The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-01-21

A Final Test to Day on Motion to Rc-
commit the BiIl-New England Senators
Hear Something About High Tariff and
Idle Cotton Mills
SENATE.
Washington, January ia spirited
debate was precipitated in the senate to-
day by the introduction of a resolution
by Senator Hoar, providing for an in
quiry by the committee on postoffices
and postroads concerning the recent or
der of the postmaster general reducing
the force of letter carriers in several
cities Of the country.
Senator Hoar declared that the order
had had the effect Of a dynamite bomb
in creating CONSERVATION among busi-
ness men throughout the country, while
apparently all that was needed by the
postoffice department was an appropria-
ton of $15O,O00 to fully maintain the eff
cheney of the carrier service.
The debate took wide range, Sena-
tor Wo,cott, chairman of the committee
on postoffices and poastroads insisting
that many New England people repre-
sented by the senator from MasSachu-
setts (Mr. Hoar), We're responsible for
the deficiency in the funds OF the post
that the government should carry second
class mail at an enormous loss.
Senator Allen, of Nebraska, charged
that the government was annually de-
frauded out of millions of dollars
through the under-weighing of mail mat
ter. He spoke sarcastically of the good
times the people of New England were
having under the Dngley law, with their
strikes and lockouts. He thought that a
good many Of them would now have
time to go to the postoffices 20 get their
mail if it was not promptly delivered by
a carrier. He thought the great point
involved in the discussion of the poStof-
flee Frances was the charge that there
was an annual leakage of from $4,000, OOO
to $1O,OO,O00 on account of the under
weighing of mail matter. 1T is most
remarkable" said Senator Allen,' that
charges of such gravity should be made
in the public prints. and yet the party
in power should remain with reference
to them as silent as the grave. If We
only had the nerve to take hold of these
frau0a and eradicate them, we should
have Money enough to put corps of eff
ficient letter carriers in every city in
the land
The resolution was slightly modified
and then passed.
Senator Vest gave notice that he would
move tomorrow to take up for considera-
tfOn the Teller resolution reported by
the finance committee providing that the
bonds Of the United States may be paid
in standard silver dollars.
Senator Vests notice seems to indicate
an intention on the part of some sena-
tors to displace, temporarily, the Hawai-
ian annexation treaty, as it is evident
as Senator White, of California, said
that the consideration of the resolution
would ''precipitate some slight discus
Sion.''
At 2:20 O'Clock p. m, the senate went
into executive session, and at O'Clock
adjourned until tomorrow.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
All day long theMquestion of granting
beligerent rights to the Cuban insur-
gents was argued in the house. The de-
bate was precipitated by Mr.. Brucker,
democrat, of Michigan, who asked unan-
imOuS consent for the consideration of a
| resolution fnstructing the committee OIL
foreign affairs to report without further
delay, the senate Cuban belligerency res
oution.
Mr.. Hit. chairman of the foreign af-
fairs committee. made "a point of order
which the speaker promptly sustained,
| and was about to recognize Mr.. Hit to
call up the diplomatic and consular ap-
propriation bill, when Mr.. Bailey. de-
manded recognition.
'One moment, please he called, ''let
us first dispose of this question of order -
The chair sustained the point of Or
der, retorted the speaker tersely.
Then appeal called Mr.. Bailey to Mr..
Brucker across the hall, and the Mich
| igan member entered an appeal from the
! decision OF the chair. All was instantly
excitement and confusion. A dozen
| members were on their feet demanding
| recognition to debate the appeal, but
| the speaker recognized Mr.. Dalzell who
| moved to lay the appeal on the table.
| This cut off debate and the speaker put
the question. On a rising vote the re-
! publicans stood firm and voted 1O7 to 81
to lay ppeal on the table. The yeas
| and nays were demanded and obtained
by Mr.. Bailey.
The majority presented an unbroken
| front. White, of North Carolina the SOL
| itary colored member of the house. when
| his name was called, declined to vote at
| clusion of the roll call he voted aye
The motion to lay the appeal on the table
| was carried-16S to 126.
The house then, on Mr.. Hits motion
went into committee of the whole and re,
| Sumed the consideration of the diplomat
ic and consular appropriation bill. As
| soon as the first paragraph was read the
| struggle was resumed.
Mr.. Williams. democrat, of Mississippi
| offered an amendment to direct the pres
| ident to appoint three commissioners tc
| proceed to Cuba, and if possible, nego.
| tiate a treaty CT peace. amity and com.
merce with the republic of Cuba and
| appropriating $4,000 for defraying the
| expenses of the commissioners 1t was
| ruleu out of order
Immediately afterward Mr. Lewis
democrat. of Washington, offered anoth
| er amendment, providing that to empha
| size the fact that a state of war existed
in Cuba, the consul general of the Unitet
| Sta ties at Havana be withdrawn and the
| government of Spain be notified of a sus
pension of diplomatic relations at tha
| point.
Mr.. Hit quickly raised a point of or
| der. which Mr.. Hepburn, in the chair
| sus tanned.
| II appeal from the decision of tht
| chair said Mr.. Lewis.
| And l make the point that the appea
| is dilatory,'' exclaimed Mr.. Dalzell, re-
| publican, of Pennsylvania
The chair sustains the point Of or
der" declared Mr.. Hepburn. who direct
| ed the clerk to proceed with the reading
| The reading of the bill went on, inter.
| rupted every few minutes by five minute
| speeches from the democratic side or
| Cuba Mr.. Sulzer, democrat, of New
| York Offered amendment directing
the president to notify Spain that un
| less the war ceased in thirty days We
| would recognize the independence OF
Cuba and enforce our position by force
| of arms.
Mr.. Wilson. democrat, of South Caro-
| lima, presented the Cuban question ir
| still a new form in the hope to engrafd
| it on the bill. 1t provided for a change
| in the salary of the United States con.
l