The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-12-22
WORK OF CONGRESS-

two questions, each Of interest and i'm.
portance at this time, was begun by
the senate at its session yesterday.
territorial expansion and the c0nstruc-
ton Of the Nicaragua canal occupied
the attention Of the body during the
greater part Of the afternoon. AS
soon as the routine business had been
disposed Of Mr.. Vest called up his res
olutfon offered last week declaring it
to be unconstitutional for this govern
ment to acquire foreign territory ex-
cept for coaling stations or for some
like purpose unless it's intention was to
confer statehood upon the territory
and citizenship upon it's Inhabitants.
Mr.. Vest declared that it was basic
principle of this government that the
powers Of the government were de-
rived from the consent of the gov
erncd, and maintained that the federal
government had no authority either in
morals or in the constitution to go be-
yond that principle. He held that the
principle had been sustained by the
supreme court in various decisions and
that no public man Of prominence and
no recognized tribunal had ever been
reckless enough to cOntrovert it. Mr..
Platt of Connecticut took issue with
MIR. Vest and announced that at some
convenient time in the near future he
would offer some remarks upon the
resolution. in the course of which he
would endeavor to show that the Mis-
souri, senator was wrong in his inter-
probation Of the constitution and mac
curate in his deductions from the law.
Mr.. Morgan opened the debate on the
canal bill with three-hour appeal for
action at this session. The whole
country he said would be disappointed
if congress did not act. He was will
ing to take any measure which would
result in the building Of the canal. In
the course of his remarks he agreed to
accept an amendment specifically eX-
cepting the canal from neutrality with
regard to any country with which the
United States might be mt war;
In the House.
The house spent the larger part of
the day on District of Columbia bust
ness. The bill to relieve the condition
OF American seamen was taken up but
nothing was accomplished.
Washington. Dec. IA. - Yesterdays
session of the senate was largely con-
sEmed in discussion of the Nicaragua
canal bill. Mr. Turpie made the prin-
cipal speech in opposition to the bill,
attacking it on the ground that it is in
the interest of the Maritime company,
which he characterized as a fraud and
bankrupt. He moved postponement
of the matter until after the holiday
recess. MIR. Morgan defended the bill
and the Maritime company and OPP
posed the motion to postpone. Messrs.
Berry and Rawlins both offered
amendments materially affecting the
bill. Previous to the proceedings upon
the canal bill Mr.. Morrill, made an ad-
dress in support of the bill authoriZ-
ing the purchase Of Il site for q SUI
preme court building. and this and
several other bills We're passed.
In the House.
The house passed the District of
Columbia appropriation bill without a
single amendment. The bill carries
SG,'59,95O. which is less than the esti-
rates. The house also passed the SEN
ate bill to amend the laws relating to
seamen. All the amendments We're re-
jected.
Washington. Dec Is. - The house
yesterday. for the second time during
this congress. refused to consider the
Lodge immigration bill. AT the last
session an attempt was made to take
it from the speakers table. but it was
defeated by a large majority. Mr..
Danford Of Ohio, chairman of the i'm
migration committee, thought the bill
would be stronger after the elections
We're over. but yesterday when he tried
again to secure consideration the
house declined-1OO to 1O3-to take it
up. An interesting but brief debate on
the rules was precipitated during the
session by Mr.. Grow of Pennsylvania,
during which Mr.. Dearmond made Il
speech on the decadence of the priv
ilege of debate in the house. and held
Speaker Reed responsible for the fact
that the house had had no opportunity
to adopt a new system of rules at this
session. The speaker replied with Il
sarcastic speech in which he referred
to the complaints of John Randolph in
the early days Of the century to show
that the same circumstances We're
made then that were being heard now.
In the Senate.
The Nicaraguan canal bill held it's
place as the principal subject before
the senate again yesterday. Speeches
were made by Messrs. Harris, Money.
Stewart and Morgan. Mr.. Money
urged postponement Of the question in
order to permit an opportunity for he
gotiations With Great Britain for
modification of the Clayton-Bulwar
treaty, and Mr.. Morgan antagonized
the proposition. An agreement was
reached to vote on the Turpie post
ponement motion to-day. Other ques-
lions before the senate We're: The gov
ernment's pension policy and the bill
regarding the registry of foreign-built
vessels wrecked on the American
coast. The pension discussion was
precipitateG by Mr.. Vest. The regis
try bill went over until to-day
The urgency deficiency appropriation
bill making provision for the army and
navy for the next six months displaced
the Nicaraguan canal bill in the SEN
ate, preventing even the taking Of Il
vote OH the question Of postponement
until after the holidays as had been ill.,
tended. The deficiency bill was passed
oftor sni,.itnI discussion