The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-06-01
Los ANGELES HERALD. WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE 1898
speech. agreed to convene at II o'clock to-

speech. agreed to convene at II o'clock to-
morrow.
Senator p ettigrew introduced q bill
to increase the Army of the United States.
1t provides for the appointment Of Ed
mund F. English of Yanktown, 8. D., as COL
onel and that he be authorized under the d.
rection OF the Secretary of War to enlist
and equip twelve troops of light cavalry
for two years or more for special service
In the Philippines. The command Is to be
armed with rapid-firing rifles. guns, and
revolvers. The troops are to consist of
not less than sixty nor more than "a OF
ficers ana men. Two hundred and twenty
five thousand dollars Is appropriated to
carry the bill into effect. R.
On motion Of Mr. Allison the senate at
$50 went into executive session. and soon
afterward adjourned.
In Secret Session
The senate remained in secret executive
session for three hours today. The entire
time was given to a rather free discussion
of the Hawaiian question, based on mo-
ton declaring 1t to be the sense of the
senate that annexation should not be dis
cussed in open session. At the conclusion
of the debate the senate voted viva voce
not to pursue the subject further except
behind closed doors. Senator Lodge did
not press the subject Of his speech after
the public was excluded, but other sem
,ators declared themselves in favor of
prompt action, the speeches Of Chandler
and Morgan being the most pronounced in
this direction. Senator Morgan expressed
the opinion that under the circumstances
the annexation of the Hawaiian islands
was as much a war measure as any step
that could possibly be taken, and he
thought congress had remained in session
long enough to pass all war measures. He
paid his respects to those who preferred
adjournment to remaining here attending
to the countrys business.
A large portion Of his speech was made
in reply to Senator White. who had antag-
onized the theory that the islands were in
any way essential to our success in the
conflict with Spain.
Senator Chandler commended that the
possession of the islands was a military
necessity. He dwelt upon the fact that
Hawaii afforded practically the only stop
ping place between our shores and the
Philippine islands He mentioned the'fact
that we now have 1900 tons of coal stored
at Honolulu and said that II. in view of the
favoritism whatever the little republic
would be held to a strict accountability by
other countries.
Other speeches favorable to annexation
were made by Senators Stewart and Ell
kins, and Senator Allison, acting chair
man of the finance committee, intimated
a willingness to take up the Hawaiian
question after the passage Of the war rev.
enue bill.
LET u.s." said he, finish this bill and
then II necessary take up the Hawaiian
question"
He made plea against involving the
one subject with the other.
Senators Pettigrew and White were an
tagonistic to annexation, and Senator
Hale announced himself favorable to final
adjournment after the passage of the war
revenue bill and necessary appropriation
bills.
Pettigrew devoted himself especially to
Senator Chambers declaration that the
acquisition Of the islands was a necessity
of war. He contended that such was not
the case, and argued that Unalaska, a
town within our own borders, was a far
more desirable stopping place for ships
bound for the Orient from San Francisco,
than Honolulu could be. He said Honolulu
and Unalaska were each about 200 miles
from San Francisco. but that while Homo
lulu was more than 1900 miles distant from
Manila. Unalaska was only q little over
400 miles.
Senator White thought he saw in the
effort to secure Hawaiian annexation at
this time desire to establish precedent
for future proceeding in other cases, and
said the matter should be postponed until
after the war and all efforts at annexation
considered together. He thought that if
our principal objects had been that of
securing coaling station we should have
fortified Pearl harbor, but as this had not
been done 1t was evident that we must
have other designs.
Senator Lodge said, after the conclusion
of the secret session. that he accomplished
his purpose in calling attention to the ne
cessity for action on this subject before
final adjournment and that he would not
further press the subject in connection
with the war revenue bill.