The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-20
HARRIS RETIRES.
Kansas Senator WithdraWs from
Agricultural Committee.
Vacant Place is Given to Senator
Allen of Nebraska.
HALE is SURPRISED
At the Tone of General Brooke s
Farewell Proclamation.
Both Houses of Congress Ad-
jOurn Till January 8.

Washington, Dec 20.-In the senate
today the presiding officer laid before
the senate a communication from the
regents of the Smithsonian Institution,
suggesting in the form of a joint resO-
luton the appointment of former Sec
retary of State Richard Olney, to fill
the vacancy on the board of regents.
caused by the death of DR.. VIM. Pres
ton Johnson of Louisiana
Mr.. Hoar (Mass.) thought this most
unusual proceeding. He said it would
be as proper for justices of the supreme
court to suggest to the president who
should fill a vacancy on the bench.
The resolution was laid on the table.
Mr.. Hale (Maine) had read from the
clerks desk the proclamation issued by
General Brooke in Havana, on turning
over the civil government of Cuba to
his successor, General Leonard Wood.
This proclamation" said he, must
arrest the attention of the senate COM
mittee on Cuban affairs and of the
country. If General Brooke be right,
peace and order practically have been
restored to the island and the people
Will be ready at early date to enter
upon a. government of their own. Cen
eral Brooke is to be congratulated on
having accomplished a vast work. 1t
must be greater than I had supposed. I
see the dawn of the time when the Gu
ban people will be able to set UP a
government of their own. General
Brooke having been displaced, will soon
come north and when he arrives, will
receives our CONGRATULATIONS upon his
great work.
The matter was referred to the com
mittee on relations with Cuba
Mr.. Harris (Kan.) announced his
withdrawal from the committee on ag-
riculture. ThereupOn Mr.. CockrelI
(Io) presented a resolution, filing the
vacancies on the committees on agri-
an ole
terstate commerce, Philippines and
pensions by the appointment of Mr.. Al
len of Nebraska
The resolution was adopted.
Mr.. Hawley, (Conn.) chairman of the
military affairs committee drew a
sharp speech from Mr.. Pettigrew by a
motion to reconsider a resolution pre-
v1ously introduced by Mr.. PettigreW
and passed directing the secretary of
war to forward to the senate the full
report of the commission appointed by
the president to investigate the conduct
of the Spanish war.
Mr.. Pettigrew declared that this was
a most unusual proceeding and de-
manded to know whether it is a part of
studied policy to suppress informa-
ton.
rs it, he demanded. ''along the lines
of the suppression of news from Manila
not because it is not proper news but
because of it's possible effect on the
people of the country? A day or two
ago asked the adoption of a resolution
OF inquiry JnaC L deemed perfectly pro-
per It was laid on the table. Was the
action taken because the resolution in
dicated that officers of this government
had recognized the Filipino republic.
Do you think if such a recognition had
not been made that resolution would
have been laid on the table2 The fact
is we did recognize the Philippine re-
public and 1t was through the assist
ance of the Philippine vessels that a
Spanish garrison was forced to surren-
der.
TT now seems that there are many
things to be brought to the attention of
the people. My belief is that we ought
to have another committee to investi-
gate the entire conduct of the Spanish
war. We might investigate the pUr-
chase of army transports for which we
paid two or three times what they were
offered for to others. Is this policy of
the suppression OF news and facts to
| be followed for the purpose of re-elect-
ing the present administration? ?"
In reply, Mr.. HaWley disclaimed any
intention of an endeavOr to suppress
any facts He made the motion simply
that the matter might be considered
by a committee with view to ascer-
tanning the availability of the matter
Mr. Cockrell (NIissouri) believed that
the report of the investigating commit
tee should be communicated to the
senate and at his suggestion the reSO-
luton was reconsfdered and the request
was made of the president if not in
compatible with public interests to
communicate the testimony ana report
of the committee to the house.
Mr.. Allison (IOwa) thought, too, that
the senate ought to have the testimony
and report.
The resolution as amended by Mr..
| COckren was passed without dissent.
The senate theE at lis p. m. went
into executive session.
At 2:50 p. m. the senate adjourned till
January 5, 1900
HOUSE QUITS FOR HOLIDAYS.
Washington. Dec. 20.-Three-f -fourths
of the seats in the house We're empty
today, a majority of the members hav-
ing already left for their homes to
! spend the holidays. After the reading
of the journal Mr.. Payne moved an ad-
journment. The Democrats in a spirit
of good nature voted against the mo-
tion and with the dissenting RepubIi-
cans defeated the motion on rising
vote. Thereupon Mr.. Payne demanded
the ayes and noes.
The motion was defeated and Mr..
Payne was subjected to some good ma
tured chatting by Mr.. Richardson. Mr..
Grow secured the floor for a brief reply
to the remark of Mr.. Gaines on yester-
day and after some further routine
! business the house adjourned until Jan
uary 5, 1900.