The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-12-16
VESTS RESOLUTION.
Missouri's Senator Speaks Against
Territorial Expansion.
THE NICARAGUA CANAL BILL UP.
Senator Morgan Makes an Appeal for Ac-
tion at This session -Di.trict OF
Columbia Affairs In the House
Bills introduced.

Washington, Dec. 10. -Discussion of
two questions, each of great impor-
lance and interest, was begun by the
senate at its session Yesterday. Ter
ritorial expansion and the construc-
ton of the Nicaragua canal occupied
the attention of the body during the
greater part of the afternoon. AS soon
as the routine morning business had
been disposed of, Senator Vest, of Mis-
souri,, called up his resolution, offered
last week, declaring it to be unconsti-
tutional for this government to ac-
quire foreign territory except for coal
ing stations or some like purpose, I'M
less its intention was to confer state
hood upon the territory and citizen
ship upon its inhabitants. He de-
clared that il was basic principle of
this government that 1.-THE powers of
the government were derived from the
consent of the governed" and main
tanned that the federal government
had no authority either in morals or
in the constitution to go beyond that
principle. He held that the principle
had been sustained by the supreme
court in various decisions, and that no
public man of prominence and no rec
ognized tribunal had ever been reclS-
less enough to controvert it,
Senator Platt. of Connecticut, took
issue with Senator Vest, and announced
that at some convenient time in the
near future he would offer some re-
marks upon the resolution, in the
course of which he would endeavor to
show that the Missouri senator was
wrong in his interpre tation of the con-
stitution and inaccurate in his deduc-
tions from the law.
Senator Morgan opened the debate
on the canal bill with three hour
appeal for action at this session. The
whole country, he said, would be dis
appointed if congress did not act He
was willing to take any measure
which would result in the building of
the canal. In the course of his re-
marks he agreed TO accept an amend
ment specifically excepting the canal
from neutrality with regard to any
country with which the United States
might be at war.
At the beginning of the senate ses-
sion Senator Hoar and Senator Hale
presented resolutions of citizens of
their states demonstrating against the
extension of American sovereignty
over the Philippine islands and against
the acquisition of foreign territory
without the consent of the people of
such territory. The resolutions were
referred to the committee on foreign
relations.
Senator Pettigrew introduced bill
authorizing A. A. Bartlett to raise the
bdttleship Maine apd transport it to
the United States.
Senator Hoar introduced the follow
ing resolutions:
That the committee on military affairs be in
Rtructed to inquire and report, as soon as may
be whether some policy may not be estab-
lished by law by which soldiers In the regular
army who have families parents depending
IN them for support or whose education or OPP
portunities for business will be seriously in
torfered with by longer continuance In the
military service and who enlisted under assur-
Rnce that they would be held only while the
war lasted, may be promptly discharged and
their places, so far as necessary, be filled with
new recruits
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AFFAIRS
Washington, Dec. H. The house
spent the larger part of the day on
District of Columbia affairs. The bill
to relieve the condition of the Ameri.
can seamen was taken up, but nothing
was accomplished.
Mr.. Mcclellan, of New York, intro
duced bill for the reorganization of
the army. 1t was drawn after con-
sultation with many army officers and
is supposed to represent the ideas of
the younger element of the army.
Mr.. Hepburn, of Iowa, introduced
hill authorizing the president to ac-