Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-01-16
Senate Action on Pettigrew's Re-
quest for Information.
INSTRUCTIONS TO PEACE COMMISSION
Refused to Adopt Them by 20
to 4l.
URGENT DEFICIENCY BILL

| the Senate Mr.. Cullom CIll.) presented a
petition handsomely bound and signed by
| 800 colored persons, asking for such legIs-
| lation will protect colored men Of this
| country from the "bGrbarous practice Of
| lynching and burning colored men,"
Mr.. Cullom asked that the petition he
referred to the committee on judiciary,
although. he said, it might be desirable TO
refer 1t to the committee on privileges and
| elections
Mr.. Hoar, chairman OF the judiciary COM
mittee. said he believed every senator would
| be glad to have such measures adopted as
| would suppress this wrongdoing and enable
The officials to enforce the laws. No senator
| he thought, would disagree to that. He
| directed attention to the fact that the state
| laws take cognizance of the crimes referred
| to in the petition. By what constitutional
method the United States could take action
in This question is GiTficult inquiry
Mr.. Chandler, chairman of the committee
| on privileges and elections, thought il de-
slrable to be perfectly frank. There is
no power in Congress said he ..to nr,,-.rr
or to punish crimes committed in The yaril
Gus states. If the states do not punish
crimes for the punishment of which they
nave enacted laws no federal law can take
the place OF useless state laws"
MI Chandler said there was no federal
law under which the violator of even The
suffrage laws could be punished.
ft-,l-
oral legislation
Mr.. Chandler-"There is not now such
itslsldtloh. congress has no constitutional
power TO punish such crimes"
MIR. Cullom thought that inasmuch as II
involved new legislation, the petition should
go TO the committee judiciary This
subject, Mr.. Cullom said, seems 10 call
Tor investigation. These people realize they
are being badly treated. Such treatmeIt is
without authority of law, and il ought Ia be
stopped if possible
Nj Tillman IS. C)-"what is the imme-
diate cause of this petition? Does it cone
from Chicago?"
MIR Cullom replied that the petition came
from Chicago, but that II was signed by
people of many states
Mr.. Tillman: Il simply wanted 10 know
whether or not 1t WAS due to the treatment
of the negroes in Illinois or in the sou,h hern
states.'
men, perhaps as many as six or cielt,. were
shot down in the streets and ;hat the
state administration now has thirty or for
~ men in Jail charged with the crime. and
Il they are guilty hope they will Eg pun
ished''
Mr. Spooner then called attention 70 Sec
tons OF the revised statutes which pro-
election laws
Mr.. Chandler said he stood corrected.
The petition was referred TO the commit
tee on judiciary.
Pensions for Dependent Parents.
Mr.. Gallinger On. H), chairman of he
committee on pensions, reported a lin re-
pealing section i116. Revised Statutes. so
far as it may be applicable TO claims of
dependent parents of soldiers sailors or ma
r.Ees. who served the United States in the
war with SPAIN The bill was passed
Mr.. Wellington introduced a joint rezalu-
uon declaring the purpose Of the j-nited
States toward the Philippine Islands and
gave notice that he would address the S,n-
ate on the resolution TbnrSIa,-
Mr.. Pettigrew offered a resolution calling
upon the Secretary of War for an itemized
statement of the expenses of our occupa ton
OF cuba, since the close of the war the sal
aries of all officials, the amount of customs
dues received and all other matters per-
tanning to the expenditure of money by the
United States on the island. He asked for
Its immediate consideration, bTt Mr.. Chan
dler N.H) objected. and the resolution
went over until tomorrow.
Additions to Standing Committees.
Mr.. Culberson Tex) withdrew as mem
Der of the census committee, and Mr. Cock
rell presented an order making the follow
ing additions to the standing committees of
the Senate:
Census, Mr.. Taliaferro; civil service. M.
Turley, Mr.. HeitfeId and Mr.. Cuberson;
irrigation. Mr.. Chiffon and Mr.. Allen: ed
ucation and labor. Mr.. Daniel; fisheries Mr.
Kenney; mines and mining, Mr.. Butler;
patents. Mr.. Heitfeld: transportation routes
to the seaboard. Mr.. McLaurin; Potomac
river front, Mr.. Bacon; national quarantine
Mr.. Culberson.
Instructions to Peace Commission.
The Senate went into executive session at
lilo pm, motion of Senator Davis,
chairman Of the committee on foreign rela-
tons. who was at the time addressing the
Senate on the various resolutions and
amendments relating to the Philippine
archipelago.
The Minnesota senator made the point of
order against the amendment calling for
the instructions to the peace commission
at Paris. This was overruled, and Senator
Davis. who was the chairman of the peace
commission, began speaking. He finally
said he was much embarrassed in speak
ing of the subject in open session, and
moved that the doors be closed, and The
Senate agreed TO the motion.
After the doors of the Senate Were closed
on the motion of Mr.. Davis to permit the
freer discussion Of the Philippine question
Mr.. Davis did not cor tinue his speech, as
had been supposed he would. but imme-
diately moved 10 lay on the table the PettI-
grew amendment calling for instructions to
the peace commission.
Mr.. Hoar made the point of order that
the motion could not be properly made or
debated in secret session. The matter un-
der consideration being legislative business
the motion must of necessity be made in
open Senate
President Pro Tenn. Frye ruled in accord
ance with MIR. Hoars suggestion. and the
doors were reopened to permit the making
of the motion in order
Mr.. Teller made brief speech. saying
that the President had the right to with
hold information or transmit in secret
session.
Mr.. Hoar pointed out that such inforrna-
ton ought 10 be sent when requested by
a senator il not incompatible with public
interests.
Mr.. Vest said that the friends of The ad-
should desire to have the
whole Paris correspondence placed before
the American people.
Mr.. Vest sharply criticised those who are
asserting that there are friends
of Agunaldo. lie recalled Il statement Of
Senator Sewell last summer who said he
went to the President after the battle Of
Manila ard said: Mr.. President, for Gods
sake, withdraw Deweyr'
There seemed some doubt about the in
structions to the Paris commissioners" con-
tinued Mr.. Vest. 1T was understood that
the President first wanted to keep Luzon
and leave the other islands 10 their fate
and later he directed that ali CT the islands
be held"
Mr.. Vest said he denied the right of any