Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1899-02-01
CONGRESS-.
Senate.

ficaton Of the treaty of peace. addressed fine
senate IN support of the anti-expansion
resolution. Mr. White is brilliant speaker
and he was cOmplimented by his colleagues
and large audience in the galleries with
careful attention. He did not enter into Il
constitutional argument but confined HIM
self to discussion Of expansion as policy
OF this government He maintained that
such policy was contrary to the funda-
mental principles of this country, to it's
history and traditions. The Senate at 2:1J
p. M went into executive session. After
the executive session Mr.. Chandler called
up the bill to restore to their original status
0h1cerS of the navy and marine corps who
lost their status by reason Of the promotion
or other officers by reason of conspicuous
conduct in battle. The bill went over on
objection. and at 5:15 p. N. the Senate
adjourned.
AT the conclusion of routine business in
the Senate on the oath Mr.. Lodge delivered
his announced speech upon the policy of
expansion. The Senate then resumed con-
sderation of the peace treaty in executive
session. The Berry resolution for the con-
s1deratiOn OF the treaty in open session was
voted down and there was more or less talk
OF taking vote, though on this point no
definite decision was reached. The prin-
cipal speeches of the general debate were
made for the treaty by Senators Teller and
Frye and by Senator Hoar in opposition.
Only a brief time was occupied by the
Senate on the 18th in open session. Mr.
Hale, chairman of the committee on naval
affairs, reported the naval personnel bill
and gave notice that at the earliest time
possible he would call it up for cOnsidera-
ton. Mr.. Cullom reported the legislative
appropriation bill and announced that prob
ably he would call it up next day. Mr..
Chandler introduced bill temporarily Gre
ating the office of admiral of the navy It
was referred to the naval affairs commit
tee. a Senate bill providing for the erec-
ton of building for the department of
justice at a cost of $1,O0O,000 was passed
AS the Senate seemingly was about to
conclude consideration Of the pension appro
prlation bill on the 10Th Mr.. Butler pop,
n. CO offered his amendment, announced
some time ago, providing for the penSiOning
of eN-cOnfederate soldiers. Upon this he
took the floor and delivered a speech which
as he proceeded, developed into a most I'M
expected utterance. While his colleagues
on both sides of the chamber listened with
interest, Mr.. Butler defended the position
taken by the South during the great civil
conflict Of third of a century ago. other
Southern senators deprecated Mr.. Buffers
position, whereupon the latter withdrew his
amendment
Particular interest was manifested in tba
Senate on the 9th in a brief speech deliv-
cred by Senator T. G. Platt of New York
on the general subject of expansion. Mr..
Platt took for his text the anti-expansion
resolution offered by Mr.. Vest. Missouri but
in the course of his speech merely touched
upon the constitutional question involved in
the proposed declaration He took strong
ground for the ratification of the pending
treaty of peace. The pension apprOpria,
ton bill was then passed. The days session
Closed WIN eulOTleS or the late representa-
tive Cooke of Illinois.
A concurrent resolution adopted bv the
New Hampshire Legislature urging the
speedy ratification of the treaty of Paris
was presented by Mr.. Gallinger N. H in
the Senate on the 2Sth A resolution call
ing upon the secretary OF the treasury for
information concerning the investigation Of
the bureau of printing and engraving was
adopted; Mr.. Hale (Me) called up the
diplomatic and consular appropriation bill.
Mr. Bacon (Ga) objected as he had given
notice that he proposed at this hour to call
up his resolution regarding the Philippines
and endeayor to fix a time for Il vote upon
it, but he finally yielded to the apprOpria-
ton bill. Mr.. Jones (Ark.) then asked that
the Senate take a recess from O'Clock to
800 in order to enable senators to attend
the funeral of ex-senator Garland, who
died suddenly in the Supreme court on
Thursday. In this connection Mr.. Hoar
CMaSS) paid Il high tribute TO Mr.. Gar
lands ability and character as a citizen,
lawyer and senator. The recess or
dered. The consular and diplomatic bill
was then read. 1t appropriated 81, 40, 533
$1,000 more than the amount carried by the
measure passed by the House. After some
further discussion the salaries of secre-
taries of legation to the Argentine Repub;,
lie, Venezuela and Peru were increased
from $500 to $780, and Of the conSuls at
Laguayra, Venezuela. from $1,000 to $500.
The allowance for clerks at consulates Was
increased from $1,000 to 5000. bill
amending the law relating to the appOrtion-
ment and election Of representatives in
Congress so as to permit the use of voting
machines was passed.
The 23d was District of Columbia day in
the House and the major part of the day
was devoted to local legislation. The only
of the bill to extend the navigation laws
of the United States to the Hawaiian isl
ands. One of the provisions of the bill
grants American register to all vessels fly
ing the Hawaiian flag owned by Hawaiian
citizens July z, 1898.
The debate on the army reorganization
bill occupied the time of the House on the
oath under an agreement by which the gen.
eral debate is to run fifteen hours, exclusive
of three night sessions; the final vote to be
taken not later than o'clock on the 31st.
Practically three propositions are before
the House; the House bill providing for a
standing army of 100, 600 men, the minority
substitute increasing the standing army to
10000 men and lodging with the President
discretionary power to call out 90 900 voIun-
teerS for emergency service, and Il PROPOSE
ton to continue temporarily the regular
army at its present war strengthen, 900
men.
Not since the stirring days before the dec
Iaration of war last spring has the House
witnessed such an exhibition of excitement
and such scenes of unbounded enthusiasm
as occurred on the 25th, when the two Re
pubIicans, Mr.. Johnson, the Indiana mem
Der, and Mr.. DOlliver of Iowa locked horns
on the question of expansion. The army
lowed up in the broader question Of our
future national policy, and the debate was
lifted from the dead level of mediOcrity into
absolute briliancy.
The feature of the debate upon the bill!
for the reorganization and increase of the
regular army on the Goth, was hours
speech by Mr.. GrosvenOr of Ohio, whose
utterances, rightly or wrongly, are frequent
ly supposed to reflect the views of the
President. Mr.. Grosvenor declared most
emphaticaIly that the present situation in
the Philippines was due to the opposition in
this country to the ratification of the peace
treaty. He announced that the future of
the islands was a matter for Congress to
decide, and that for the President to an
nounce a policy would be for him to usurp
the authority of Congress. The other speak
ers at the day session were Messrs. BrOm-
we'll, Stewart. Tongue, in support of the
bill; Messrs. DinsmOre, Jet, McRae, Simms
in opposition to it, and Mr.. Marsh in favor
of the bill with certain notifications.
The opposition to the army reorganiza-
ton bill on the Republican side of the
House has become strong that on the
9th Chairman Hull, after Mr. Henderson
of Iowa, one of the floor leaders of the
majority had threatened to vote to recon-
NIT the bill, decided it would be wise, in
order to secure it's passage, to abandon the
idea of providing directly for a regular army
n(n