Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-12-20

Mr.. Hoar asked Mfr. Platt whether
ne decried the doctrine that govern
ments derive their just powers from the
consent OF the governed.
Mr.. Plat declared that the consent
Of all those governed was not always
necessary. He referred to the fact that
there was no suffrage In the District OF
Columbia. and called attention to the
fact that citizens of Massachusetts who
couid neither read nor write were pro-
hfbited from voting. Yet these people
were governed most effectively.
In replying. Mr.. Hoar defended the
educational system Of Massachusetts
Returning to the question of expan-
sion he a sked whether Mr.. Plat meant
to seriously assert the claim that the
State provisions regarding suffrage
the violation Of the principle involved
as it applied to the 100000 of people
in the Philippines.
MOTIVES INExPLICABLE.
Replying. Mr.. Platt said that he did
not mean to deny the principles of the
Declaration Of Independence and lie
added that he wished that the Senator
from Massachusetts could be as liber-
al with reference to that document as
some others. There We're, however
many qualifications for voting. For in
stance whlc he first became a voter
he had had . pay 1854 for real estate
in order to receive the privilege Of vot-
ing. In conclusion. Mr. Plat said that
he could not understand the sentiments
or motives of those who wished to cir
cumscrfbe the powers of the nation.
Why, he asked should We belittle those
powers, or strive by subtlety and So
ph1stry to hamper progress and growth
of the country? Rather than pursue
this course why should Senators not
wish the nation Godspeed in its mis-
sion Of extending our free institutions
as far as possible. AS for himself he
knew our people to be a liberty loving
and right doing people, and he had
no misgivings that any administration
Of the United States would fail in its
duty toward the people of any acquired
territory. He had faith in the govern
ment and faith in its future and had
no disposition to condeScend to carpinG
criticism or craven fear.
Mr.. Hale from the conference COM
mittee on the urgency deficiency appro-
report on the bill, and it was agreed
Mr.. Proctor, OF Vermont. and Mr..
Hale, of Maine, exchanged divergent
views upon the subject of commission
of Senators to visit Cuba and report
upon the conditions prevailing there.
Mr.. Proctor thought such a commits
thought it would he in extremely bad
taste and useless. The question was
not settled.
The Nicaragua canal bill was up dur
ing the last part Of the day and 'Sena-
tors Berry, Allen, Hoar, Caffery and
Morgan discussed the measure.
Mr. Berry explained the provisions of
his amendment. The firstswould elimi-
nate the provision in the original bill
for the Issuance of bonds and this he
considered a most essential desidera-
tum. The second amendment closed
the Maritime Company out entirely as
stakeholder in the canal enterprise,
leaving the United States, Nicaragua
and Costa Rica as the only stockhold-
ers, and leaving the majority of the
stock in the name of this government.
ALLEN NO ANTAGONIST. a5
Another amendment prohibited the
appointment of any one interested in
the present Maritime Company from
acting as a director under the govern
ment management Of the enterprise.
Mr.. Allen (Neb.) followed Mr.. Berry
He was not opposed to the canal
| scheme, he said, because he antago-
nized certain features of the bill. and
one of it's most pernicious features
would be eliminated by the adoption
of the Berry amendments; namely, the
bond feature. He was opposed to the
provision for the adjustment Of the
claims of the Maritime Canal Company.
He wanted the government protected
from all loss and all possible fraud
and peculattion by that company.
MOTTO NTO POSTPONE.
Mr.. Caffery. at the request of Mr.
Turpie, who was Numerically absent
renewed the latter's motion to post
pone, the consideration Of the bill until
| January /.
Mr.. Hoar said he thought the canal
should be built at once. The canal, he
insisted. should be built by the govern
| ment.
Mr.. Morgan secuted the idea of post
poning the consideration Of the bill un-
til Engand's consent was obtained. II
England had sail We could not build
the canal witllour her consent. the ca
nal would have been built five years
ago.
At $40 P. NJ the Senate went into
executive session, and, at 5:s5 =. M ad-
journed. -