The Portland daily press., 1898-07-02

Washington, July 1.-For nearly six
hours today the Senate had under dis.
cussion the Hawaiian annexation res.
olutions. The first formal speech,in
favor of the resolutions was delivered
by Mr.. Pettus, Democrat of Alabama
His address was strong and PATRIOTIC.
AS Democrat he maintained that the
question was in no sense a party issue,
but the resolution was one which ought
to command in the circumstances, the
support of men of all parties. He had a
heated colloquy with Mr.. Caffery of
Louisiana, in tie course Of which the
latter intimated that theAlabama senator
was afflicted with senility. Mr.. Pettus's
retort was vigorous and resentful of..what
he termed an insult. Mr.. Caffery sub.
seauently disclaimed an intention of in
sulting Mr.. Pettus
Mr.. Mallory, Democrat of Florida, pre-
sented constitutional argument against
the acquisition of territory by joint reso-
luton of Congress.
Washington, July 1.-At the opening
of today's session of the Senate, MIR.
Morrill, of Vermont, reported from the
committee on public buildings and
grounds, bill to authorize the purchase
Of site for building for the aocom-
modati on of the Supreme Court Of the
United States.
Mr.. Sewell of New Jersey, of the COM
mittee on military affairs, urged the
passage of bill to provide for temper
ary increase in the inspector generals
department of the army.
Mr.. Cullum. of Illinois, directed atten.
ton to the present construction of the
law providing for the payment of the
volunteer troops. In some cases, the
various regiments had not received as
much from the United States as they were
evidently entitled to.
Mr.. Sewell said that the matter would
undoubtedly be taken care of properly.
The Hawaiian annexation resolutions
were then taken up and Mr.. Pettus of
Alabama addressed the Senate. His was
the first formal speech delivered since the
opening of the present discussion in
favor of the resolutions. In beginning
he said he proposed particularly to address
himself to those, whom during his life
had been associated politically. He
requested that nobody should call a
quorum while he was speaking.
Within a minute afterwards Mr. Petit
grew of South Dakota, made the point OF
no quorum. The roll was called and
disclosed the presence of Is senators-a
quorum.
Resuming MIR. Pettus said he had no
respect for legislative filibustering and
just as little respect for a majority that
would attempt to prevent full and free
debate. He said ftlibusteTing was a
crime.
In opening his argument bearing
directly upop Hawaiian annexation, he
said it was not a party question. "Even
If it were a party question, said he, '"we
were all Americans and hope. patriotic
before we joined any party"
MIR. Pettus then entered upon legal
and constitutional argument in support
OF the resolutions, taking in the course
of it, sharp issue with Mr.. Bacon OF
Georgia, who had antagonized the resolu-
tions on constitutional grounds
While Mr. Pettus was defining some OF
the powers of Congress, MIR. Mallory OF
Florida, inquired: "Has Congress the
power to make peace?'
1T has the power to make peace as well
as war" responded the Alabama senator.
"Can a President make peace? Never.
OF course / admit the President has the
power to make treaties, but only under
such limitations as have alluded to-"
Mr.. Pettus took issue with Mr.. Caffery
of louisiana, who had argued that the
acq quisition Of Louisiana territory by act
of Congress was unconditional. MIR.