The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1899-01-17
WORK OF CONGRESS

senate, the principal subject under dis
cusslon being the constitutional right
OF the United States to carry into eff
feet the policy of expansion. The lead
ing speaker was Mr.. Hoar of Massa-
chusetts, who delivered a speech in
support of the resolution introduced
by Mr.. Vest of Missouri declaring it to
be III opposition to the constitution for
this country to acquire foreign terri
tory to be governed permanently as
colonies. Although Mr. Hoar occupied
the time Of the senate for more than
two hours he was accorded the unusu-
al compliment Of close and undivided
attention by his colleagues on the
floor and large audience in the gal
lerieS. He confined himself closely to
his manuscript, but his address was
delivered with all the fire, tineness and
animation of the orator that he is. His
speech was in answer to that recently
delivered by Mr.. Plat of Connecticut,
and had been most carefully prepared.
He took strong ground against the DO
siti0n assumed by the Connecticut sen
ator, maintaining that it was in viola
ton Of the constitution and the dec.
laration of independence, the genial
eXpOunder Of the constitution for this
country to acquire foreign territory to
be governed as colonies. Mr.. Platt, at
the conclusion Of Mr.. Hoars address,
briefly replied to some points of the
speech which had been directed espe-
cially at him. He reiterated his form
er statement that the United States
had the power to acquire and govern
foreign territories. and declared that
If this country had embraced the doc
trines Of Mr.. Hoar the Mayfower
would have been turned back from
Plymouth Rock and the country would
never have had expanded to the Pa
cific coast Mr.. Caffery concluded his
speech in opposition to the Nicaragua
canal bill, but an effort to fix time
for vote upon it failed.
In the House.
The house reversed the decision Of
the committee of the whole last Friday
when the appropriation for the support
Of the civil service commission was
stricken out of the legislative, execu-
tive and judicial appropriation bill. In
committee, where members do not go
on record, the appropriation was
stricken out by vote of CT to 81.
Yesterday when the roll was called,
the appropriation was restored, the
motion to strike out being defeated
95 to 119. The house, by special order,
decided to proceed with the considera-
ton of the naval personnel bill as soon
as the bill for the codifcation of the
laws Of Alaska was out OF the way
About seventy additional pages OF the
latter bill was covered, leaving almost
100 pages still undisposed of.
Washington, Jan. Ex-senator Ma
son of Illinois occupied the attention
Of the senate for nearly an hour ana
a half with a 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
11tterances 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
aDostrophe to liberty which formed MS
peroration. Several times spontane-
| ous applause swept over the galleries.
| hut under the stringent rules OF the
senate it was quelled quickly. 1t was
| several minutes after the CONCLUSION
of +he speech before the senate could
nroceed with it's business on account
| Of the confusion incident to the con-
gratulations which many OF Mr. Ma
sons colleagues fastened to extend 10
| him. a.
The Nicaragua canal bill was dlS-
| cussed by Mr. Turley of tennessee
who opposed the pending measure. Al
| agreement was reached TO conSlueh
+he bill on Tuesday with f1fteen nln-
utes to discuss such amendments.
The House.
The house devoted its UNDIVIDED az
tention again to the bill FOR the couln-
cation of the criminal laws OF Alaska
| and when adjournment was nau a1A
but ten pages Of the bill hao Oeen u1N-
posed OF.
| washington. Jan. ia climax was
coached Yesterday in the debate on the
| c,,oS+ion of expansion when Is IL
| ,srocross in the senate. Heretofore aAA
- +ho sneeches. with the notaD4e eA-
o+ion Of that of Mr.. Platt Oh Con-
.ao+ion+ have been in opposltlon 70
,ho+ is presumed to be the poncy u
w. "a administration with respect 10 tne
~ of the Philippines. 1eStel
az NJ. FORAKER of Ohio addressed
u.a senate in opposition to the uecIal-
o+;on of the Vest resolution .na. .n
1r.4od states has no constltullot "a
o ~ acquire foreign TERRITORY ~
pow ;ntained as colonies. nle
De nlaln1 80 snaech was devoted 10