Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-02-17
BANKRUPTCY BILL
IT'S CONSIDERATION BEGUN IN
FEDERAL HOUSE.
THE DISASTER TO THE MAINE
IL Almost Entirely Absorbs the At
tention of Members of Congress
Resolution with Respect to 1t
Seacoast Defence.

| NASHiNGION, February l6.-Inc de-
bate on the bankruptcy bill. which is to
continue until Saturday. when a vote
Will be taken, opened I'm the House to-
day. but 1t attracted little attention. the
interest Of the members being entirely
absorbed by the disaster to the Maine.
At times the hall OF the House was al
most deserted. the members being con-
gregated in the Hobbies or cloak-rooms
discussing the accident and specializing
! upon its probable consequences.
Just before the House adjourned. Mr.
Boutelle, chairman of the Naval Com
mittee, presented the following resolu-
ton, which was unanimously adopted:
Resolved. That the House Of Repre-
sentatives has learned with profound sor-
row of the great calamity which has
caused the destruction of the United
States battleship Maine, the appalling
loss of more than go lives. and the
wounding Of many others Of the gallant
defenders of our flag. and that the House
expresses it's sympathy for the injured
and its sincere condolences with the
families of those who have lost their
lives in the service Of the nation"
Before the question was put Mr..
Bailey asked Mr.. Boutelle If his commit
tee was in possession Of any informa-
tion which threw any light upon the
cause Of the accident
81 regret to say that we have no in
formation replied Mr.. Boutelle, upon
which conclusion could be based. My
own impression, which may not be OF
value. is that II was an accidental oc-
currence."
The speakers on the bankruptcy bill
were: In favor of the measure-Messrs.
Henderson Republicam, of Iowa; Ian
ham DemocraD. OF Texas, and Burke
DemocraD, of Texas. In opposition TO
it-Messrs. Underwood Democrat, of
Alabama Bell PopulisD. Of Colorado;
Henry OemocraO, Of Texas; Mckae |
DemocraO. of Arkansas, and Cochran
Democrat, of Missouri. At $40 L. NJ.
the House adjourned.
COAST DEFENCES.
A discussion upon coast defences was
the interesting feature Of the Senate pro-
ceedings to-day. Many senators took the |
ground that the appropriations should be !
for the full amount of the estimates by |
the War Department. instead OF some |
four millions less In the early part or |
the day there was a discussion OF the |
Kansas Pacific railroad SALE but no ac-
ton was taken. At 1885 the Senate went
into executive session.
Open session was resumed at 315, when
the Notifications appropriation bill was
taken up.
Mr. Perkins. in the course OF state
ment concerning II, said the Committee on
Appropriations was unanimous in its ac-
ton in increasing the aggregate sum APP
proprlated by the House BILL Every
member Of the committee was in favor or
peace. but all realized that the best way
to preserve peace was 10 be prepared for
war.
Mr.. Stewart thought that the appropria-
tions should be increased so that there
should be no more talk about the de-
condition of the country.
Mr.. Chandler. of New Hampshire,
wanted an increase made in the appro-
priation for powder and proiectiles which
could be Immediately available.
Mr.. German opposed the increase. say
ing the country could not. in view of the
present condition of the finances, and for
other reasons, afford the increase.
Mr.. Stewart said we did not carry on
our negotiations with foreign govern
ments in a proper manner because our
great cities were not properly protected.
Mr.. Hawley favored liberal appropria-
tons.
Mr.. Lodge advocated a steady policy
looking to the proper defence of our sea-
coast cities.
INDICATIONS OF WAR.
Mr.. Teller opposed the proposed IN
crease, saying IL was better to leave the
amount as fixed by the committee. He
agreed with those who did not consider
a war among the early probabilities, but
that the time OF peace was the time to
prepare for war. Still. the indications
were strong for general war. and while
the United States might escape by draw
ing its head into its shell, like a turtle,
still we. as great nation should be pre-
pared for any emergency
Here Mr.. Teller made an evident allu-
sion to the condition Of affairs in Cuba.
saying it was our plain duty, when a
nation was conducting a war upon our
borders contrary to international law
and the rules of humanity, to step to the
front and tell that nation it must desist.
let the consequences be TO us what they
might.
Mr. Teller also spoke incidentally Of the
Hawaiian question. He said that IL the
United States wanted TO become more
than a hermit and avoid war only by sub
hitting to insults, it would have to pre-
pare itself TO take part in the affairs of
the world. He not only wanted to pro-
vide the ships. but he believed I'm send
ng them where they were needed for the
protection of our people. and occasionally
o places where their presence was de-
handed in the interest of the human
race.
On motion of Mr. Pettus, the appropria-
ion for the construction of sea-walls
md entertainments was increased from
80 900 TO $4,000.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Chandler,
Increasing the amount appropriated for
powder and projectiles, for reserve sup
by for armament and Notifications, from
$50 lS to $95061S. was accepted !
This completed the consideration Of the
)ill and it was passed without division.
At Cos o'clock the Senate adjourned.
PRESENTED WITH A PAINTING.