The record-union., 1898-12-20

WASHINGTON, Dec. 19.-The Senate
had busy day, and there We're sew
eral important speeches. Platt of Con-
necticut spoke against the Vest resolu-
ton, which declares that the United
States has no power TO acquire terri
tory. He said that the power Of a ma
tion to acquire territory was as inher-
ent as its sovereignty. The United
States has the right to govern such ter
ritory in the best possible manner un-
til the people of the acquired land are
capable of self government.
Proctor of Vermont and Hale of
Maine explained divergent views upon
the Senate resolution for a committee
Of Senators TO visit Cuba. Proctor
thought such a committee was neces-
sary, while Hale thought it would be
in extremely bad taste and useless.
The Nicaraguan bill was up during
the last part of the day, and Senators
Berry, Allen, Hoar, Ca:fery and Nor
gan discussed the measure.
AT the opening of the Senate the
Chaplain in his invocation made touch
ing reference to the aff1ictiOn OF Sena-
tor Jones of Arkansas, 'Over whose
Threshold of late thrice has passed the
shadow of death, and one of whose
sons is i'll now"
The Vice President announced the
committee on the centennial celebra-
ton of the city of Washington as the
capital of the nation as follows: Sena-
tors Hear, Hale, Perkins, Simon, Nc
Laurin, Clay and Turney.
Lodge of Massachusetts Of the For
eign Relations Committee favorably re-
ported this resolution, and asked for
its immediate consideration:
That the President be, and he is
hereby required to give to Congress, so
far as the same may be done without
detriment to public interests, all the in
formation IN his possession >oncerning
certain alleged outrages committed on
the person of Bishop Earl Cranston and
other citizens in the city OF Pekin,
China, by subjects of the Emperor of
China, and what steps, if any, have
been taken by the State Department il
the matter of requesting suitable in
demnity therefor
The resolution was agreed to.
CullOm Of Illinois gave notice that he
would ask the Senare at the conclusion
of Platt's speech to take the anti
scalpers bill from the able .or cOns:d-
Grafton.
Chandler Of New Hampshire inquired
if it was the bill "eferccd ~ Dy the
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Cullom replied thai he proposed to
ask for consideration at this time
We'll. 1 give notice, Mr. President"
responded Chandler. that there are
Senator's here who will insist THAI the
bill shall go 10 the committee"
Sullivan of Mississippi protested
against what he ,ermaI IAN extraordi-
nary proceeding" and demanded what
CullOm's purpose was.
Il propose to call up the anti-scalp-
ing bill for consideration" replied Gull
lom. we can discuss questions relat-
ing to the subject when we come to
them"
Teller Of Colorado gave notice that to-
morrow he will address the Senate on
an anti-expansion resolution.
In accordance with G. notice Senator
Platt addressed the Senate, opposing
the resolution offe""d Ey Vest of Mis-
souri,. declaring that under the Consti-
tuition of the United States no power is
given to acquire territory TO lie held
and governed permanently as colonies
Platts speech was constitutional
argument, maintaining the legal right
of the United States 10 acquire terri
tory, saying he did not propose TO cis-
cuss the policy of expansion nor the
features of the government we might
establish in any foreign territory we
might acquire. Expansion, ne said,
has been law of our national growth,
the handspring of our 7a:iunaI devel-
opment.
Platt then launched into a constitu-
tional argument, quoting extensively
from authorities treating of the cues
tion, and also declared that in the an
neXation of the Hawai'an Islands the
entire question of this Goverrneng's