The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-01-21
BARREN OF RESULTS.
Long Session Of Senate and Nothing
Accomplished. y
VOTE ON CANAL BILL PREVENTED
BY FILIBusTERING.

senator Nelson Addresses the senate I'm
Favor of Expsnsion--sen White
Explains His Position as TO Instruc-
ton. From California Legislature
ON the Treaty.
Washington, January 90. The Senate
was In. session for five hours and half
today. but the session was barren OF re.
sults Two notable speeches were de.
liyered, one by MIR. Nelson, Republican
| of Minnesota in opposition to MIR. Vests
anti expansion resolution and the other
by MIR. White, Democrat of California, a
personal explanation OF his position with
respect to the instructions given the
California Senator by the legislature of
that state as to voting on the pending
peace treaty. At the conclusion Of the
speeches the Senate resumed considera-
ton of the Nicaragua canal bill, Its COM
pletion was prevented probably by the
filibustering tactics adopted by Mr.. Till
man, Democrat of South Carolina who
frankly announced that the bill could not
be passed today and he and other Sena-
tors, II necessary, would remain in the
chamber until midnight to prevent
final vote.
Washington. January 20-President
protein Frye, who has been i'll for several
days, presided over the Senate at the
opening of Its session today. nir. Hoar
of Massachusetts,, presented the credentials
of Henry Cabot Lodge, who was recently
reelected Senator from Massachusetts
for term of six years beginning ON each
March 4, 1869. The credentials were filed.
A message from the President yetoing the
bill for the relief of Albert h. Reastone
was read.
MIR. Gallery of Louisiana offered the
following concurrent resolution. THAT
the President be and he is hereby re-
uuested II not incompatible with the pub
lie interest," to furnish to the Senate copies
of any communications received by the
state department from any representatives
or agents of the so-called Philippine re-
public; and also to furnish any informa-
ton in his possession, or any documents
filed before the state department, relative
TO the bounds of the territories in the
Philippines islands, togather with the
number of Inhabitants therein, held re-
spectiyely under the control of the Ameri'
can forces and the authority of the So
called Philippine republic, showing par
ticularly what islands, or parts OF the
Islands, II any, can in any event be de-
liyered by spain to the United states.
The resolution went over under objection.
MIR. Allison of Iowa endeayored to
secure unanimous consent for the taking
of vote on the Nicaraguan canal bill at
three O'Clock today but Mr.. Gallery OBJ
jected.
A house resolution passed reappoiIting
james b. Angel of Michigan as one OF
the regents of the Smithsonian institute.
Mr.. Nelson of Minnesota then made a
speech on the Vest anti-expansion resoiu-
ton. His address was constitutional
argument in support of the right of the
United States government to acquire and
govern foreign territory.
Senator Nelson maintained that 10 was
no longer an unsettled question that THIS
country had the power not only to acquire
foreign territory by discovery. conquest
or treaty, but also to govern territory SO
acquired. That question. he said, had
been settled by decision OF the Supreme
court and was scarcely longer open to ue-
bate. He referred to the territory that had
ueeu acquired in the past by the United
states government and declared that In
no single case had the people OF the terri
tory acquired been consulted or their con-
sent secured. In the two cases of Iexas
and Hawaii we had more nearly APP
preached the point of consulting the In
habitants than in any other, but even In
t.Vae sNsxr of
consultation.
MIR. Nelson then entered upon an elabo-
rate constitutional argument citing
numerous cases in support of MS position.
In response to u question by MIR. Mason
of Illinois, Mr. Nelson said that no man
could say truthfully that the rights of
knglishmen had been destroyed or even
in any sense impaired by Great Britain's
great scheme of colonization. Further re-
plying TO Mr.. Mason, he declar 1t our own
magnificent government was the product
of the colonization plans of Great Britain
and demanded TO know whether Mr..
Mason would desire to blot out that great
work of England. What the people of
England had done, said he certainly the
people of the United States could accom-
plish.
Colonies have not destroyed England,
how win they destroy uss''
Mr. Iillman or South Carolina, interrupt
ing MIR. Nelson. anu referring 10 tne con-
test between Sweden and Norway and the
practical severance af their relations, In
CURED why the Norwegiaus at home
wanted liberty. while those Of the United
states did not desire TO give liberty to the
Filipinos.
This reference to Mr.. Nelson's Nor
wegian BIRTH aroused him. ~ am "a citi
zen of the United States. MIR. President
he replied. II Am not representing either
the people or the government of Norway,
whose rights and liberties / am satisfied
are greater than those of the people of