Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1899-01-21
AGAINST EXPANSION.
Senator Bacon Opposed to Annex
ing the Philippine Islands.
MINOR BILLS PASSED BY THE HOUSE
MT Payne. Of New York. Likely to Succeed
Mr.. Dingiey Ne the Floor Leader
Settlers Relief Bill shslved-
War Inquiry Board.

Washington, Jan. 19.-The feature
of yesterdays session OF the senate
was q speech delivered by Senator
Bacon, of Georgia, In support of his
resolutions declaring that the United
States would not assume sovereignty
over the Philippine islands Senator
Bacon Is one of the orators OF the SEN
ate. and as he gave himself free rein,
not combining himself to notes. he
spoke strongly and effectively. His
peroration, In which he pictured the
horrors OF some of highlands methods
of controlling her colonial subjects,
was q beautiful and forceful bit Of
word.painting.
Following Senator Bacon's speech
the Nicaragua bill was taken up and
remained under discussion until six
o'clock. Amendment after amend
ment was voted down and until almost
the last minute It seemed likely that o
vote on the measure would be reached
that evening, but just Us final vote
was about to be called for Senator AL.
lison. of Iowa, exploded bomb under
the bill by offering an amendment pro-
viding that the secretary OF the treas
ury should issue bonds to raise money
with which to construct the canal.
The friends OF the measure then con.
sented to an amendment
The committee on interstate and
foreign commerce had the right OF
way in the house yesterday and sue
ceeded in passing quite number OF
bills of minor Importance, most OF
which authorized the construction OF
lighthouses, fog signals. etc. Then
the bill to grant the Pacific Cable
company q subsidy Of 100000 year
for 90 years for the construction OF and
operation of u cable was called up,
and very spirited debate, which con-
sumed the remainder of the day, fol-
lowed. The opposition was headed by
Mr. Corliss, OF Michigan, who advo-
Gated the construction OF a govern
ment cable. No conclusion was
reached at tine hour of adjournment
and, as objection was made to fixing
another day for its consideration, 1t
goes over indefinitely until the COM
mittee can get another day or until q
special order is adopted.
Saturday, February 4, at three
o'clock, was the hour fixed for the ex-
ercises in connection with the accept
ance by congress OF the statues OF
Thomas II. Benton and Francis 7.
Blair from the state of Missouri. At
5:l5 the house adjourned.
THE PROBABLE FLOOR LEADER
Washington. Jan. l0.-There Is no
doubt that the craftsmanship OF the
ways and means committee, made
vacant by the death OF Mr. Dingley,
will be filed by Speaker Reed ut the
present session, without waiting for
the next congress, and that the new
chairman will be Representative s. e
Payne, OF New York. The appoint
ment Is likely to be announced within
the next few days. The ranking mem.
Der OF the ways and means commit
tee Is Mr. Payne, and, while this is
not decisive, IL establishes q strong
presumption that he would be chosen.
He entered congress Is years ago, and
he served continuously with tho ex-
ception Of the Fiftieth congress. He
took an active interest in tariff work,
and assisted in framing the Mckinley
and Dingley bills and the war revenue
bill. BY virtue of the craftsmanship
Mr.. PAYNE will also become floor leader
Of the house.
SETTLERS RELIEF BILL sHELvED.
Washington, Jan. l9.-The bill pro-
viding for the relief OF purchasers and
settlers on the lands of the Otoe and
Missouri Indian reservation in Nebras-
ka will not be reported from the house
committee on Indian affairs The bill
has passed the senate and Is intended
to reimburse purchasers OF these lands
for the amount they paid or agreed to
pay in excess of the appraisement made
by the United States. The lands were
sold ut public auction and were bid in
by purchasers at fancy prices above
the appraisement and the money went
to the credit OF the Indians. The pur-
chasers now ask relief by receiving
back or being exempted from the pay.
ment of the difference between the
price paid and the appraisement made.
by the government, but though the
bill has passed the senate, the house
committee will not report 1t to the
house. A number of the purchasers
live In northwest Missouri.
WAR INVESTIGATION COMMISSION.
Washington, Jan. i9.--The war I'M
vestigating commission had no wit
nesses yesterday and spent the fore
noon In an executive session on mat
ters connected with the framing Of its
report Tho Eagan incident was not
brought up in any way.
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