Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-02-01
FIFTY FIFTH CONGRESS.
WASHINGTON. February /.
6rNrGn ,r
SENATE.

eight hours day. This is the measure
that has been SO persistently urged by
President Gompers and other officials OF
the American Federation OF Labor.
Mr.. Rawlins, OF Utah, addressed the
Senate on the expansion question. He
commenced by saying that he had not
heretofore been opposed to expansion.
While no man could set an artificial
barrier to the inevitable progress of the
American people, he contended that
our progress so far had been that of
freedom, not of tyranny. When this
country was named it was to be the
United States of America. We could
stretch out to the north and to the
south until we encompassed the two
continents and all the islands of the
Caribbean sea, and still we might ap-
propriately bear the name which our
fathers gave US, but. inquired Shall
it De the United States OF America and
the Kingdom of the Philippines? or
shall it be the Empire of America and
Asia? Already there are spectral visions
of this in the political sky"
what do we want the Philippine
Islands fol-? Do we want them to fur
nish homes for our own people? No. Do
we want them to furnish an outlet for
our surplus labor? The sturdy Ameri-
can workingman could not live in that
climate competing with the meanest OF
the Tagalos. Do We want them TO add
a wholesome element to our population,
that our sons may find wives, and our
daughters husbands? The bighting
curse of the Almighty would rest upon
such mscegenation. Do we want them
in order to practice upon their inhabi.
tants the same arts of philanthropy
which applied to the aboriginal innabi-
tants of this continent have led to their
determination? Humanity says no. Do
we want them for the sake OF their trade
and commerce? Already the spokes-
men of the dominant administration
are seeking to devise unconstitutional
methods for intercepting aud prevent
ing such traffic. Do we want them in
order to seod thither swarms of office
holders, carpet baggers to riot among
them like Shiny worms eating out their
substance? An, there's the rub. But
for this, this perplexing problem would
rot to-day be seriously confronting The
American people. No, there is no con-
ceivable good which they can bring to
Us; their retention BODIES nothing but
evil. They are made the pretext foT
emasculating out freedom. for over-rid-
ing our constitution and breaking down
the safeguards of our liberty"
Mr.. RaWlns concluded his remarks
at 1:42 o'clock.
The Bacon resolutions then came up
on motion OF Mr.. Chandler to refer to
the foreign relations committee.
Mr.. Q1ay asked Mr.. Chandler to
withdraw his motion and to have the
vote taken directly on the resolutions.
Mr.. Chandler assented, and said ne
did so in order to permit amendments
to be offered. He denied that he
wanted to ob9truct, but suggested no
vote should be demanded today
He was asked by Mr.. Bacon what
day would suit him, but Mr.. Chandler
evsded an answer.
Mr.. Davis said so far as be knew
there was no opposition to taking the
vote at once
Mr.. Sullivan then offered his resou
ton as substitute.
No time was fixed by the Senate for
the vote upon the resolutions.
Mr. Carter manifested disposition
to object, giving as an excuse that he
thought Mr.. Spooner ought to have &
chance to make his speech.
Mr.. Davis cut the matter short by
moving to go into secret session, which
was carried.
HOUSE.
The House Immediately went into
committee of the whole, to consider the
river and harbor appropriations bill.
Mr.. Burton, chairman of the com.
mitttee, made an explanation of the
report. Appropriations were asked for
over 5000, 900 900, he said, and the com.
mittee bad been obliged to cut it down
to $3O,00O,000. This had made the
committees task one of great difficulty.
In authorizing improvements, the
committee this year had pursued q
policy in general to complete work al
ready begun, rather than 10 provide for
new work or advocate piecemesl jobs.
Mr.. Perkins criticised the bill because
it failed 10 appropriate much needed
money for the Missouri river. At the
proper time, he said, be would offer an
amendment appropriating very
modest" sum for the great stream men
toned.
Mr.. Hepburn made a vigorous pro-
test against the river and harbor bill.
He bitterly attacked the system that
has been in vogue for years in Con-
gress of "hiding the loot" OF public
money by lacking some of the river
and harbor money upon the sundry
civil. This year the latter carries over
Sl3, 900, 900, be said, making the entire
river and harbor bill aggregate forty
three millions instead of thirty millions,
as Mr.. Burton had stated.
More than half of that enormous sum
is intended to help out private corpora.
lions, Mr.. Hepburn asserted. For in
stance, the present bill appropriates
$3.50, 900 for a channe! from Galveston
to Texas City. At the latter place a
number Of Oaio gentlemen have built
cotton compress. This $685. 900 is more
than the aggregate assessed value OF
all Texas City, place never before
heard of by the people of the United
States.
Mr.. Hepburn said he knew it was
useless to oppose the bill. Enough
votes have been pledged to push it
through. The committee has been
smart enough 20 gain these votes by
indicionsly distrihutinp the apnronria-