Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-02-02
THE PEACE TREATY.
An Agreement Made to Take a Vote
on February s.
STIRRING SPEECHES IN The HOUSE.
The Army Bill Debat~,i, bur the Question
Of Expansion CONES tn tbs Front
Mesars. JOhnsnB ard DUiiivrr
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Messrs. JOhnsnD ard DUiiivrr
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Washington, Jan. 20. Only a brie
time was occupied by the senate yes
terday in open session. A few bills OF
the calendar were passed, butno othel
business OF importance was transact
ed. Senator Bacon, OF Georgia, gave
notice that on Saturday he would call
up his resolution declaring that thu
Filipinos ought to be free and indie.
pendent, and ask vote thereon.
Senator Platt, OF Connecticut, Of
fered resolution directing the secre
tary OF the interior to inform the sen.
ate from the record of his department
what was the total number of adult
male Indians belonging to the Kiowa
Comanche and Apache tribes October,
1892, and whether the signatures at
tached to the agreement made with
these Indians at that date comprise
three-fourths OF the adult males OF the
tribes named.
Senator Cockrell, of Missouri, intro.
duced a resolution requesting the sec.
rotary of the interior to furnish full
information relative to the claim Of
the old settler therokees on account
of interest alleged to be due them un-
der resolution of the senate provided
under the treaty of 1916 and by the
decision Of the supreme court with
such recommendations as he may find
warranted by the fact
The senate held two executive SEES
sions yesterday and at each the peace
treaty was the subject under discus
sion. At the second Senator Davis
presented the American commissioners
reasons for the acceptance of the
treaty in the form in which it was
finally concluded. The agreement for
vote was reached at an executive
session held soon after converting at
noon, this agreement being in the fol.
lowing language; That the senate
agrees to vote on the treaty with Spain
and all amendments on Monday, Feb.
ruary 8, at three o'clock p. M, and
that until that time the senate shall
go into executive session on each day
at two p. M In accordance with the
terms OF the agreement, the senate re.
sumed its work in executive session at
two o'clock, and the entire time of
this session was consumed by Senator
Davis in making presentation OF the
history OF the Paris conference. This
presentation consisted largely in the
quotation of the various propositions
made on each side Of the controversy
at Paris, and while the speech was
thus rendered somewhat formal, it re.
ceived the closest and most careful
attention.
STIRRING SPEECHES IN THE HOUSE.
Washington, Jan. 26. Not since the
stirring days before the declaration of
war last spring has the house wit
messed such an exhibition of excite
ment and such scenes of unbounded
enthusiasm as occurred Yesterday
when the two republicans, Mr.. John.
son, the Indiana member, and Mr..
Dolliver of Iowa, locked horns on the
question of expansion. The army bill,
which was under debate, was swal.
lowed up In the broader question of
our future national policy, aud the
debate was lifted from the dead level
OF mediocrity into absolute brilliancy.
Mr., johnson secured time from the
democratic side to attack the position
of the administration. He denounced
the proposition to annex the Philip.
pines as subversive of every tradition
dear to the American heart in the past
and the Inauguration of policy that
would end in the downfall of the re.
public, He said the ratification of
the treaty by the senate would sound
the death knel Of all the efforts OF
those who were trying to prevent the
country from rushing on to suicide,
and 1nn1 sod 10 ba mana n eo,,+n, h.,
would rot in his seat before it should
be ratified For almost two hours his
words poured forth.
When hs had finished, Mr. Dolliver
came to the defense Of the administers
ton. He described how the president
had been fairly driven into war by
those who now sought to embarrass
him before peace was definitely oh.
tanned and his eulogy of the president,
patiently meeting all the perplexing
problems which beset him rs the great
events of the year moved on, aroused
his side and the galleries to cheers.
These rang out again and again when
he paid an eloquent tribute to Admiral
Dewey and broke in renewed volume
when he declared that the course OF
some members at both ends of the cap.
itol was almost treason"
But the highest pitch Of excitement
was reached when Mr.. johnson and
Mr.. Dolliver got to close quarters to.
ward the end of the latter's speech.
Mr.. johnson pressed the defender OF
the administration to disclose the
presidents ultimate purpose regarding
the Philippines, but Mr. Deliver for
some time adroitly evaded direct re.
Spouse. At last he contcnted himself
with declaring that this was not the
point at issue, that the first thing was
to end the war by ratifying the treaty.
The future of the Philippines was a
question for the future,
The other speeches yesterday were
overshadowed by those of
Mr. johnson and Mr. Dolliver.