The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-08
SENATE.

Washington, December 6.-Nearly
important concurrent resolutions and
petitions numbering hundreds, were
presented to the senate today.
Senator Aldrich had the honor of in
PRODUCING the first measure in the SEN
ate. 1t was the financial bill drawn
by the senate committee on finance,
of which Senator Aldrich is chairman,
and probably was the most important
measure introduced during the day.
Resolutions were offered by Senator
Rawlins, providing for an investiga-
ton by the judiciary committee of all
phases of polygamy recently present
ed in connection with what is known
as the Roberts case; by Senator Ma
son, expressing the sympathy of the
senate for the Beers in their war with
Great Britain, and by Senator Jones,
of Arkansas, that Mr.. Scott, of West
Virginia, is not entitled to a seat in
the senate.
Senator Harris, populist Of Kansas,
was appointed a temporary member Of
the committee on privileges and cleo
| tiOns. The appointment is important
and significant because the committee
has under consideration the Quay,
| Clark and Scott contests.
A concurrent resolution adopted by
| the legislature of Michigan was pre-
| sented by Senator Mcmillan, of Mich
| igan. The resolution protested against
| the policy of the Russian government
| toward Finland and was referred to
the committee on foreign relations.
Senator Lodge, of Massachusetts.
offered and secured the adoption CT
| a resolution requesting the president,
if not incompatible with public in
| terest, to inform the senate as to the
| proposed sale of the Galapagos is
| land by Ecuador to Great Britain and
| to. communicate any such information
| concerning the proposed sale as might
be in possession Of the government.
| Senator Rawlins, Of Utah, offered the
! following resolution and asked that
| it be considered Immediately:
| 'That the committee on the judiciary
| is hereby instructed to inquire into
| and report to the senate:
Il. To what extent polygamy is prac-
| tiUed or polygamOus marriages enter
| ed into in the United States or in places
over which they have jurisdiction.
'''2. Have polygamists, or persons re-
! puted to have more than one wife,
been elected to office by the people of
| Utah, and if SO has such election been
! for the purpose of encouraging polyga-
| my or in violation of any compact be-
tween said state and the United
| States?
| ''3. Have po1ygamists, or persons re-
! p1Ited to have more than one wife,
| dent, by and with the advice and con-
| sent of the senate. or in cases where
| the concurrence of the senate is not
| required, and if so, have such appoint
ments been made in aid of pclygamy
or in violation of compact between the
United States and the state Of Utah
| with reference to that subject?
"a. What, if any, steps should be
| taken or measures enacted for the
prevention of polygamy in the United
| States and in places over which they
! have jurisdiction"
Senator Wolcott, Of Idaho, objected
to immediate consideration and the
resolution was referred to the judici-
ary committee.
into executive session and at 2:5o p. m.
| adjourned.
NOMINATIONS BY THE PRESI-
DENT.
The president Today made the fol-
lowing nominations 10 the senate:
Heaton w. Harris, Of Ohio, to be con-
1
Brigadier General Leonard Wood
| United States volunteers, to be major
general Of volunteers.
Colonels to be- Brigadier Generals
Edward r. Kellog, United States vol
| unteers; Gilbert S. Carter, United
States volunteers; William A. Kobbe
| United States volunteers; J. Franklin
Bell, United States volunteers.
| In addition to the new army ap-
pointments and the consuls sent to the
senate today, there were also a large
| number Of appointments made during
the recess which were filed. Among
the more important are: Elihu Root
| of New York, to be secretary of war;
| Jos. w. Fifer. of Illinois, to be inter
| state commerce commissioner; Bella
my Storer, of Ohio, to be minister tc
Spain; Lawrence Townsend, of Penn
sylvania,to be minister to Belgium; j
N Irwin, of Iowa, to be minister tc
| Portugal; William P. Lord, of Ore
gon, to be minister to Argentine Re-
public; A. S. Hardy, Of New Hamp-
shire, TO be minister to Greece, Rou-
mania and Servia. There was also q
long list of army promotions and post
masters and number Of consuls.
The senate confirmed the nomination
OF Mr.. Root, to- be secretary OF war.
BILLS INTRODUCED.
| Senator Chandler today introduced
bills applying the customs end inter
nal revenue laws Of the United State:
to the islands of Cuba and Porto Rico
after January /, 1900. Goods between
the islands and the United States are
to be exchanged as between the states
A resolution was. introduced by Sen
ator Clay, of Georgia, providing fol
the election of senators by the people
Bills were introduced by Senator
Pettus, OF Alabama, to repeal the wa,
stamp tax act and by Senator Hale fo
the construction of a Pacific cable b,
the navy department. to be operated
by the postoffice department, and ap
l raropr.i atinrr n0l lsll fnr. this raI1rrnca