The Portland daily press., 1900-01-18

"But." said Mr.. DavIA what strikes
me ~ most 10 be criticised In the resolu-
tion 10 the concluding paragraph. IL lie
stated that II the dstcntion II the proper
~ IL persisted In, suoh act win BE- oonsid-
cred a. without warrant and offensive 10
the government and people OF the Unitsd
States.
"That 10 very serious Language. In
Its present form, 10 means serious Diff
guilty"
In response 70 the statement Of Mr..
luton, began brief address By sendins
70 the clerks desk and having read q
newspaper sc,ount of the seizure Of the
flour. lie had drawn the resolution, he
said, with some care. intending 10 limit IL
10 one Of inquiry. He declared the Senate
and country were entitled TO know what
the situation was az there was an igno-
rance as 10 what was being done. He
deemed It perfectly clear that as 1t was
| -four and not arms or ammunition that
had been seized, the seizure was not Of
contrabsnd goods. II needed, he thought.
no Investigation, by . committee to de-
termins that flour was MOI ICON trabaEd
of war.
"A majority Of this Senats can stifs
this resolution" said Mr.. Hale, warm
ly. "but IL cannot be suppressed In any
other way"
In Response to an inquiry BY Mr.. VOL
colt Of Colorado. Mr.. Hale said one Of the
thiags he was trying 10 have answered
was whether the -four seized was Ameri-
can flour, the property Of American
shippers.
The discussion Of the question - 10
whether Food products were ever ooun.
traband Of war, was precipitated BY .
question Of Mr.. Lodge. Mr.. Hale was Of
the opinion that 10 would take q very ex-
trems case to make -four oontraband Of
war but he could conceive that II might
| he in certain circumstances. Such an
admission womb, in his opinion, be
fraught with great danger to the United
States now and In the future. He did
| not imagine that the state department
was doing anything that would get Us
into trouble. but he wanted to know
what was teing done.
The resolution, as offered by Mr.. Hale,
was materially amended, Mr.. Hale him.
self accepting the suggestions of senators
that certain objectionable features be
eliminated.
Mr.. Hawley Of Connectiout was still OF
| opinion that the resolution was not
DIPLOMATIC paper.
Mr.. Platt of Connecticut, said the reso-
| frst nx oh 40 1s n Ia
In form. but he deemed IL unwiss to
adopt 1t while the subject WAS pending
between the state department. and the
diplomatic officials Of Great Britain.
Mr.. Tillman called attention TO the
shipment of mules to the British forces
In South Africa, from ports Of the United
States, the government taking no pains
to prevent IL.
Mr.. Plat replied that there was no
inhibition against the shipment of such
supplies to the British. The shippers
made the shipment at their own risks.
Mr.. Foraker sugge;t I'd that the resolu-
ton be directed to the President, instead
OF to the Secretary & .stsse. but Mr..
Hale, with some heat. declined to accept
any further amendments. Mr.. Foraker
then moved that the resolution be
amended as he had suggested and the
motion prevailed.
without further controversy. the reso-
luton a. amended. was passed.
| The resolution a. IL passed the Senate
read;
Whereas, IL Ia alleged that property Of
citizens Of the United States, not ooDstra-
band of war, bias been lately seized BY
the military authorities of Great Britain
in and near Delagoa Bay. South Africa,
without good reason for the same and
contrary to the accepted principles OF In
ternationAl law; and
Whereas, 1t Is alleged said property Is
now unjustly detained by the military
authorities Of Great Britain in disregard
to the rights Of the owners OF the same,
therefore
Resolved, by the Senate of the United
States, that the President Is hereby re-
quested to send to the Senate. II in his
opinion not inco npatible with the public
interest, all Information In possession Of
/ the State Department relating to said
alleged seisure and detention and also to
inform the Senate what steps have been
| taken in requesting the restoration Of
property taken and detained as aforesaid.
II was then determined that when the
Senate adjourned today 1t be until 1
o'clock tomorrow.
| Mr.. Pettigrsw's resolution, calling for
information from the secretary of war as
to the fiscal operations in Cuba, intro
dueei yesterday, was passed without de-
bate.
| A bill relating TO Cuban vessels. re-
ported by the COMMITTEES on commerce.,
was called up by Mr.. Berry Of Arkansas
and passed.
Ate o'clock the financial bill was laid
Def ore the Senate.
Mr.. Aidrich, chairman Of the finance
committee, said he deemed Il his duty to
ask that some time now be fixed for a
final vote on the measure and suggested
February 1.
Mr.. Jones of Arkansas, objected to that
date ae the time would be too short for
q full discussion Of the bill. He said.
however. that February is would be sat
isfactory. 1t as finally agreed that the
vote should be taken on February 10; that
/ two days intervening should be devoted