Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-12-16

until after the holidays.
as had been intended. The deficiency
bill was passed after "a spirited discus
sion. turning principally on the point
of keeping the volunteer soldiers in the
service.
In the Senate, today, Vest made, in
brief, personal explanation of his
reference to a speech attributed TO At
torney General Griggs in the senator s
speech, last Monday. In that speech,
said TO have been made at banquet
in New York, the attorney general
was quoted as expressing the opinion
that the constitution made for IS half
developed colonies could not reasona-
bly, expected to meet the demands of
the greatest nation in the world
Vest said he had received a letter
from Mr.. Griggs saying he had never
made such a speech. Vest said he had
found the expression in several news
papers in phamplet printed by a re-
putable Chicago lawyer and had no
doubt of it's genuineness. However,
the attorney generals disclaimer was
sufficient and Vest said he was please
to be able to set himself right before
the Senate.
Platt (Conn.) gave notice that he
would address the Senate, next Mon
day, on the right of the government of
the United States to acquire territory.
Morgan presented Il memorial from
the national board of trade favorable
to the construction of the Nicara qua
canal, asking that the document be
printed in the Congressional Record.
Allen objected and the objection prov
ed the basis of an animated discussion
involving the rules of the Senate as
we'll as the wisdom of the construction
of the canal. Morgan accepted the OBJ
lection as an effort to obstruct the leg
islation for the canal and prevent the
coGntry's securing information ON the
subject. Allen resented the imputa-
ton, saying that he was favorable to
the canal on general principles, though
advocating government ownership
He predicted that the canal would cost
$500, 100000. Without determining The
mooted point raised by Mr.. Allen, the
Senate at Mr.. Hale's request took up
for consideration the urgent defIicien-
cyi appropriation. Cockerill addressed
the Senate in regard to the mastering
out Of the volunteer soldiers. He sad
that large majority of the volunteers
wanted 10 be mustered out and that
many of them We're making sacrifices
by remaining in the service. He
thought that in such eases the war de-
paftment should exercise some dis
erection in the interest of the private
We have no war to make on the Phil
ippines Cockerill said and can make
no attempt to subjugate them. unless
Congress first makes Il declaration OF
war which it was not likely to do.
Until that effort is done there can be
no effort to subjugate those people
who are living in peace in their coun-
try and there therefore could be no
excuse for the United States maintain
ing large standing army at those IS
lands. When Mr.. CockeriH concluded.
the Senate took d recess until $50 p. NJ
When the Senate reassembled Mr..
Cockrell continued his speech ON the
urgent deficiency bill, saying that the
Spanlards would soon be out of Cuba.
When there would be no longer any rea-
son Tor maintaining a large force under
arms. The Cubans We're perfectly ca
pabie OF maintaining a republican form
of government. Spain could not cede
the Philippines because she did not
possess them and the United States did
not want troops to fight the Filipinos
ana could not do SO without a declara-
ton of war
Replying, Hale said he had no doubt
THAT the rank and file of the army
abroad had d desire to return home and
he expressed the opinion that they
should be allowed to do so. He argued
that there was no menace of war unless
it was with the Filipinos and the only
danger there was in our attacking
them. 1t WAS true that the duty de-
Veiopeu upon the government of the
United states of maintaining peace and
quiet i'll Cuba for the present, until the
tubans could establish a government
of their own. He hoped this would not
be long. In response to questions from
Allen, Hale expressed the opinion that
affairs would soon take such shape that
the service of THE volunteers could be
dispensed with. He thought that with
in the next six months $4,000 or $4,000
soldiers could be mustered out. But
this was a matter which should be left
largely with the administration. He
understood it was the intention to keep
about 10000 men in the Philippines.
German said he had advocated an
amendment TO the bill which would
provide in explicit terms for the re-
duction of the army by from $4,000 to
$4,000 men by July l, next, but owing
to the representations of the army au-
thorfties he would reserve his amend
ment until the army bill should come
before the Senate. He paid a high
tribute 70 Adjutant General Corbin and
then proceeded to warn the country
against the encroachments of the mil
itary element. Naturally the army
officer wanted to preserve ais own i'm
portance and maintain his employment,
but this was no reason why the private
citizen should not zealously guard his
own rights. Goiman conceded that
Senate increase of the army would he
necessary but he did not want TO en-
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