The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-03-05
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
THE PROCEEDINGS CONDENSED FOR
OUR READERS.

OUR READERS.
War With Spain the Principal Topic In
Both Branches. Hon. Henry W. Ccrbetpa
Right to Seat in the Senate From Ore.
is discuss ed Other Business Transacted.
SENATE.
MoNDIY-A resolution offered by
Mr.. Allen, of Nebraska, directing tile
committee on naval affairs to make an
investigation of the disaster to the bat
tie ship Maine. was adopted without
debate. AS no other business was
pressing, the senate, at.'the suggestion
of Mr.. Hale, of Maine, began to con-
slider unobjected bills on the calendar.
Among those passed were the following:
Requiring masters and mates of sail
vessels of over 700 tons to have license
issued by the United States inspectors;
granting to the state of Wisconsin
5000 acres Of land to aid in the con-
tinuation, enlargement and maintain.
anoe of the Wyoming State Soldiers
and Sailors home; authorizing the
White and Black Rivers Valley railroad
company to build a bridge across the
Black river in Arkansas; to require
patents to be issued to land actually
settled under the act entitled can act
to provide for the armed occupation
and settlement OF the unsettled part OF
the peninsula of Florida, approved
August 4, 1872" and to amend on act
to prohibit the passage of local or
special laws in order to limit the ter
ritorial indebtedness. At $40 pm.
the senate went into executive session
and shortly after adjourned.
TUEsDAY--As soon as the reading Of
the historic farewell address Of Wash
ington was concluded by Mr.. Lodge,
of Massachusetts, in the senate to-day,
Mr.. Hawley, OF Connecticut, chairman
of the military affairs committee, called
up the bill providing for the enlistment
of two additional regiments of artillery
for service in manning the heavy coast
defense batteries which congress has
provided during the past two years.
Mr.. Bate, Of Tennessee, objected to the
bill because it tended to an increase OF
the army, to which said, he was unal
terably opposed. He thought there
were enough troops already under en-
listment to man all the guns now being
provided for by the government. HI
argued that it would be better to as
sign infantry regiments to the manning
of these guns than to put them il
charge of raw recruits. In order tina
these guns may be properly handled,
body Of trained artillerists is necessary
Each of these great war engines re
quires to handle it as much skill as
requires to run o locomotive or a
ordinary river steamer. The war de-
partment estimates that tn 1900 me
who this bill calls for will be necessar
properly to man these guns. MI
Morgan, of Alabama, secured the adoT
ton of the following resolution: "Ths
the committee on naval affairs is il
structed to inquire and report whethe
man. ot-war, equal at least to any pa'
ship in the world, to be named Georg
Washington, can be built, armed an
commissioned within period OF lively
months by the use Of the facilities
the ship yards, machine snaps, mines an
= forests of the United, States wherev'
the same are to be found and that Il
committee have leave to report at ar
time by bill or Otherwise" The res
luton was adopted without debate.
WEDNEsDAY-While the senate hs
under consideration the diplomat
and consular appropriation bill to'dt
, a sharp debate on the Cuban situate
was precipitated by Mr.. Allen OF N
braska, who offered as an amendme
., the resolution passed recognizing t.
belligerent rights of the Cuban insu
gents. Tho debate became general a.
lasted four hours. In the course Of
reply to the preliminary statement
o. Mr.. Allen, Mr.. Morgan OF Alabau
said this country's relations with SIPS
at the present time were serious
strained, and that action by the Unit
States year ago would have been
q offensive, would now be almost cat
. OF way. He expressed the opinion Il
the Cuban affairs would eventually
submitted to the arbitrament OF
sword between the United States q
Spain, but he didnot want war precl
tated by rash nets Of legislation. n
Foraker of Ohio, thought the day
not far distant, when the time for act
by this country would arrive, and Il
the chief magistrate of the nation ou
!. to rejoice that the Legislative branch
the government was prepared to 8 !,
port him in asserting American rlgt
Mr.. Thurston of Nebraska, counsel
'pt celmness and prudence, for be
lieved the country was rapidly DRIFT
into a war with Spain. "We ought