Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-20


| Of Independence. and he added that he
| wished the Massachusetts Senator could
| be as liberal with reference TO that dOcu-
| ment as some others. There were, how
| ever. many qualifications for voting. For
instance. when he first became a voter
he had TO pay sl3i for real estate, in or.
der 10 receive the privilege OF voting.
In conclusion, Mr.. Platt said he could
not understand the sentiments or mo-
| tives Of those who wished 10 circumscribe
| the powers Of the nation. Why he ask
| ed should We beHttle those powers. or
strive by subtlety and sophistry TO ham,
per the progress and growth Of the coun-
| try, rather than pursue this course? Why
should senator's not wish the nation Cod
| speed in its mission Of extending our free
institutions as far as possible? AS for
himself, he knew our people TO be a H.
| terty-loying and a right-doing people,
and he had no misgivings that any ad-
| ministration OF the United States would
fail in its duty toward the people of any
acquired territory He had faith I'm the
government and faith in its future. and
| had no disposition to condescend to carp
! ing criticism or craven fear
URGENT DEFICIENCY BILL
Mr. Hale. from the conference commit
tee on the urgent deficiency appropriation
bill, presented the conference report on
the bill. and it was agreed to-
COMMISSION TO VISIT CUBA.
Mr.. Proctor. Of Vermont. and 8Ir. Hale,
Of Maine. exchanged divergent views upon
the subject of a commission Of senators
TO visit Cuba and report upon the condi-
tiOns prevailing there
Mr. Proctor thought such a commission
was necessary, while Mr.. Hale said he
thought it would be in extremely bad
taste and useless. The question was not
decided.
NICARAGUA CANAL
The Nicaragua canal bin was up during
the last part Of the day. and Senator's
Berry, Allen, Hoar, Caffery and Morgan
discussed the measure. Mr. Berry eX-
planned the provisions Of his amendment
The first would eliminate the provision
In the original bill for the issuance OF
bonds, and this he considered a most es
sential desideratum. The second amend
ment closed the Maritime Company out
entirely as a stockholder in the canal en-
terprise. leaving the United States. Mica
ragua. and Costa Rica the only stock
holders and leaving a majority OF the
stock in the name ~ this country. An
other amendment prohibited the appoint
ment OF any one interested in the present
Maritime Company from acting as
director under the government manage
ment Of the enterprise
Mr.. Allen, Of Nebraska, followed Mr.
Berry He was not opposed 10 the canal
scheme, he said, because he antagouized
certain features OF the bill. one Of It's
most perncious features. he thought
would be eliminated by the adoption Of
the Berry amendment-namely. the bond
feature. He was opposed 10 the provision
for the adjustment of the claims of the
Maritime Canal Company. He wanted the
government protected from all loss and
all fraud and peculatiOn by that com
pany.
MOTION TO POSTPONE.
Mr.. Canery. Of louisiana. at the re-
quest Of Mr.. Turpie who was unavoid-
ably absent renewed the latter's motion
10 postpone consideration Of the bill until
January 10th.
AIr. Hoar said he thought the canal
should be built, and at once. The canal
he insisted, should be built by the gov
ernment.
Mr.. Morgan secuted the idea Of post
poning consideration OF the bin until
Eugland's consent was obtained. II Eng
land had said we could not build the
canal without her consent. the canal
would have been built five years ago.
At 5l5 p. VI. the Senate went into ex-
ecutive session. A. 5.35 =. II. fne Senate
adjourned.
House of Representatives.
This was suspension day In the House.
and several bills were passed, the most
important Of which was the bill appro-
priating $4,000 for the Philadelphia ex-
position OF 1899 The vote was exceed
ingly close. 1t had but two votes more
than the necessary two thirds.
n 9 fvf "A
luton In open house. directing the Judi
ciary Committee to investigate and report
on the question as 10 whether the mem
hers of the House who accepted COM
missions in the army had forfeited their
seats in the House.
Mr.. Bailey said the resolution was pri-
ileged and added
Last Friday. my attention was called
10 the fact that the journal Of The first
days proceedings shows that two mem
bers Of the House who are Understood
TO hold commissions In the army had
answered 10 their names on the roll-calL
and upon an inspection Of 1t l md this
statement 10 be correct. As 90 ore OF
the gentlemen-NIr. Campbell, Of Illinois
/ am perfectly certain that the journal
records a mistake, because in a conver-
satiOn | had with him on the subject
he told me that after a full investiga-
ton he had concluded that by accepti~S
a commission in the army he had vacated
his seat as a member of this House, /
and that ne did not intend TO resume or
attempt 10 resume his duties as a mem
bed. The other case it will be more pro-
per 20 speak on when the Committee
on the Judiciary makes It's report. Ii
Is apparent, however, 20 the House. as
IL will be- 10 the country. that when a
member. the right TO whose seat IS doubt
ful, answers TO his name on the roll-call.
he asserts his rights as q member of
the House. and the question ought 20
be determined. | have nothing further o.
say upon that aspect OF the question AT
this time; but ! desire TO call the atten.
tion of the House 10 o very remarkable
statement that appears In a paper print
ed in this city this morning"
CHARGE OF COLLISION.
Mr. Bailey said the article implied that
he had been cOnferring with the Republi-
can leaders, ana was pursuing his course
at their instgation, and" said he. 1T
implies further that the reporter obtain
ed that information from some Republi
can member OF the House. For my part,
do not believe that there is a gentle
man on that side Of the chamber 50 lost
TO all sense OF truth as 10 make that
statement. but If there be one. | DO not
intend that he shall escape and there
fore deliberately denounce that statement
as an Infamous falsehood. and if any Re-
publican made II he ought tO at least
have the courage to stand up and say
that he made IL. With that l ask a refer
enco of the resolutions"
No one answered Mr.. Bailey, and the
resolution was referred without objection.
Mr. Dingley from the Committee on