The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1898-12-31
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
AO IOURNMENT WEDNESDAY UNTIL Ar
TER THE HOLIDAYS.
The Bailey Resolution Passed-''t May
Affect Four Mem crs Who Volunteer
IN the SDanish-American War-.-Anti-
Expansion Speech.
SENATE.

MoNDAY.-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. lie
said that the power OF nation to &C.
ouire territory was as inherent as Its
sovereignty. The United States had
the right to govern such territory IN
the best possible manner, as the &C
ouired lands were capable of seIf-gov-
eminent The Nicaragua canal bill
was up during the last part OF the day
and Senators Berry, HOar and Morgan
discussed the measure. /
Observation-Disclosures Teller occupied
the first half of today's session OF the
senate with q speech III advocacy of
the theory that there are no restrlc-
tons upon the right of the United
States to expand its borders SO as to
include far distant territory, He went
quite thoroughly into the legal points
bearing upon the question and also IN
cidentaIly discussed the form Of gov
ernment for the Filipinos, saying that
he would encourage self-goVernment
among the islanders and would give
them the most liberal government
which they were capable of conduct
ing, but that he would not take down
the American flag where once planted.
The remainder of the session was
given up to the Nicaraguan bill, Sena-
tor Caffrey was the only speaker on
this subject and he opposed the Nor
gan bill. Without having concluded
his remarks Mr.. Gallery yielded to
motion to 90 into executive session.
At $40 p. IN. the senate adjourned
WEDYEsDAY.-The absence of quo
rum of the senate today saved Senator
Proctors resolution providing for the
appointment of committee ofsenator'S
to inve ,tigate the conditions in Cuba
and Porto Rico during the approach
ing long recess of congress from de-
cisive defeat. An effort was made by
Mr.. Daniel, of Virginia, to obtain con-
side.ation for the resolution, but his
motion mustered only eight of the
thirty-eight votes cast. No business
of importance was disposed of at to-
DAYS session. Only some routine
business, including the passage Of a
few private pension bills, was trans
acted. At $40 ?. m. the senate adj
iourned until January 4, 1899.
HOUSE.
MoNDAY.-This was suspension day
in the house and several bills were
passed, the most important of which
woo tho -l.in onpropriating 9350.00C
for the Philadelphia exposition Of
1899. The vote was exceedingly close.
It had but two votes more than the
necessary two-thirds. Bill were also
passed to authorize the distribution Of
the assets of the Freedman's Bank
to enlarge the scope of the fish COM
mission to include game birds; and
for the relief OF the fourth mounted
Arkansas infantry. Mr.. Bailey intro.
duced resolution in the house direct
ing the judiciary committee to inyes.
tigate and report on the question as
to whether the members of the house
who accepted commissions in the army
had forfeited their seats in the house.
He made the resolution the tex fol
some remarks, in the course of which
he took occasion to bitterly denouncc
a newspaper statement to the effect
that in his attitude upon this question
he had been made cats paw of by Ger.
tain prominent Republicans i'll the
house. He denounced the Republi
can who had inst gated 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 commit
tee on rnles.
TUEsDAY.-The house to-day lis,
tened to the first speech on the sub
ject of the annexation Of the Philip
pines. Mr.. Williams, of Mississippi, a
Democratic member of the foreign af-
fairs committee, in an hours speech
stated his opposition to the policy
which would bring the islands under
the sphere of the United States infu-
ence. He contended that it would be
hostile to the spirit of our institutions
to assume control over nine million
unwilling subjects; that annexation
would cost $140, 100000 year; hat
the annexation of the islands met none
of the tests whicr applied to our past
acquisitions of territory and would be
a mistake from social, political and
material standpoints. Mr.. Williams
remarks received careful attention,
and several times drew applause from
his Democratic colleagues. The agri-
cultural appropriation bill was passed
without material amendment. 1t car
ried So $3.50, 800, or $1S7, 100 more than
the current law. The senate bill to
authorize the Choctaw & Memphis
railroad to construct bridge across
the Arkansas river was passed. Adj
iourned.
WEDNESDAY, The last session of the
bouse before the holiday recess lasted