The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-01-17

mously expensive army and navy. 1t
meant a never ending strife with the
nations of the world.
Senator McLaurin claimed that the
commerce of the Philippines was insig-
nifcant and he, therefore, doubted the
advantage CT the islands to this coun-
try from a financial view point.
Ito become a coloniZing power" he
said, eve must abandon our republican
institutions, or be paralyzed by them.
The creation of Offices, the extravagant
expenditure of money by office holders,
n the actual corruption creeping into
any colonial system will sooner or later
sap the foundation of any government
Discussing the inhabitants Of the
Philippines, Senator McLaurin said:
"Of one thing I am sure. The Ameri-
can people will never consent for these
inferior races to flood our land and d
another complication to the labor prob
lem. To permit cheap, Asiatic labor to
come into competition with our intel
ligent, we'll paid labor will be to degrade
and lower our civilization.
Senator McLaurin occupied the at
tention of the senate for an hour and
ten minutes and was accorded good at
tention by both senators and people in
the galleries.
Senator Sullivan, democrat, of Miss
issippi; and Senator Pasco, democrat
of Florida, discussed the pending Mica
ragua canal bill, the former supporting
it and the latter opposing it.
In the early part Of the session Sena-
tor Allen, of Nebraska, introduced the
following resolution:
That a committee of five senator's,
no more than two of whom shall be
members of the same political party,
shall be appointed to make full inquiry
into the conduct of the late war be-
tween the United States and Spain.
Said committee shall nave plenary au-
| thority to inquire and report on the ad-
/ visibility of the selection of encamp-
ment for the troops by the military au-
thorities of the United States, the time,
character and places of delivery Of
commissary, quartermaster and medical
stores, the quality and quantity thereof
and the regularity of their delivery and
into all things in any name affecting
the care, discipline and health of the
troops in any manne affecting or bear
ing on the health, regularity and dis
cipline of the army and whether there
is just cause to complain of the places
of encampment, food, medical stores
and quarteraster's supplies furnished"
Objection was made to immediate
| consideration of the resolution and it
went over.
Senator Gray, democrat, introduced a
joint resolution as follows:
That in recognition of the patriotic
devotion and bounteous benevolence
of Miss Helen Miller Gould tt the SOL
diers of the army of the United States
during the war with Spain, the cordial
appreciation of congress is hereby ten
dered to her, and congress hereby au-
thorizes and directs hat a. gold medal
with appropriate designs be prepared
by the directors of the mint and that
said medal be presented to her by the
president of the United Slater at such
time in such ann as he may deter
mine"
The resolution was referred to the
committee IN military affairs.
The Indian appropriation bill was
taken up but its consideration was not
concluded before the hour of adjourn
ment.
At $40 o'clock the senate went into
executive session and at 500 o'clock
adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The house today entered upon the
consideration of the naval personel bill
It developed much less opposition than
was anticipated and the indications are
that it will have a large majority when
it is placed upon its passage tomor.
row. The last vestige of opposition
to the measure from the line officers
OF tie navy was removed today when
an amendment was adopted designed
to prohibit staff officers upon whom
the bill confers positive rank from ex.
ercising command save in their OWL
corps.
The committee also. asserted thei1
purpose to offer an amendment tomor.
row to repeal the law giving prise mon
ey to the navy, and this announcement
met with warm approval. Tn,
speeches on the bill today were filled
with glowing illusions tt the glories
of our naval victories in the late wal
and Mr.. Berry, of Kentucky, created
a great deal of enthusiasm by his Ell.
logy of Schley as the hero of Santiago
In the course of his remarks Mr.. Der
- MooO SAC hlSt dIluSIOu Ou Tic uOO
OF the house to the mooted question a.
to who was responsible for the vic
tory over Cervera's feet at Santiago
He said: Il believe the bill will re
move conflict, and if there is any coun
try where the eris a necessity for tn,
removal of conflict in the army or tn
navy, it is the United States. Laugh
ter.) l think we had a magniicen
phase of a conflict in the army servic,
of the United States in the paper thi
morning, and whether it will end il
a duel or not, l do no know. but i
shows there is a very considerable
amount of friction in the army of tn
United States. There was some con
fict then among the officers IN the nav
in the greatest battle of the war, tn
greatest battle of modern times, be
lcause it demonstrates the character c