Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-02-08
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Mr.. Bate presented the credentials of
Thomas B. Turley to the Senate to-day
to fill the vacancy caused by the death
of the late Senator Isham G. Harris, of
Tennessee. Some criticism was made
of Governor Taylor's certificate as be-.
ing too verbose, and, while harmless,
of unnecessary length.
Mr.. Chandler criticised the presenta.
ton of Senator Turley's commission, as
no governor had the right under the
constitution to commission a man as
Senator.
Mr.. Bate explained that the commits.
sion had been presented because law
often required the governor to com.
mission every officer elected by the
legislature.
Mr.. Allen said in presenting Cuban
amendment to the diplomatic and con.
sular appropriation bill that since the
opening of hostilities in Cuba more
than three hundred thousand paciGcos
had died of starvation, or of disease di-
rectly traceable to insufficient food or
lack of proper sanitary conditions.
The amendment is to the effect that
the United States should accord to each
of the contending forces all the rights
of belligerents in the ports and terrific.
ry of the United States.
Mr.. Hale said the amendment pro-
posed was subject to point of order,
even thought it should be reported by
the foreign relations committee, as it
was general legislation.
"Do you know of any appropriation
bill passed in the last few years." in
quired Mr.. Allen. "that has not carried
with it general legislation ?"
Mr.. Hale replied that much matter
was put into appropriation bills by
unanimous consent that would be sub
ject to point of order. He added that
under the rules of the Senate and
under those of the House-which are
very strict-genetal legislation does
not belong upon appropriation bills"
Mr. Cannon then offered resolution
which he asked to lie over until to-
morrow when he would submit some
remarks upon it, demanding that Spain
will draw her forces from Cuba and
that if Spain shall not recognise the in
dependence of Cuba by the 4th of
March, the United States will assert
the independence of Cuba.
Mr.. Mason kept the Cuban ball roll
ing by Offering another resolution also
faYoripg Cuban independence, giving
notice that he would tomorrow at the
conclusion of Mr.. Cannon's remarks ad.
dress the Senate upon the resolution.
The resolution in regard to the Cor
bett election case was then taken up
and Mr.. Chandler made q speech 10
favor of seating the claimant as Sena-
tor from Oregon.
HOUSE.
The Senate amendments to the agri-
cultural appropriation bill were dis
agreed to and the bill was sent to con.
ference.
Mr.. Taylor, chairman of elections
committee No. l, then called up the
contested election case of VIM F. Aid
rich VS.. Thomas S. Plowman from the
fourth Alabama district. Mr.. Plowman.
the sitting member, is democrat, and
Mr.. Aldiich was the populist and
republican candidate. The majority
of the committee reported solid
ly in favor of unseating Mr..
Plowman. Mr.. Taylor who opened the
debate with an argument in favor of
sustaining the majority report deplored
the fact that partisan body was called
upon to pass upon an election case but
in this particular instance, he said,
there had been no draft upon his politi-
cal prejudices. He explained the Ala
bama election laws which, he said, could
not have been framed more effectively
to encourage fraud and thwsrt the peo-
ple's will. The illiterate voter, he
said, was absolutely at the mercy Of the
ticket marker. Fraud, he said, was
everywhere; not lurking or secret but
bold and insolent.
Mr.. Fox presented the case of the
minority which reported that Mr.. Plow-
man was entitled to retain his seat. He
dwelt upon the fact that Aldrich was
not the regular nominee OF the republi.
can party and was opposed on the stump
by the Leading republicans and populists
and that any assumption that he COM
manded the full strength of the re-
publcans and populists of the district
was unwarranted.