The record-union., 1898-04-02
IN THE SENATE.
Nearly the Entire Day Devoted to
Secret Session.

| WASHINGTON, April l. - In the
| open session of the Senate to-day
| Chandler of New Hampshire called up
| the resolution he introduced yesterday
| requesting the President to send the
| Cuban Consular correspondence to the
Senate, and at his suggestion it was
| referred to the Committee on Foreign
| Relations. Immediately afterward
| however he introduced another resolu-
| ton, which went over, calling upon
| the Secretary of State for the same
| information.
| After the passage Of a few bills the
| Senate went into secret executive ses-
| sion, the proceedings occupying the
| greater part of the afternoon, and de-
| voted to a discussion of the wisdom Of
purchasing the Danish West Indies.
The Senate spent almost the entire
day in the discussion of the resolution
reported yesterday from the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations for the
acquisition CT the West India Islands
| owned by Denmark, and the session
was closed by the practical withdrawal
OF the resolution by Senator Lodge it's
author. He stated that the debate had
| developed such q wide difference of
opinion in the Senate, where there had
heretofore been such unanimity, that
he would not further press the mat
ter at a time when the President need
ed the support Of all Senators of all
parties. He moved that the Senate
proceed to the consideration of execu
tive business. thus voluntarily for the
time abandoning the resolution.
This action on the part of Senator
Lodge was preceded by an animated
debate, in which many sharp words
were exchanged over the policy of
! bringing in a proposition liable to di-
vide the Senate when unanimity was
especially desirable, and when all par
ties had shown a disposition to give
their uttermCst support to the Admin
istration in preparation for the war
which almost all the speakers consid-
| cred probable.
Senator Mason was among the sup
| porters of the resolution He put his
support on the ground that he was
willing to aid the Administration in
any way that was necessary for the
successful prosecution of a war with
Spain.
Senator Lodge opened the proceed
ings in the secret session with a general
statement concerning the advantage of
gued that this country should own
them because of contiguity to our
shores and for strategic purposes, GO
ing over much ground covered in his
report of yesterday.
Senator Gray replied in opposition to
the policy, basing his antagonism on
! the ground that it was contrary to the
| policy of the United States to acquire
! territory outside of it's continental
| lines, and saying that the purchase of
the islands would inevitably involve
international entanglements which
would be troublesome, and might lead
TO complications at any time, which
could be avoided if we did not have the
islands. Furthermore, if there was an
idea OF utilizing them in case of war
with Spain over Cuba, it should not
be forgotten that we had in our pos
session at Key West territory nearer
Havana than either of the Danish ISL
ands
Senators Frye and Lodge both re-
! piled to this latter point They stated
that it was evident from the develop
ments so far made that Porto Rico
rather than Havana. would be the CEN
ter OF our war with Spain, and that in
| that event the Danish group would be
OF inestimable advantage to u.s. In
deed, they considered it almost essen
tial to an early ending of the war They
! asserted that Spain's coal supply at
Porto Rico was extremely limited and
that it could be practically controlled
by us if we should own the Danish pos
sessions in that quarter. 1t was the
| earnest desire of the Administration
| it was said, to control these islands
Senators Cocllrell and Pettigrew also
| opposed the resolution. Cockrell con-
tended that it would be a great mistake
| from naval point of view to acquire
the islands, and Pettigrew said that the
islands would only make additional ter
| ritory to protect in case of war with
Spain.
Senator Cockrell said that in case of
| war with Spain Porto Rico could be
I taken more easily than the Danish
| Islands could be defended
All the Senators who spoke, includ-
! ing members of the Committee on
Foreign Relations, looked on war as
| inevitable. basing all their arguments
for and against acquisition upon this
| theory
| Senator Morgan favored the resolu-
| ton, and in doing so dwelt more or less
| upon the outlook for war He detailed
the destruction of the Maine, express