The age-herald., 1898-04-02
PURCHASE OF
 DANISH ISLANDS Senate Dismissed Lodges Reso- lution to This Point. WANTED FOR NAVAL STATION So Much Opposition Developed That It Was Practically Withdrawn by MT. Lodge.
 Chandler Calls Up His Cuban
 Consular Resolution.

Washington, April 1.-The senate spent almost the entire day in the discussion of the resolution reported yesterday from the committee on foreign relations for the ac- quisition of the Danish West India islands for United States naval station. The debate was spirited and warm throughout and resulted in the practical withdrawal of the resolution by Mir Lodge.
 MT. Lodge stated that the debate had developed such a wide difference of opinion in the senate where there had heretofore been such unanimity that he would not further press the matter at a time when the president needed the support of all of both parties
 This action on the part of Senator Ledge was preceded by an animated debate in which many sharp words were exchanged over the policy of bringing in a proposition liable to divide the senate at time when unanfmfty was especially desirable and when all parties had shown disposition to give their uttermost support to the admin istration in preparing which almost all the speakers considered probable Many speeches were made on this line and some went so far as to intimate that an ad- vantage had been taken of the situation to press a proposition which they conSidered questionable with the hope that the senate in its patriotic desire to support the presi- d d matter favorably now whereas 1t would not do so in times of quiet.
 Confidence in Chief Executive
 Senators German and Pettigrew were among those who took this position. Mr. German referred to the recent unanimous action of congress in entrusting the vast sum of $50, ,0000,0 900 to the president Tor ms expenditure in maintaining the dignity or the country and said that since the days 1,;,, ,,erfn, cItpl been imposed in a chief executive of na- tion, but while this was great trust It carried with it a vast responsibility. So far the legislative branch of the govern ment had been united in support of the executive. It is evidently impossible to preserve this cohesion on the present pro- position and he counselled that 1t be not pressed.
 Senator Pettigrew took a similar posi- tion.
 If there was going to be war, the United States, he thought, could secure all the coaling stations necessary on the island of Cuba, and that if there is no war none would be needed.
 Senator Lodge replied briefly to this statement, admitting his long advocacy of the acquisition of the Danish possessions and explaining his efforts to secure action at the present time. He said he called upon the president with reference to the pur- chase of the islands and tliat not only he but the naval officials had concurred in the opinion that their possession would be of inestimable value in case of hostiities in the West Indies
 Bacon Against It
 Senator Bacon, of Georgia, spoke against the resolution saying that for the present immediate war purposes they would be useless and that they could be acquired if wanted at some future time. The acquisi- ton of territory, in his opinion, should be by treaty and not by legislative act He said 1t would take a year to fortify either of the West Indies so to make them available for any purpose.
 At present we have not the guns nor the time to complete the works for fortifying any portion of the islands.
 In Open Session
 In the open session of the senate today Mr. Chandler, of New Hampshire, called up the resolution he introduced yesterday re- questing the president to send the Cuban consular correspondence to the senate, and at his suggestion it was referred to the committee on foreign rlations.
 Mr. Bacon of Georgia, offered a resoiu- taon which was adopted requesting the sec retary of war to inform the senate what provisions had been made to protect the sea coast cities of Georgia and what part of the emergency appropriation of S6O,Ooo- OOO had been allotted for the defense or Georgia's coast.
 Adjourned until Monday.