Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-12-11
FIFTY-SIXTH CONGRESS.
SENATE.

Mr., Hoar presented resolutions OF the
Massachus legislature taVoring q
constitutional amendment regulating
the hours of labor in manufacturing es-
Adjustments. Bills were introduced
authorizing the President to appoint
commissioners to visit China and Japan
to INQUIRE into the commercial and in.
dustrial conditions of those empires.
MIR. Gallinger warned senators that
too many pension bills were being in
troduced. II the last Congress nearly
5000 of these measures were referred
to his committee and if the food con-
tinues no one can tell how many thou
sands more will have to be considered
by the committee. He said bill to
pension exslaves had caused no end of
worry to Congressman.
Mr.. Mason said the bill swelled his
correspondence terribly. Mr.. Tnurston
said he introduced the bill in the last
Congress by request but did not father
it. Mr.. Cockrell reintroduoed it and
said he hoped the committee would re-
port it back adversely.
Mr.. Gallinger hoped that would be
done. He also submitted letter from
pension commissioner Evans strongly
condemning the measure.
After the introduction of hundreds OF
bills, Mr.. Mason spoke on his resolu-
ton of sympathy with the Beers. He
said the people OF the United States
had an interest in the struggle now
going on in South Africa because it was
a war between democracy and royalty.
He quoted from Washington, Clay,
Monroe Webster and other eminent
Americans to prove that it was perfectly
proper for his resolution to be passed.
he emphatically denied that England
was our friend during the war with
Spain. He had no desire to twist the
lions tail but truth compelled the state.
ment 30 far az our interests were con-
cerned for the last half century that the
government of England and the people
Of Eogiand had been divided. H
claimed that England wassagainst our
union in 1861 but the plain people over
there refused to sanction any movement
against the United States" He did not
wish to be understood as declaring war
against Eogland, but we should speak
our mind in favor of the people as
against the King.
He commended that Great Britain had
gone into the present war to control all
of South Africa and to deprive citizens
of the several republics of all their
rights. The only way England could
do il was to threaten, 5ulldoze, brow
beat and interfere with the Dutchmen
until, out of sheer humiliation and des.
peratiop, he was driven to fight, and
then turn on the army of the great ma
ton aud meantime CRY to the nations OF
the world: See us poor Eoglish. We
did not shoot first. Please give us your
sympathy. We are for liberty. Our flag
is there" Let the distinguished liilipu-
tian statesmen rafting around in Glad
stones shoes, trying to undo his work
and break his promises, know that he
is ldeceiving no one, except possibly
himself.
After reading Michael Davitt's speech
in the House OF Commons, Mr.. Mason
said: IF it be charged that this reso-
luton is calculated to injure one politi-
cal party in England and help another
and is mixing in with their politics,
then we answer that if the plain die
charge of our duty as republicans and
democrats in the broad sense interferes
with politics in England, the effect is
too insignificant to be considered now.
have not thought to excite prejudice
by our past differences with England.
They are forgotten and forgiven. But
when the colors of a republic are struck
and we sit silent it would seem that we
are ashamed or tired of our institutions,
and by our silence give consent TO the
destruction of self-government in South
Africa. If I am right this resolution
will say to the world, Washington,
Monroe and Webster. are dead, but the
American policy still lives 1t may
sting the oppressor, but it will be a
10 essage of affection and hope to the
struggling republic"
HOUSE.
AS soon as the House was ready for
business today the consideration of the
republican currency bill was COM
menced in committee OF the whole, MIR.
Hepburn, of Iowa, in the chair.
Mr.. Overstreet opened the debate.
He stated that the gold standard had
been recognized in this country for
more than half century and said there
should be law definitely announcing
the gold dollar to be the standard of
value rather than to leave it to the dis
erection OF any man, whether President
or Secretary of Treasury, an order
from whom might at any time change
the standard.
In reply to democrats who wanted to
know why silver dollars and all coin
notes would not constitute an endless
chain to drain the gold reserve, under
the provisions of the bill, MIR. Over
street replied that the comparatively
small amount of silver dollars in circu
lation and the proposed plan of break
ing up the large silver certificates into
small denominations would make it di!-
fcult to secure enough of them
to embarass the Treasury in this way.
Under the bill silver would become
more than ever the permanent medium
of exchange among the people.
MIR. Maddox protested against the
haste with which this bill is being
pressed through under gag law and
inquired whether it was due to ex
Speaker Reeds suggestion, after the