Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-03-03
WORK OF CONGRESS

Washington. Feb. %. - AS soon as
the reading of the historic farewell ad-
dress of Washington was concluded by
Mr.. Lodge OF Massachusetts In the
senate Mr.. Hawley of Connecticut.
chairman of the military affairs com
mittee, called up the bill providing for
the enlistment of two additional regi-
ments of artillery for service in man
ming the heavy coast defense batteries
which congress has provided during
the past two years. After some little
discussion the bill was passed. Mr..
Morgan OF Alabama secured the adop-
ton Of the following resolution:
THAT the committee on naval af-
fairs is instructed to inquire and re-
port whether q man-of-war. equal at
least to any warship in the world, to
be named the George Washington.
can be built, armed and commissioned
within a period of twelve months by
the use of the facilities of the ship
yards, machine shops, mines and for
ests of the United States, wherever
the same may be found; and that the
committee have leave TO report ut any
time by bill or otherwise" The reso-
luton was adopted without debate.
AT 1870 the senate went into executive
session and ut 4 o'clock adjourned.
D
W~ashington's birthday was celebrat-
ed in the house. after IL motion by Mr..
Bailey TO adjourn had been voted
down, with a vast deal of political
speechmaking, aud it was also signal
lied by the firing of the first gun in
opposition TO Hawaiian annexation.
Mr.. Johnson, an Indiana Republican,
delivered a speech that electrified the
house and the galleries in d~enunciation
Of what he termed an attempt TO cut
loose from the traditional policy of the
United States and enter upon a scheme
Of colonization that had proved the
ruin of empires and of nations. He
used some very strong language. but
his remarks were enthusiastically APP
plauded and the minority and many
Republicans joined in the demonstra-
ton. He declared that while he had
denounced at the time the statement
that the Hawaiian monarchy had been
oyerthrown with the aid of American
citizens. that he now firmly believed
that it was true. The speech, coming
entilely unheralded, produced a deep
impression. The general debate on the
sundry civil bill was concluded and
the bill will now be taken up for
amendment.
Washington, Feb. "a. While the
senate had under consideration the
diplomatic and consular appropriation
bill yesterday a sharp debate on the
Cuban question was precipitated by
Mr.. Allen of Nebraska, who offered as
an amendment the resolution passed
by the senate a year ago recognizing
the b~elligerent rights Of the Cuban in
surgents. The debate became general
and occupied nearly four hours. In
the course of a reply to the prelini-
mary statement by Mr.. Allen, Mr..
Morgan of Alabama said that this
country's relations with Spain at the
present time were seriously strained
and that Intervention by the United
States which a year ago would have
been inoffensive, would now be almost
a cause of war. He expressed the
opinion that the Cuban affair would
eventually be submitted to the arbi-
trament of the sword between the
United States and Spain. but he did
not want war precipitated by rash acts
of legislation. Mr.. Foraker of Ohio
thought the day was not far distant
when the time for action by this
try would arrive, and that the chief
magistrate of the nation ought to re-
joice that the legislative branch OF
the government was prepared to sup
port him in asserting American rights.
Mr.. Thurston Of Nebraska counselled
calmL ess and prudence, for he believed
that the country was rapidly drifting
into a war with Spain. "We ought to
have patience" said he, land wait as
a great and powerful sople, not in
fear, but in hope, that some satisfac-
tory conclusion of the present difficult
ty may be reached.
Mr.. Hoar of Massachusetts, main
tanned that the floor Of ( { senate was
no proper place for angry discussions
of international affairs ana that no
senator ought to utter anything that
might not well be uttered by the pres
ident of the United States. He ex-
pressed his willingness, however, to
give his support to the executive
should the time for action arrive, pro-
vided the proposed action was based
Ipon clear and unmistakable facts.
Mr.. Aliens amendment was ruled out
of order. and the appeal taken from
the ruling was laid On the table by a
vote of 81 TO 8. Early in the day Mr..
Allen offered a resolution providing for
a committee Of five senators who
should go to Cuba and ascertain the
precise situation on the island. I'm
der the rules 1t went over until to-
morrow. Both the military academy
and the diplomatic and consular apprO-
priation bills were passed. Mr.. Hans
brougii attempted to secure action on
the bill to regulate the laws OF
Alaska, but on objection from Mr..
Turner of Washington it went over.
o
A variety of subjects occupied the
attention Of the house during the con-
sideration of the sundry civil appropri-
alton bill. Mr.. Mahany of New York
made an attack on the patriotism of
some Of the social leaders of New
York. whom he said held high revel
while the nation was bowed down
with grief over the loss Of life result
ing from the Maine explosion. The
Southern members who have for years
been fighting the appropriation for .in.
formers Old Illicit distilleries succeed
ed In killing the appropriation in COM
mittee of the whole, but Chairman