Evening star., 1898-12-19
Nicaragua Bill Laid Aside in the
Senate.
qHE PHILADELPHIA EXPOSITION BILL
House Votes NO Adjourn for the
Holidays Wednesday
c APITAE CENTENN NAL

DAY the chaplain, in his Invocation, made
touchlLg reference to the affiiction of Mr..
Jones (Ark), over whose threshold of
iate thrice has passed the shadow of-death"
and one of whose sons is i'll now.
The Vice President announced the COM
mlttee on the centennial celebration of the
city of Washington as the capital of the
nation as follows Senators Hoar, Hale,
PERKINS, Simon McLaurIn, Clay and Tur-
ley.
Mr.. Lodge MassD from the foreign rela-
tions committee, favorably reported the fol-
lowing joint resolution and asked for its
immediate consideration: That the Pres
ident be, and he Is hereby, requested to
communicate to Congress SO far the
same may be done without detriment to
pubic interests, all the information in his
possession concerning certain alleged out
RACES committed upon the person of Bishop
Earl Cranston and other American citi-
zens in the city of Pekin, China, by sub
Jects of the Emperor of China, and what
steps II any, have been taken by the State
department in the matter of demanding
suitable redress and indemnity therefor"
Inc resoluuon was agreed to at once.
The Anti-scalpinG Bill.
Mr.. Cullom Qll) gave notice that he
would ask the Senate at the conclusion of
Mr.. Platt's speech to take the anti-scalping
Mr.. Chandler (N.H.) inquired if it was Mr.
Culioms purpose not to have the bill re-
ferred to the interstate commerce commit
tee.
Mr.. Cullom replied that he proposed to
ask for consideration at this time.
We'll. l give notice, Mr.. President re-
sponded Mr.. Chandler that there are SEN
ators here who will insist that the bill shall
go to the committee
MIR. Sullivan (Miss) protested against
what he termed IAN extraordinary pro-
ceeding,' and demanded to know what Mr..
Culloms purpose was.
II propose to call up the anti-scalping
blli for consideration replied Mr.. Cullom.
We can discuss questions relating to the
request when we come to them
Mr.. Teller (Col) gave notice that tomor-
row he would address the Senate on Mr..
vests antl-expansion resolution.
To Hold Territory as Colonies
In accordance with notice previously
given Mr.. Platt Comm addressed the SEN
ate on the resolution offered by Mr. Vest
(Mo), declaring that under the Constitution
of the United States no power is given to
acquire territory to be held and governed
permanently as colonies
Mr.. Platt's speech was a constitutional
argument maintaining the legal right of
the United States to acquire territory and
was particularly intended as a refutation
Il
speech in support of his resolution
II do not propose to discuss the policy
of expansion" said Mr.. Platt, in the pre-
race OF his argument L do not propose,
either to discuss the features of the gov
er1nnent we might establish in any foreign
territory weyngAt acquire. Expansion has
been a law of our national growth the
man .tl spring Of 24r national development.
L shah mafntafn that the United States
has shown a great capacity for government
in all trying times and under many irving
conditions and that 1t Is capable to meet
any emergency likely to arise. 1 propose
10 conflne myself to the question of the
right or power denied by the resolution.
L shall contend that the United States is
nation and that as such il possesses every
sovereign power not reserved by the Con-
sLtutlon TO the states or 10 the people
themselves; that the right t. acquire ter
ritory was not reserved, ard that there
fora that right is an inherent right-a soy
ereiSn right, a right to which there is no
limitation. shall show also that in GER
tain instances this inherent sovereign right
is to be inferred from specific clauses of
the Constitution ITSELF
Mr.. Platt then launched into a constitu-
uonal argument, quoting extensively from
authorities treating of the question
In the maintenance of his position of the
right of the United States to acquire for
eign territory he quoted from the opinion
OF Justice Gray in the Chinese exclusion
case. He declared that in the discussion
of the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands
the entire question of this governments
rights to acquire foreign territory was con-
sidered thoroughly and that the Senate
had settled il satisfactorily and rightly
I'VE did not annex the Hawaiian Islands
as a state,' said Mr.. Platt cor with any
declaration chat the territory should be-
come state. We took it by cession Our
title to the territory is perfect and com
plete, and constitutional"
Mr.. Plat maintained that our right to
Florida did not rest alone upon the quit
claim from Spain, but upon a deeper and
broader right. He held that the United
States have the right to acquire territory
in all ways that are conceded to other SOW
1regn nations of the world"
Further along Mr.. Platt suggested that II
might become necessary in the interests of
commerce, or some other interest, for the
United States to acquire territory in Africa
Shall we be bound by the Constitution to
organize a state from such acquired terri
tory and to admit its inhabitants to citizen
ship?"
Referring to Mr.. Vests reliance ,,non cer-
tain parts of the Dred-Scott decision Mr.
Platt declared that in the light of wears
Chief Justice Taney's opinion became a
mere dictUm" and that it was too late
in these days to resurrect the bred Scott
decision as a basis of constitutional action
% the part of the United States Foreign
teNitory had been acquired by this country
In many ways and in all of them the right
1t exercised was inherent and sovereign
and without limitation of any kind.
Canal Bill Laid Aside.
At pm. the unfinished business-the
Nicaragua canal bill-was informally laid
aside in order that Mr.. Platt might con-
clude his speech.
In response to an inquiry from Mr.
Chandler. MFR. Cullom said he would not
call up the $anttsscalping bill today.
HOUSE dOFe; e;REPREsENTATIvEs
Mr. Bailey CFex), the leader of the mi
norty, created a furry at the opening of
the session Of the House today by offering
the following resolution for reference to the
committee on rules: Resolved, that the
corsuAittee on Judiciary be and is hereby in
structed to-. ASCERTAIN and report to this
House: II 3Gs
Il. Whether any member of the House
has accepted any office under the United
States; and,l :
''2. Whether the acceptance OF such office
under the Enitsd States had vacated the
seat of the member accepting it,
Mr.. Dingley, from the committee on ways
and means, offered the resolution for a hol-
iday recess from Wednesday, December 81,
to Wednesday, January 4, and it was adopt
ed without division
A special order was also adopted setting
aside January 5 for the consideration of
bills reported by the judiciary committee
This being suspension day. Mr.. Wanger
Do. \ tl,<>