The Portland daily press., 1900-01-30
Took Exceptions to Speech in the
Senate.
Mr.. Hoar Regards It a
Serious Matter.
Depreciates Attacks on Great
Britain in Senate.

Washington, January - -Seuator ma
son, Republican Of Illinois. arose today,
soon after the Senate convened to quss-
tion OF privilege and sharply attacked the
British Cover nment and the British vice
consul at New Orleans because Of an In
teryiew in which the vice consul had as
sailed Mr.. Mason for the position he had
taken in behalf OF the Transvaal republic
In its war with Great Britain. Mr.. Ma
SON attacked not only the consul but the
policy Of Great Britain in levyfng war
upon an inferior nation.
MIR. Hoar, Republican Of Massachusetts,.
thought the oonsul's purported : remarks
so serious that the matter ought to be In
vesti gated by the government, but at the
same time, he deprecated any attack up
on Great Britain. with the people OF
which the American people ought not
only to live In peace, but as loving and
devoted friends.
Mr.. Lodge, Republican OF Massaohu
sets, sharply arraigned the British CON-
sui for his atteranoes against United
States Senator and believed 1t ought not
lightly to be passed.
MIR. Tiilman, Democrat Of South Caro-
lima, delivered foroeful and quite char
aoteristio speech on the Philippine ques-
ton in which he maintained that this
government ought to extend to ths FIJI.
pinos the right to govern themselves, the
United States guarding them against the
aggression Of other nations.
After some routine business today Mr..
Pettigrew presented o resolution calling
upon the President II not Incompatible
with public interest to inform the Senate
II the people OF samoa had been consulted
with reference to the recent treaty regard
ing the Samoan islands. The resolution
went over.
The Senate then adopted an order pre-
sented by Mr.. Allison Of Iowa decidins
to proceed to the election Of a secretary
and sergeant at arms Of the Senate.
Mr.. Allison then in succession pre-
sented resolutions. first, that Charles q.
Ben nett Of New York DO elected secretary
Of the Senate and second. that Dasiel n.
Ransdell Of Indiana be elected sergeant
at arms.
After an agreement was reached that
the officers would net take their places
until February /, the resolutions were
adopted without division.
Mr.. Mason of Illinois, rose to question
of personal privilege. He had read
newspaper interview with the British
consul at New Orleans.
The consul was quoted as saying that
the British public was disgustsd with
the position taken by the American peo-
pie and some of the Senators in Congress
on the subject OF the British 1ransvaal
war. That position was assumed, the con-
sui was quoted rs saying. simply bsnsuss
the American people were mercennry.
Today they were favorable to the Boers
because they had achieved little success;
tomorrow they would be just as favorable
tn the British when they had achieved
victory. Tho consul considered as partic-
ularly pombastic the utterAnoss Of certain
Senators and declared that when Senator
Mason adopted the role Of mountebank
and encourage the "half oivilized" peo-
pie. he did so simply for "show and for
votes"
Mr.. Mason said the oonsul's utteFance
was scarcely worth attention except that
he was one Of the accredited representa-
tives of great nation to this country.
sit 10 not the first time" declared Mr..
Mason, "that British diplomat has at
tempted to run this country. So far as
his personal attacks upon me are con-
cerped, have no concern. They do me
honor. The more vsnomous the attacks
by the British upon me and thoss who
think like me, the more We are made the
subjects Of British stupidity and sbsurdi.
ty. the sooner will all the American peo-
pie get on the right side Of the oontrover-
~.
"Chsap men who come to this country
In diplomatic or consular capacity and
mis-quote the utteranoss Of Senators only
aooentuate the arrogance and cowardics
Of those people,"
MIR. Mason said, that, according to the
beet information obtAinabls the people of
Scotland, those of Ireland and 95 per
cent Of the people Of America were In
sympathy with tbs Beers. Mr.. Mason
stated that he asked for no special defense
from the state department In this matter.
He inquired what had become OF the ar.
bitration treaty that was submitted to
the Senate. He had been told that the
United States government could not
mediate In this war until that treaty had
bean ratified. He wanted that treaty
ratified 90 that that barrier against msdi-
alton should be removed.
Mr.. Mason then adverted to the resolu-
ton of sympathy with the Bosrs which
he had offered early in the session and
urged the COMMITTEES on foreign relat ions
a. - . .o,o.e ,,xou IL In ovxfar that n