at his mercy, it is all important, said
Lodge, that We should support him.
The American people would never for
give the Administration If it should fail
to give him that support. which is only
his just due. They would feel as did
the people of England, when Gordon
was left to his fate at Khartoum.
Lodge had just announced his belief
that Admiral Dewey was in greater
need OF relief than most people imag-
ined when he was interrupted by Tur-
ME who demanded that the Senate pro-
coed with consideration of the subject
under discussion in executive session
Under the rules the demand had to be
acceded to. and at 2:05 p. m. the doors
We're closed.
At AS p. m. the Senate resumed
consideration in open session of the
pending bill.
Elkins R) of West Virginia objected
to the tax upon corporations, on bank
deposits and to the stamp tax He
maintained especially that the tax on
deposits was wrong in principle, as 1t
was a tax on debts. Concerning the
corporation tax, he held that the tax
on gross receipts was manifestly un-
lust. as il bore upon property winch
the corporations did not possess, The
net earning were a proper subject OF
taxation.
Elkins discussed territorial expansion.
The present war, only a month old, had
sent the country further on in the prog
! ress of the world than In hundred
wears before 1t had wrought changes
in the public mind, brought on new
conditions and problems. and we must
look more and more to extending our
markets for our own products, ana TO
<hot opd n1lSt ACQUIRE more territory,