The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-12-16

had received a letter from Attorney
General Grggs. denying that at ban
quet in New York he had. as quoted.
expressed the opinion that the constitu-
ton made for I3 half-developed colon
les could not reasonably be expected
to meet the demands OF the greatest ma
tion in the world.
Morgan presented a memorial from
the national board OF trade favorable
to the construction OF the Nlcaraguan
canal asking that the document be
printed in the Congressional Record.
Allen objected and the objection pro-
voked an animated discussion tnvolV-
ing the rules Of the senate as well as
the wisdom of the construction OF the
canal.
Morgan accepted the objection as an
effort To obstruct legislation on the ca
nal and prevent the country securing
information on the subject.
Allen resented this imputatiou, say
ing he was favorable to the canal on
general principles, though advocating
government ownership. He predicted
that the canal would cost s50oo0o.oOo.
without determining the mooted
point raised by Mr.. Allen. the senate.
at Mr. Hales' request took up the ur-
gent deficiency appropriation bill
Mr.. Cockrell addressed the senate IN
I
unteer soldiers. a large majority OF
whom. he said. wanted to be mustered
out and many OF whom were making
| sacrifices by remaining In the service.
ON the other hand, the officers. VINO
were finding the service more prphtable
| than the privates. had In many cases
refused To forward applications for dis
| charge. He thought that I'm such cases
| the war department would exercise dis
| cretion i'm the interest OF the private
| and be more lenient with the enlisted
men. Mr. Cockrell said very few sol
ders would be required i'm Cuba ana
/ Porto Rico, or for that matter In the
| Philippines, where. he said. our footing
was very insecure. He said this coun-
try's occupation there was most meagre
| and described our attitude as that OF
standing with one foot on the land and
| the other on the bay. and that there
was no probability of war in that di-
rection. The Spaniards. Mr.. Cockrell
said, would soon be out OF Cuba and
! as the object of the war was to get the
SpanIards out OF that island there was
no longer any reason for maintaining
| "a large force under arms.
Replying, Mr. Hale said he had no
doubt that the rank and file of the
army abroad had a great desire to re-
| turn home and expressed the opinion
that they should he allowed to do so.
! He argued that there was no menace
l OF Maf unless ~ was Win the
I and the only danger there was IN our
attacking them. II was true that the
duty devolved upon the government of
the United States OF maintaining peace
and quiet in cuba for the present. until
the Cubans could establish a govern
mcnt of their own. He hoped this would
not be long. In response to questions
from Mr.. Allen Mr.. Hale expressed tbs
opinion that affairs would soon take
| such shape that the services OF th'
volunteers could be dispensed with.
s4--Mr German said he had advocated
an amendment To the bill which woul'
provide fn explicit terms. for the re
duction Of from $4,000 To $4,000 by Jul,
next. but owing To the representation
of the army authorities. he would re
serve his amendment until the arm!
bill should come before the senate. II
this connection he paid high tribute
to Adjutant General Co.bin and thei
he proceeded 60 warn the countr,
against the encroachments OF the mill
tary element. Naturally the army Off
Ger wanted 10 preserve his own import
anca and maintain his employment. bu
this was no reason why the private CIT
zen should not zealously guard hts owl
rights. He thought coaling station
necessary for the extension OF our trade
but announced himself as opposed &
undue expansion by means OF con
quest.
Mr.. Allison expressed sympathy will
the desire to have n large number o
volunteers mustered out. We ha'
agreed to maintain order in Cuba dur
ing the unsettled period, and while b
hoped this period would not long con
tinuc he. for one. would not consent {
so reduce our forces as not 10 be abl
to make good our pledges.
Mr.. Sewell said the war department
had for the past several months bee
gradually wedding out soldiers for dis
charge. and that many thousand ma
thus been relieved from this duty. III
had no doubt that even without legis
lation $4,000 men would be release
= within the next six months.
: The urgent deficiency bill was the
passed.
At the instance Of Mr.. Harris, the ser
: ate adopted "A resolution calling upo
the president for Information as To tn
status OF the report OF the Nicaragua
| commission. The senate then went int
! executive session and at 5:03 y. m. ad
! journed until Monday.