Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-07
FIFTY-FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON, April Z.
SENATE.

! Comparatively little interest was
! manifested by the people in the pro.
ceedings of the Senate. When the Vice
Presidents gavel fell at noon the gal
leries were scarcely half filled and the
attendance on the floor was smaller
than it had been for several days.
Mr.. Allison moved that when the
Senate adjourn to-day it be- to meet on
Monday next and the motion was
agreed to.
Consideration of the sundry civil bill
was then resumed, the question pend
ing being upon an amendment offered
by Mr.. Pettus to appropriate 100000
for the improvement of the Mobile
harhor in order that warships might
| reach the wharves to coal and to re-
ceive other supplies. 1t had been press
ed by the Alabama Senator as an emer.
gency war measure.
Mr.. Allison made point of order
| against the amendment. He said the
| rule to exclude this amendment was
| entirely proper. He mad been given to
understand, he said, that if this amend
ment were adopted other similar
amendments, sll based upon the idea
OF national defense, would be offered.
This would open up the entire field of
river and harbor improvements. To
this appropriation the appropriations
committee was unanimously opposed.
Mr.. Morgan made sharp attack up
on the appropriations committee,
charging that the committee exercised
too great power. 1t usurped power that
did no legally belong TO it. 81 want to
say to the chairman OF the committee
(Mr Allison), for whom 1 have always
had the greatest respect and whose
conduct of the affairs of the committee
| have admired for many years, want
to say that be had better look out or
the Senate will dissolve that commit
tee and distribute its business among
the various committees of the Senate
and | will be one to help do it"
''As for the threat implied by the
Senator f ON Alabama" interjected Mr..
Allison holly, "if l know myself l do
n )t crave the work that is now imposed
upon me by the Senate. If the Senate
wants to dissolve the committee it may
do so without delay
Mr.. Morgan, resuming the discussion,
said that already we heard of great
coal combine that is to control the price
of coal to be supplied to the govern
ment at southern ports. He realized
he said, the opportunity fo- such trea-
sonable spoliation of the government.
He pointed out some of the advantages
of opening the coal fields of the South
by the improvement suggested III the
pending amendment. The government
would thus be enabled to obtain its coal
10 any quantities at reasonable rates
near the theatre of action in case of hos.
tilites. lido not know, Mr.. President,
I, whether war is coming or not, said he.
81 have never myself done anything
that might involve this country in war;
but it seems to me that the sworn testi-
mony now before the Senate is sufi
GENTLY strong to compel Us to strike in
defense of the honor and dignity of the
country and in memory of our dead
seamen shrouded in the mud of Ha-
vana harbor. am willing to vote for
declaration that may involve US in
hostilities because I believe that we
have q Just cause" Mr.. Morgan was
of opinion that if a railroad company
had brought the amendment into the
Senate it would have passed without
murmur OF dissent from the committee.
Mr.. Allison had telegram read from
Secretary Alger saying: ut is better
not to open any deep harbors that
would admit warships. 1t would make
simply one more place to guard"
On this telegram the chair overruled
Mr.. Allison's point of order and sub
mitted the question to the Senate
whether the amendment should be con-
sidered.
An aye and no vote was taken on
this proposition and resulted in the
negative, 10 to SO. The vote had the
effect Of ruling the amendment out of
order.
Mr.. Gray offered an amendment pro.
yiding for an appropriation of $205, SAG
for continuing the improvement of
the harbor at Wilmington, DEL, and it
was agreed to.
Mr.. Walthall then presented resolu-
tons on the death Of his late colleague,
Senator George.
HOUSE.
Little evidence of excitement existed
when the House met at noon. The
public galleries were crowded, but
yawning gaps showed in the reserved
galleries. Members seemed to have
settled down to the conviction that they
would have to wait with what patience
they could the developments until
Monday, when the message, it is said,
is to go to Congress. The Chaplain
prayed fervently for peace.
Mr.. Hull, chairman of the military
affairs committee, realizing the opposi-
ton to certain features of the army re-
organization bill, stated before the con.
sideration of that bill was resumed that
at the proper time he should move to
strike out everything except the fist
two sections providing for the three bat
talon formation. The section provid-
ing for the expansion OF the regular
army in time of war to 104 900 would
be stricken out.
Debate then proceeded.
Mr.. Sulzer, who supported the bill as
it was proposed to modify it, made
vigorous pro-Cuban speech. If Cuban
independence were recognized, he de-
clared, Cuba would soon be free. He
declared that the msjority 10 Congress
and the President little understood the
intense feeling of indignation among
the people OF the country over the
u .