The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1899-01-19
WORK OF CONGRESS

WORK OF CONGRESS-
Washington, Jan. 11.-Senator Ma !
son Of Illinois occupied the attention
of the senate for nearly an hour and ]
9 half with Il speech IN support OF his
resolution declaring that the United |
States will never attempt to govern
the people of any country without
their consent. In many respects the
speech was one of the most notable
utterances in the senate thus far this
session. Rugged in language, pointed
and effective in Illustration, Mr.. Ma
son commanded the attention Of the
senate and Of the galleries from the
first sentence of his speech to the
apostrophe to liberty which formed his
peroration. Several times spontane-
Gus applause swept over the galleries, |
but under the stringent rules Of the l
senate it was quelled quickly. 1t was
several minutes after the conclusion
Of the speech before the senate could
proceed with it's business on account
Of the confusion incident to the con-
gratulations which many Of Mr. Ma
sons colleagues fastened to extend to
him.
The Nicaragua canal bill was dis
cussed by Mr.. Turley of Tennessee,
who opposed the pending measure. An
agreement was reached to consider
I the bill on Tuesday with fifteen min
utes to discuss such amendments.
+. > The House..
The house devoted its undivided at
tention again to the bill for the coditi-
cation Of the criminal laws Of Alaska
and when adjournment was had all
but ten pages Of the bill had been dis
posed Of.
Washington, Jan. PA climax was
reached yesterday in the debate on the
question of expansion which is In
progress in the senate. Heretofore all
Of the speeches, with the notable ex-
ception of that of Mr.. Platt of Con-
Iecticut have been in opposition to
what is presumed to be the policy OF
the administration with respect to the
acquisition of the Philippines. Yester-
day Mr.. Foraker of Ohio addressed
the senate in opposition to the declar-
alton of the Vest resolution that the
United States has no constitutional
power to acquire foreign territory to
be maintained as colonies. While
much of his speech was devoted to a
constitutional argument in support or
the right Of this country as nation
to acquire and govern outlying terri
tory, he gave particular attention to
the utterances that have been made In
contrayention Of that position, espe-
cially those of Mr.. Vest and Mr.. Hoar
Senator Foraker laid down the broad
proposition that to adopt the Vest res
olution was to declare that our fathers
had brought forth nation that was
inferior to all other nations, regardless
: of the generally accepted idea that one
nation was the equal Of another and
all equally restricted. He maintained
that the right to acquire territory wal
an. inherent right Of nationality, and
that as we have the right to make
war and to enter into treaty agree
a ments it follows logically that we hav
the power to acquire territory bytcon
quest and to assume the responsible
ties that may accrue therefrom. MI
Foraker's strong assertion that the az
uuisiticn of the Philippines was tenn
porary in character created sensa
ton in the chamber. He maintained
however, that we have legal right 7
hold the islands permanently.
Prior to the speech Of Mr.. Foraker
sharp debate was precipitated by MI
Allen Of Nebraska by some remark
he made upon a resolution he had IL
troduced. Mr.. Hoar and Mr.. Ora
were drawn into it.
At $40 p. m. the senate, on motion {
Mr.. Davis, went into executive session
Senator Davis reported the peat
treaty, stating that it had not bee
amended. He moved at the sam
time that the treaty and the procee
ings of the peace commission be mac
public. This motion led to debat
The discussion was brief, howeve
and the motion to remove the injun
ton Of secrecy prevailed without d
vision. .~.-
Il 49, The House.
The house completed and passed tt
bill for the codihcation Of the Grimm
laws Of Alaska upon which it II
been working internationally for
week. An amendment was adopt
providing a high license system in tn
territory with a species Of local
ton. Liquor dealers, by its prov
ions, are to pay license OF $l,OOO
year, and the consent Of majority
the white settlers residing within t.
miles of liquor dealers establis
ment must be obtained before
cense can issue. An attempt to reco
NIT the bill for the purpose Of sec,
ing the adoption Of a provision
Guiding ex-convicts from service
juries was defeated.
Washington, Jan. ID. - Little bu
ness was transacted by the senate
open session yesterday Sixteen hi
on the private pension calendar W.
passed and joint resolution extendi
the thanks Of congress to Miss Cls
Barton and other officials Of the n
Cross society for their benefici'
work in Armenia and Cuba was ado