The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-21

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2O.-In the
final session of the Senate to-day De.
fore the holiday recess PetlgreW On
South Dakota, in a characterlsllcaiiy
incisive speech, demanded TO kno"
whether it was to be the pollcJ OF the
representatives of the Administration 10
suppress facts and news when called
for by a Senator. He said he be1eVeo
an effort was being made to prevent the
testimony taken by the War 1nvest1gat-
ing Committee from being sent to the
Senate, and declared his purpose OF not
submitting to the suppression OF lnfor-
nation to which the people, in his opin-
ion, were entitled.
Taking Major General Brooke's fare
well proclamation to the people OF CUBA
as a text Hale of Maine briefly con-
graduated the General upon the work
he had accomplished in Cuba, and SAID
he could now see the dawn of the time
when the Cuban people would be lnde-
pendent.
Morgan of Alabama offered an
amendment to Bacons resolution guar
anteeing to the people of Puerto Rico,
Hawaii and the Philippines a republic
can government, and Hoar of Massa-
chusetts introduced a resolution de-
claring how the people of the island
possessions of the United States should
be governed.
The presiding officer laid before the
Senate a communication from the Re
gents of the Smithsonian Institution,
suggesting in the form of joint resolu-
ton the appointment of former Secre-
70
vacancy on the Board of Regents
caused by the death of DR.. William
Preston Johnson of Louisiana.
Hoar of Massachusetts 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 left on the table
Hale of Maine had read from the
Clerks desk the proclamation by Cen
eral Brooke in Havana on turning over
the civil government Of Cuba to his
successor, General Leonard Wood.
This proclamation" he said, must
arrest the attention of the Senate Com
mittee on Cuban Affairs and Of the
country. 1t is a most remarkable
statement of the progress that has been
made in Cuba If General Brooke be
right, peace and good order have prac-
tically been established on the island,
and the people will be ready at an
early date to enter upon a government
of their own. General Brooke is to be
congratulated upon having accomplish
ed a vast work. 1t is much greater
than I had supposed. I see the dawn
of the time when the Cuban people will
be able to set up a government of their
own. General Brooke, having been dis
placed, will soon come north, and when
he arrives will receive our congratula-
lions upon his great work"
The matter was referred to the Com
mittee on Relations with Cuba.
Harris of Kansas announced his with
drawal from the Committee on Agri-
culture Thereupon Cockre1l of Mis-
souri, presented a resolution filling the
vacancies on the Committees on Agri-
culture Claims, Forest Reservations,
Interstate Commerce, Philippines and
Pensions by the appointment of Allen
of Nebraska
The resolution was adopted,
A joint resolution reported by Lodge
from the Committee on Foreign Rela-
lions, authorizing N. NJ. Brooks, Super
intendent of Mails, to accept decora-
lions from Liberia and Bolivia, was
adopted.
Morgan of Alabama proposed an
amendment to Bacons joint resolution
guaranteeing to the people of Puerto
Rico, Hawaii and the Philippines a re-
publican form of government and pro-
lection against invasion.
1t was not referred.
Butler of North Carolina proposed an
amendment to the Constitution proyid-
ing that the Chief Justice of the
United States and United States Judges
shall be elected by the people.
It was referred to the Judiciary Com
mittee.
Hoar of Massachusetts, introduced the
following resolution:
"Whereas, the American people and
the several States of the Union have in
times past, at important periods in
their history, especially when declar.
ing their independence establishing
their Constitutions or undertaking new
and great responsibilities, seen fit to
declare the purposes for which the ma
ton or State was founded, and the inn
portant objects the people intend to
pursue in their present action; and,
Whereas. the close of a great war of
liberation by the United States of the
people of Cuba and Puerto Rico. in the
Western Hemisphere, and of the Phil
| ippine Islands, in the Far East. and
the reduction of those peoples to con-
dition of practical dependence upon the
United States, constitutes an occasion
which makes declaration proper;
therefore, be it
Resolved, That this republic adj
heres to the doctrines which were in
the past set forth in the Declaration OF
independence and in its national and
State Constitutions;
"That the purpose of it's existence
and the object to which its political ac-
ton ought to be directed are the ennob-