The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-13
SENATE
Pettigrew's Resolutions and His Tilt
with Chandler.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 12.-whether Ad-
miral Dewey, acting for the United States
government, formally or informally recog-
nized the Philippine republic at Manila is a
question which Mr.. Pettigrew, Of South
Dakota, desires the Navy Department to
answer. He introduced a resolution to-day
directing the secretary of the navy to sup
ply the Senate with information on the SUBJ
ject, but Mr.. Chandler, of New Hamp-
shire, objected to its immediate considera-
ton. Following this objection Mr.. Petit
grew and Mr.. Chandler had a sharp tilt
over the resolution offered yesterday by the
former demanding from the secretary of
war an explanation of certain charges
against General Merriam in his conduct Of
the Cour d'Alene trouble. Politics were in
sonal references made by each senator
otherwise quiet session. Mr.. Pettigrew's
Dewey resolution follows:
THAT the secretary of the navy be, and
he is hereby. instructed to inform the Senate
whether the flag of the Philippine republic
Mia, and whether the flag or the Philippine
republic was ever saluted by Admiral
Dewey or any of the vessels of his feet at
any time since May ], 1898? Were Spanish
prisoners delivered over to the Philippine
forces at the time of the surrender at SUI
big bay? Did a vessel commanded by the
forces under Aguinaldo. flying the Philip
pine flag, accompany the vessels Concord
and Raleigh back to Subig bay in June.
1898, in order to compel the surrender of the
Spanish forces?"
When the resolution offered yesterday by
Mr.. Pettigrew reciting certain things al
I4~4I - .x,. h4>~ H.. 49, 2---l -
Ram in connection with the trouble in the
COur d'Alene mining district and directing
the secretary of war to transmit to the
Senate all orders and in his
possession bearing upon the subject was
laid before the Senate Mr.. Chandler OBJ
jected to the statements in the preamble,
and desired to offer a substitute, but Mr..
Pettigrew declined to accept the substi-
tute.
Although 1 am not certain whether my
friend. the senator from New Hampshire.
is a Republican" said Mr.. Pettigrew, 81
am satisfied that any substitute he may
offer is pernicious. as he himself often is.'
Mr.. Chandler-It requires a pernicious
senator sometimes to deal with a pernicious
proposition.
Mr.. Pettigrew-That's the reason. I sup
pose, why you are trying to deal with this.
Mr.. Chandler secured the reading of his
substitute, which. he pointed out, elimi-
mated only the charges made in the origi-
nal against General Merriam, md. In his
opinion, would serve much better the pur-
pose of Mr.. Pettigrew than the original.
Mr.. Pettigrew, in reply, declared that the
action of General Merriam was a disgrace
to civilization, but he was perfectly willing
that the Republican party should ta'-e the
responsibility of ii.
Mr.. Chandler-The Republican party has
its faults, perhaps, but I am much more
willing to remain with IL since the senator
from South Dakota left 1t.
He then read a paragraph from General
Merriam's report to the War Department
ho0 inO mn tho Ho,r +
dicating that the officer had acted with JUS
tice and discretion.
Mr.. Pettigrew asked that the resolution
and amendment be referred to the commit
tee on education and labor. but Mr.. Haw-
ley. chairman of the committee on military
affairs, Directing. the resolution was re-
ferred finally to the committee on military
affairs.
After an executive session a message
from the House was presented announcing
the death of Representative Daniel Ermen-
trout. of Pennsylvania. and. on motion of
Mr.. Penrose, the Senate, at lao p. m, as a
of reSppct adio,rpaS