The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-08

WAR TALK IN SENATE.
The Sundry Civil Bill Again Under Con-
sideration.
Washington, April 7.-Solne sharp
war talk was INDUCED in by the Senate
today. When consideration of the sunory
civil appropriation bill was resumed, the
question pending was the amendment
of MIR. Pettus of Alabama, providing for
such improvement of the harbor at Mo-
bile as would enable war vessels to obtain
coal and other supplies there. Mr.. ALI
son of Iowa, in charge of the bill, made
a point of order against the amendment,
This called out bitter speech by Mr..
Morgan of Alabama, who charged the ap-
preparation committee with discriminat-
ing against proper measures threatened
to assist in dissolving their committee.
He followed with an argument showing
the necessity of the improvement pro-
posed, holding that it would open to the
government in time of war the coal field )
of the South and enable it successfully
to fight the reasonable monopoly that
had been formed to control the coal sup
ply of the country in the event or war.
The amendment was lost.
At 9 O'Clock the bill had not been COM
pleted and was laid aside, the Senate de-
voting the remainder of the afternoon to
George of Mississippi.
Washington, April 7.-Comparativeiy
little interest was manifested by the peo-
pie In the proceedings in the Senate.
When the Presidents gsvel fell at
noon, the galleries were scarcely half
filed.
Mr. Allison moved that when the SEN
ate adjourn today 1t be to meet on Mon
day next and the motion was agreed to-
Consideration of the sundry civil bill
was then resumed, the question pending
being upon On amendment offered by
Mr.. Pettus, of Alabama, to appropriate
$500. 900 for the improvement of Mobile
harbor in order that warships might
reach the wharves to coal and to receive
other supplies It had been pressed by
the Alabama senator as an emergency
war measure.
Mr.. Pettus in support of his amend
ment said it had received the approval
of the secretary of war.
Mr.. ..Allison, in charge of the bill, made
a point of order against the amendment,
although he expressed his entire sympa.
thy with all proper measures for the ma
tionsl defense. He had been given to I'M
derstand, he said. that If this amendment
were adopted other similar amendments,
all based on the idea of national defense,
would be offered. This would open the
entire field of river and harbor improve
ments.
To this appropriation the committee
was opposed, although every member
would go to any length in support of the
national defense.
Mr. Morgan made sharp attack upon
the appropriations committee charging
that the committee exercised too great
power. Tt usurped power that did not
legally belong to 1t.
IT want to say to the chairman of the
committee (Mr. llison, )sfor whom have
always had the greatest respect, and
whose conduct of the affairs of the COM
mittee I have admired for many years,
want to say that he would better look
out or the Senate will dissolve that COM
mfttee and distribute its business among
the various committees of the Senate and
I will be one to help do it,"
Gas for the threat implied by the Sen.
ator from Alabama interjected MIR AL
lison, hotly, "if l know myself do not
Grave the work that Is now imposed me
By the Senate. If the senator wants to
dissovle the committee it may do so with
out delay"
MIR. Morgan said that already we heard
of great coal combine that is to control
the price of coal to be supplied to the
government at southern ports, He hoped
the report was not true, but he realized,
he said, the opportunity for such trea-
sonable spoliation of the government.
He pointed out some of the advantages
of opening the GOAL fields of the South
by the improvement suggested In tbs
pending amendment. The government
would thus be enabled to obtain its coal
in any quantities with reasonable rates
near the scene Of action in case of HOSTILE
ties as to prevent thestoo ready ingress of
foreign hostile ships. "It is better not,
the seoretary's despatch read, ''to open
any deep harhors that would admit war
ships. It would be. simply one more place
to guard"
On this telegram the chair overruled
Mr. Allison's point Of order and submit
ted the question to the Senate whether
the amendment should be considered.
An aye and nay vote was taken on this
and resulted in the negative,
ie-3s. The vote had the effect of ruling
the amendment out of order.
An amendment proposed by Mr.. Carter
of Montana, providing that it should not
be necessary for disbursing officers and
heads OF departments to submit to the
auditor official kilograms and that GER
tificate of the account with the telegraph
companies from the proper officer should
be accepted by the auditor, was adopted.
Mr.. Carter explained that In time OF
war, especially, many confidential tele-
grams were sent and received by the gov
that ought not in
any circumstances be submitted to this
scrutiny of the clerks in the auditor
Offices who had nothing to do with their
contents.
Mr. Gray of Delaware. offered an
providing for an appropri-
alton of 1905, S48 for continuing the i'm
provement of the harbor at Wilmington,
Del. and it was agreed to.
Mr. Foraker of Ohio, secured the adop-.
tion of an Amendment providing that of
the sum Of $500. 600 appropriated for the
of the harbor at Cleveland,
Ohio, $4,000 should be used for the repair
and extension of the levee of the Mus
kingum river ut GAINESVILLE, Ohio
At O'Clock the bill was laid aside and
Mr.. Walthall, of Mississippi, presented
- l.