The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-01-24
Makes Argument Against Exercise of So vel
eighty Over Foreign Territory.
DANGEROUS RESPONSIBILITY
Being Forced Upon Our People Under False Plea by Advocates of An
nexation-This Departure From Fixed Principles Important Is
Well as UnconstitutionaI-The Presidents Language
Quoted Against Him a Favoring Annexation.
Senator Foraker Explains Nicaragua Canal
Bill Near to a Vote.

Britain by his statements, he said: Il
was not speaking for the administration
and the chill that went up and dow
the backs of our friends in London was
due perhaps, to a Misrepresentation as
to which of the Ohio senators was
speaking"
The Nicaragua canal bill was under
consideration nearly three hours. At
ter much debate, the following substi-
tute presented by Senator Morgan, OF
Alabama, for the bond amendment Of
fered by Senator Allison was adopted
"a to Is: THAT the secretary of the
treasury is hereby authorized n re-
quired to limit the payment OF appro-
priations made in this act so that such
payments shall not exceed the sum OF
$4,000, 900 in any fiscal year.
The amendment as amended was
then adopted-41 to 19.
The last hour of the session was Oc-
cupied in discussion Of several amend
ments offered by Senator Caffery, of
Louisiana, all of which were defeated.
AS there was little prospect of COM
pleting the bill today the senate at
sos o'clock p. M, went into executive
session, and at 5:25 o'clock p. m. ad-
journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The house today practically decided
the Brown-SwansOn contested election
case from the Fifth Maryland district
in favor of the sitting member, Mr..
Swanson, a democrat, by declining to
consider the case. Twenty-four repuD-
licans joined with the democrats and
pOpulists on this vote.
Before going into committee of the
whole to consider the p%ostofice appro-
priation bill, the house passed the SEN
ate bill authorizing the Georgia and
Alabama Railroad Company to con
struct a bridge across the Savannah
river from the mainland to Hutchinson
island.
The postoffice appropriation bill was
then taken up. 1t carries $1O5, All, 637,
being $6,269,3 more than the amount
carried by the current law.
The greatest surprise of the day was
the adoption of two amendments, strik-
ing out of the bill, the appropriation of
$171, 900 for the fast southern mail and
$4,000 for special mail facilities from
Kansas City to Newton, Kas. This ap-
plo ldLlOh LII tuc SOuIuCIu Iudll has
been fought annually for six or seven
years, but has been always retained.
Mr.. Dockery, democrat, of Missouri,
offered an amendment prohibiting the
issue of pOstoffice or money orders to
bearer. 1t was adopted. There were
no further amendments and the bill
was reported to the house.
Mr.. Swanson then moved to recommit
the bill with instructions to strike out
from the paragraph appropriating $780,
COO for mail facilities in territory held
by military occupation the words new
ly acquired territory which he con-
tended fixed the attitude of the United
States towards this territory to some
extent and was therefore improper I'M
til congress had decided upon a policy.
his amendment was pending when
the house adjourned.