Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1900-06-04
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS.

| Washington, May 24.-The duty of
the United States toward it's ''island
possessions was the subject of
| heated discussion in the senate again.
| Soon after the body convened Senator
Bacon (Ga.) began an extended reply
to the speech of Senator Plat, deliv-
cred Wednesday, His speech was
| largely supplemental to that which he
| delivered several days ago demanding
an investigation of Cuban financial af-
fairs. The remainder of the afternoon
was occupied by Senator Spooner in
concluding his speech on the Philip
pine question. Many of his statements
were controverted by Senators Allen
| (Neb.) and Pettigrew Is. d., and the
| controversy at times became almost
| personal. Senator Spooner in resum-
ing his speech maintained the facts
proved that an attack upon the United
States troops was not only made by
Aguinaldo but had been long premedi-
| tated. He declared that nobody but
an anti-imperialist who by his words
and actions desired to dishonor his
country and make campaign capital in
presidential election could have so
little of good faith as to make tne bru.
tai charge against the president that
he had been responsible for the precip-
ltatlon OF hostilities. Continuing the
argument, Senator Spooner said there
had been an attempt to make an issue
of imperialism where none actually ex-
listed. 1t was done merely for political
effect and to obscure the political issue
/ of 1896. The issue had been employed
by Bryan and was being exploited by
every branch of the opposition to the
republican party. After an explanation
of the bill under discussion, saying it
was merely temporary measure to in
president in his effort to give a good
government to people seven thousand
miles away, Senator Spooner said in
| conclusion:
''The American people will stand be-
| hind the American army wherever it
| H1dy UG uuu0F OUR nag.
| fright or wrong" interjected Sena-
tor Pettigrew.
| 1T will be right" responded Sena-
tor Spooner, holly. "But the American
people will determine that question;
not the senator from South Dakota.
| We will do what is generous and right
| We will give them good government
an honest government. If we come up
on dishonest employe we send him to
the penitentiary. Then the day will
come when those people are enjoying
the blessings of prosperity, content
| ment and good government, wnen the
American people will grant them an
autonomous government; when we
have erected government in Cuba
stable and strong; when we have con-
ferred the blessings of civil liberty up
on the people of Porto Rico; when we
! have given to the Filipinos such gov
| eminent and such an administration
| as they never dreamed of,-then we
shall have worked our consummation
mere gloriously and given greater ex-
ample Of what liberty can do than has
ever before been seen in the history of
the world"
Washington, May 24-The house
practically devoted eight hours to con-
sheraton of the Alaska civil govern
ment bill, but the progress was slow.
| Washington, Hay 26.-In the house
the senate bill to facilitate the entry
| of steamships engaged in coastwise
trade between the ports of Porto Rico,
| Hawaii and ports in the United States
| was passed. The house then resumed
the consideration of the Alaskan civil
| government bill. After completing
the reading. of the bill save for few
paragraphs that were passed over the
| house adjourned.
| The senate agreed to the resolution
for investigation by the committee on
Cuban affairs of the Cuban postal and
other Irregularities, authorizing the
| committee to visit Cuba if necessary
| to pursue the inquiry. Beyond this
the proceedings were of little general
| interest, some time being given to the
sundry civil appropriation bill with
out completing it, and District of
| Columbia business.
Washington, May 28.-In the course
Of speech in favor Of the adoption
Of the resolution expressing the
senate's sympathy for the beers Sen
ator Wellington (Md.) referred to the
secret understanding existing be-
tween the United States and
Great Britain. When Senator Lodge
! (Mass.) demanded proof that such IN
derstanding existed, Senator yelling
ton said that under the circumstances
it was difficult to present tangible
proof, but he believed proof could be
found in the secret archives of the
state department. Senator Lodge re-
piled that under our form of govern
ment no such understanding could ex-
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