The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-19

What is the position of the presi-
cent! inquired Senator Vest. He
directed n peace commission to take
one acknowledgements afterwards
abandoned that policy. He has since
SAID the acquisition of the islands was
an act of Urovidence-that we could
not leave them as derelicts. The fact
IS, this whole question is in a. nebulous
and foggy condition.
II disclaim now any intention that
my remarks should rehec upon my
country But I deny the right of any
man to muzzle me and restrain my
right to express my opinion in nv own
way. We lave the bubonic plague
added to leprocy in Hawaii; we have
starvation in Puerto Rico; we have
unrest and disquiet in Cuba: and we
nave a war of indefinite length in the
philippines. Is it treason 10 say this d?
When the Paris treaty was ratified
here every man who voted for il knew
then that he voted for a war, for there
a been a battle with Aguinaldo the
Saturday preceding. Every senator
knew then, as he lows now, that we
were paying $4,000, 900 for a war in the
archipelago, the end of which might
come In a month and might not come
in ten years.
Il simply put before the Senate and
the country this propositions: Are we
to remain silent, r~efraining even from
ordinary criticism as to the conduct of
the war, for fear that we are to be
denounced as allies of Aguinaldo, and
opposed to the authority of our own
country?
Il am very sure that what I have
said will be misconstrued, because il
seems to be the policy in certain quar-
ters to brand every man who does not
give his unqualified assent to all that
is done in the Philippine war as I'M
worthy the confidence of the people"
The currency bill was taken up and
Senator McLaurin, democrat, of South
Carolina, discussed his amendment. He
advocated the repeal of the law plac-
ing a taxo on state bank circulation, and
permission to state banks to issue cir
culatlng notes. He maintained that the
increase of the banking facilities would
not help the south and west if pro-
vided according to the provisions of
the pending bill. He would nave each
state regulate its own domestic cur
rency, both in volume n kind.
At 2:45 o'clock the senate went into
executive session and at 4:55 o'clock D.
N. adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The urgent deficiency appropriation
bill was taken UP in the house today.
1t was the general expectation that it
would open up a stormy debate upon
the question of expansion, in view of
the large army and navy items it con-
tains, but the members only became
very much engroSSed in a discussion Of
an item of $780, 900 for rural free deliv-
cry, in which all are personally inter
ested, n the subject of expansion was
barely touched upon.
Mr.. Cannon was asked by Mr.. Loud,
Of California, about the item of $780, 900
for rural free delivery Inc replied that
$500, 900 had been appropriated for the
present fiscal year, though he frankly
confessed it did not meet with his en-
tire approval. The department had no
right TO create a condition which ne
cessitated a deficiency appropriation.
He should vote for the appropriation,
but he should fail IN his duty did he
not call attention to the maladminis-
tratiOn of the department.
Mr.. McRae, Arkansas, made a gen.
eral plea for economy. The revenue
this ear would not exceed 5000, 900, 900
while the treasury ESTIMATES aggregat-
ed S73S, 600, 900.
Messrs. Loud, California, Livington,
Georgia, and Griggs, Georgia, were
among those VINO supported the rural
free delivery.
Mr.. Ball, Texas, first introduced in
the debate the question of expansion.
He had rea extracts from the declar-
alton of independence and others from
speeches of James Wilson, of Pennsyl-
vania, in the constitutional convention,
and of Abraham Lincoln at Gettysburg.
1t was a long step, said he, from the
conceptions of the government por-
trayed in these utterance to the declar-
alton of the spokesman of the present
administration. He vigorously assail-
ed the recent speech of Senator Bever-
idge, of Indiana.
MIR. Richardson, Tennessee, briefly
reviewed the appropriations for the
military establishment, showing that
! In time of peace appropriations for It,
with the deficiency provided in this bill
reached S121 600, 900. He then proceed
ed to criticise the transactions of Sec
| rotary Gage IN the matter of the sale
Of the New York custom house to the
National City bank, of New York. 1T
had been charged, said Mr.. Richardson,
that the secretary of the treasury har
violated the law and was subject to
Impeachment. Mr.. Richardson said
he did not go to that length but he
desired to call attention to the trans
actions relative to the sale of the old
custom house in New York. The Sec
rotary of the treasury, he said, had GER
tainly violated the strict letter of the
law. Because h proceeds Of the sale
had been deposited in h National City
bank, which had purchased the prop
erty, some of the papers,, he said, had
charged that the secretary was tech
nically guilty of -embezzlement and
had cited a decision of the supreme
court made asst November.
Amid confusion that ensued Mr.. Rich
ardson finally made the house under
stand that he did not agrreee with this
view. He expressed the opinion that
the secretary had a perfect right to de-
post the money In q government de-
positary such as educational City bank
then was. But he desired to go beyond
that. The custom house was sold to
the bank July 8, 1899 for 1885, 900.
Just before the sale June 5th) the sec
rotary received a letter from A. B.
Hepburn from which he quoted this
abstract: 'Of course this bank is very
strong and If you take the pains to look
at the list of directors you viii See we
have great claims in favor OF what was
done in 1896"
Mr.. Richardson then read a list of
some deposits in this bank at various