The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1898-12-27
WORK OF CONGRESS

tion bill, passing it substantially as re-
norted. This is the third OF the ap-
nropriation bills to pass ana u clears
fhe calendar of the bigs upply Dllls,
although another, the agricultural VIII
be ready and knocking for attention Dy
to-day. Mr. Sherman (Rep., n ~, eA-
n1aining the Indian bill, said that
fhe appropriation had been approved
Inv the executive authorities. lie salu
the principal increase was for the IN
dian schools, more than $2,5OOOOO go
inc fer that purpose. This amount dld
not include contract schools, as the
question of sectarianism was complete
ly eliminated. Nor did this figure IN
clude the New York and Indian Ter
ritory Indians whose education is
paid for out Of their own funds.
WASHINGTON. Dee. 90 - The senate
had a busy day and there were several
important speeches. Mr.. Platt OF
Connecticut spoke against the vest
resolution which declares that the
United States has no power to acquire
territory. He said that the power OF a
nation to acquire territory was as in
herent as It's sovereignty. The United
States had the right to govern them IN
the best possible manner until the peo-
pie Of the acquired lands were capable
of government. MI. Proctor OF
Vermont and Mr. Hale of Maine eX-
changed divergent views upon COM
mission of senators to visit Cuba. Mr..
Proctor thought such a commission
was necessary, while Mr.. Hale thought
it would be in extremely bad taste and
useless. The Nicaragua canal bill was
UP during the last part of the day and
Senators Berry, Allen, Hoar Caffery
and Morgan discussed the measure.
In the House.
1t was suspension day in the house
and several bills were passed, the
most important Of which was the bill
appropriating $350,000 for the Phila-
delphia exposition of 1899. The vote
was exceedingly close. 1t had but two
votes more than the necessary two
thirds Bills were passed under the
suspension Of the rules to authorize the
distribution of the assets of the Freed
mans bank; to enlarge the scope OF
the fish commission to include birds;
for the relief of the Fourth mounted
Arkansas infantry, and for the relief
of John W. Lewis of Oregon. Mr..
Bailey of Texas introduced a resOlu-
ton in open house directing the jul
dietary committee to investigate and
report on the question whether mem
bers of the house who accepted COM
missions in the army had forfeited
their seats in the house. He made the
resolution the text for some remarks,
in the course of which he took Oc-
casion to bitterly denounce a news
paper statement to the effect that in
his attitude on this question he had
been made catspaw of by certain Re-
publican members. He denounced the
Republican who had instituted the
statement as an infamous liar and
challenged him to father it. There was
no reply to Mr.. Bailey's statement and
the resolution was referred to the COM
mittee on rules.
Washington, Dec. Ex-senator Teller
occupied the first half OF yesterdays
session Of the senate with a speech in
advocacy Of the theory that there are
no restrictions upon the right of the
United States to expand it's borders so
as to include far distant territory. He
went quite thoroughly into the legal
points bearing upon the question, and
also incidentally discussed at some
length the form of government for the
Philippines, saying that he would en-
courage self-government among the
islands and would give them the most
liberal government which they were
capable of managing, but that he
would not take down the American
flag. where once placed. The re-
mainder Of the session was given up
to the Nicaragua canal bill. Senator
Caffery was the only speaker on this
subject, and he opposed the Morgan
bill
In the House.
The house listened to the first speech
on the subject of annexation of the
Philippines. Mr.. Williams of Missis-
sippi, Democratic member of the for
eign affairs committee, in an hours
speech, stated his opposition to a pol
icy which would bring the islands I'M
der the sphere of United States influ-
eEce. He contended that it would be
hostile to the spirit of our institutions
to assume control over 100000 unwil-
ling subjects, that annexation would
cost us $40,OO0,00O a year, that the an
neXation of the islands met none of
the terms that applied to our past ac-
QUESTIONS Of territory and would be
mistake from a social and political
standpoint. Mr.. Williams remarks re-
ceiyed careful attention and several
times drew applause from his Demo-
cratic colleagues. Tie agricultural APP
preparation bill was passed without
material amendment. 1t carried 3d.
69G,322, or $751;, 120 more than the cur
Low