The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-13
THE SENATE

Washington, December 12.-Whether Ad-
miral Dewey, acting for the United States
government, formally, or Informally, recog-
nizcd the Philippine republic at Manila, Is
IL question which '1r. PettigreW OF Soulh
Dakota desires the navy department 10
answer He introduced a resolution today
directing the secretary of the navy to sup
ply the senate with information on the SUD
ject but Mr.. Chandler of New Hampshire
objected to its immediate consideration.
Following this objection, Mr.. Pettigrew
and Mr.. Chandler had sharp tilt over the
resolution offered yesterday by the former
demanding from the secretary of war an ex-
PLANTATION of certain charges against Cen
eral Merriam in his conduct of the Couer
D'Alecn trouble. Politics were injected into
tae controversy and the personal references
made by each senator against the otner,
lent some liveliness to an otherwise duil
session.
At the opening of the session resolutions
were reported favorably from the commit
tee on contingent expenses authorizing the
committee on privileges and elections TO
proceed with the investigation of the cleo
ton to the senate of w. A. Clark OF Mon
tana and N. B.. Scott of West Virginia. The
resolutions were adopted.
Mr.. Pettigrew of South Dakota offered
the following resolution:
''That the secretary of the navy, and he
is hereby directed to inform the senate
whether the flag of the Philippine republic
was carried by vessels in the bay of Manila
and whether the flag of the Philippine re-
public was ever saluted by Admiral Dew
ey or any of the vessels of his feet at any
time since May 1, 1898; were Spanish pris-
oners delivered over to tae Philippine forces
at the time of the surrender at Subig bay.
Did a vessel commanded by the forces un-
der Aguinaldo, flying the Philippine flag
accompany the vessels Concord and Raj
eieh back to Subig bay June. 1898. in
order to compel the surrender of the Span
ish forces?"
Asked Immediate Consideratif
Mr.. Pettigrew asked for immediate con-
sideration of the resolution, but Mr.. Chand-
ler objected, and it went over until tomor-
row.
The resolution offered yesterday by Mr..
Pettigrew recitfng certain things alleged
to have been done by General Merriam in
connection with the trouble in the Couer
d'Aleen mining district. and directing the
secretary of war to transmit TO the senate
all orders and information in his possession
bearing upon the subject, was laid before
the senate.
Mr.. Chandler, New Hampshire, objected
to the statements in the preamble of the
resolution and desired to offer a substitute,
but Mr.. Pettigrew declined to accept the
substitute.
although I am not certain whether my
friend. the senator from New Hampshire, is
a republican" said he II am satisfied that
any substitute he may offer is pernicious,
as he himself often is
Mr.. Chandler-"It requires a pernicious
senator some times to deal with perni-
cious proposition" Uaughter)
Mr.. Pettigrew-"Thats the reason, sup
pose why you are trying IDEAL with this
Mr.. Chandler secured the reading of his
substitute. which he pointed out, eliminat-
ed only the charges made in the original
against General Merriam, and in his opinion
would serve much better the purpose of
Mr.. Pettgrew than the original
Mr.. Pettigrew, in reply declared that the
action of General Merriam was . disgrace
to civilization. but he was perfectly willing
that the republican party should take the
responsibility of 1t.
Mr.. Chandler-"The republican party has
its faults. perhaps but I am much more
willing to remain with it since the senator
from South Dakota left it,"
He then read paragraph from General
Merriam's report to the war department
bearing on the Couer d'Aleen trouble in
debating that the officer had acted with
Justice and discretion.
Mr. Pcttigrew asked that the resolution
and amendment be referred to the commit
tee on education and labor, but Mr.. Haw-
lev Connecticut, chairman of the commit
tee on military affairs, objecting, the reso-
lution was referred finally to the commit
tee on military affairs.
After an executive session message
from the house was presented announcing
the death of Representative Daniel Erinen-
trout. of Pennsylvania, as marx OIL re-
snect adjourned.