The San Francisco call., 1898-06-21
NOW BEFORE
 THE SENATE Discussion of Annexa- ton Resumed. TEST VOTE IS BROUGHT OUT TT IS ON A MOTION TO ADJOURN
 BEATEN-44 TO 15. Morrill of Vermont and Bacon of 3 Georgia Make Speeches in op- position to Taking
 N~ Hawaii.
TEST VOTE IS BROUGHT OUT
TT IS ON A MOTION TO ADJOURN
 BEATEN-44 TO 15.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON. June 2O.-Discussion by the Senate of the question of Ha- waiian annexation was begun to-day in open session. At the very opening of the question the opponents of annexa- Sion quite unexpectedly scored a point by preventing a yea and nay vote on she taking up of the resolution. When Davis, chairman of the Committee on Foreign Relations. called up the reso- luton the Vice-President, as usual, an- nounced that without objection the resolutions would be considered No objection being entered he declared the resolutions to be before the Senate A minute or two later Frye of Maine de- manced the yeas and nays upon the request to take up the resolutions. White of California instantly made the point of order that a yea and nay vote could not be had on a dead issue-that the resolutions were already before the Senate by unanimous consent. Of course the point was sustained. The opponents of annexation were decidedly pleased at preventing a show of strength, but at 4:30 this afternoon White afforded the friends of annexa- tion the opportunity they had been awaiting. He moved to adjourn, and, like a flash, Davis demanded the yeas and nays. The motion, the vote upon which was a test of strength between the friends and opponents of annexa- tion, was defe ted decisively A to 15 Having gained his point in developing the numerical weakness of the oppo- sition Davis readily agreed to enter motion for an executive session.
 The proceedings of the daV indicate clearly that there is to be no debate upon the Hawaiian question in the or dinary acceptance Of that term. It is not the purpose of the friends of an- nexation to consume time in making speeches. Believing that the Senate has already in executive session thoroughly discussed the question, they will permit the opponents of the pro- ject to occupy all of the time This plan of campaign is not satisfactory to the latter and during the executive session to-day considerable bitterness was manifested at times.
 The speakers to-day were Morrill,, the venerable Senator from Vermont and one of the Republican opponents of an neXation, and Bacon (D.) of Georgia.
 Morrill, of Vermont took the floor to address the Senate in opposition to the resolutions. The venerable Senator spoke In conversational tone, but was corded close attention by the Senate. Merrill said he was unable to concur with the learned Committee on Foreign Relations in regard to such annexation, whether by treaty, by joint resolution, by fragrant executive usurpation or in any manner which leaves an open door for the admission of the islands into the Union State
 "The undesirable character" he con- tinued, 'of the greater part of their ill., gathered races of population, gathered by contract to serve long years of semi slavery by sugar employers, does not tO an equal representation in the Senate of the United States with Virginia or Mas sachusetts, or with Illinois and Colorado l or any other State. My firm conviction is that annexation of distant islands is not in harmony with the constitution of the United States, but is conspicuously repugnant thereto nor is it in harmony with the history or even with any of the recorded opinions of our earliest and rip est statesmen. The Hawaiian Islands, II annexed, would prove as barren of mill tary importance as of commercial, which is wholly based on our unfortunate grant of free market for their sugar and of weakness and no more desir- able for the defense of the Pacific Coast than the back side of the moon. The formal annexation of Hawaii, under a one-man power, under a republic in name, or whatever form of Government we may choose or be compelled to pre- scribe, will advertise the final wreckage < of the Monroe doctrine, so long held dear by the American people. We cannot af- ford to renounce and forbid all acquisi- tions of territory in the Western hemi | sphere by European governments, even at the peril of war, and forthwith embark in thus bedamned enterprise ourselves. If our fidelity to the wel-tried states manShip of the father of our country shall be perpetuated for the next hun dred years as in the past the honor, prosperity and power of our republic, 1t may safely be predicted, will light and lead all the nations"
 At the conclusion of Morrilrs speech, Bacon of Georgia entered upon a discus sion of the constitutional objections to an nexation as he viewed them. He main tained that measure which provides for the annexation of territory is necessarily and essentially the subject matter of treaty.
 At this point Jones of Arkansas made the point of no quorum, and the roll was called, disclosing the presence of sixty-one Senators.
 II made the point of no quorum" ex- plained Jones, mot because I desire to delay consideration of the pending reso- lutions. insist that if the rigid methods are to be resorted to with which we were threatened this morning, a quorum shall remain in the Senate to listen to the ar guments presented. l do not want to de- Senators shall remain here, and I shall deem it my duty to make the point of n. quorum when a quorum is not present"
 This statement brought Wilson of Washington to his feet.
 this side of the chamber are to be con- tinually embarrassed by points of order, l hope the chairman of the Foreign Re lations Committee will exercise his right under the rules to move that the Senate proceed to the consideration of this mat ter In continuous session. If the gaunt- let is to be thrown down by the oppos- ton in the first hour of the debate, ws ought to take it up.''
 White, Jones, Frye and Hoar then had mutual explanation of the statement Frye.
 Frye disclaimed any idea of making a threat, and then repeated what he said