The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-01
SYMPATHY FOR B0ERS.
SENATE BROUGHT FACE TO FACE WITH
THIS PROPOSITION.
THE ABSENCE OF A QUORUM
Saves That Body from a Direct Vote on
the Question = senator Pettigrew
Calls up a Resolution of sympathy.
Motion to send 1t To Committee De-
feated by want Of "A Quorum The
Bill to Adjudicate spanish War
CIaIms-Other Important Measures.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Washington. April 2S.-Quite unex-
tedly today the senate was brought
face to face with the proposition to ex
tend it's sympathy to the Beers in
their war with Great Britain. In the
midst of the consideration of bills of
minor Importance, Senator Pettigrew,
of South Dakota, called up the follow
ing and asked for it's immediate con-
sideration:
Whereas, from the hour of achiev-
ing their own independence the people
of the United States have regarded
with sympathy the Struggles Of other
people to free themselves from Euro
pean domination, therefore, be it
Resolved, That we watch with deep
and abiding. interest the heroic battle
of the South African republics against
cruelty and oppression, and our best
hopes go out for the full success OF
their determined contest for liberty.
When Senator Lodge, of Massachu-
setts, had formally ascertained that
no committee had reported the reSolu-
ton to the senate, he moved that 1t
be referred to the committee on for
eign relations. Without a word OF de-
bate, the vote was taken, thirty-one
senators voting in favor OF reference
and eleven against it. AS the vote
disclosed the absence of quorum, an
effort was made to secure one, but Ii
was unsuccessful and the senate ad-
journed.
Party lines were not drawn in the
vote to refer. While all those who
voted against reference are in favor
of the adoption of the resolution, sew
eral senators on both sides of the
chamber who are known to be favor
| able to the resolution voted to send
| 1t to the committee.
Another roll call developing the alb
sence of a quorum the senate at LAC
! o'clock p. m. adjourned.
HOUSE OF PRESENTATIVES.
The house passed a number of bills
| OF Importance today. The major por-
| ton of the session was devoted to
the senate bill to create a commission
to adjudicate the claims of citizens OF
| the United States against Spain as.
| sumed by this country by the treaty
| of Paris The bill developed consider
| able opposition and was finally recon-
! mitted to the committee on war claims
| with instructions to report back a bill
| to refer the claims to the court OF
| claims.
| senate Dill 10 recognize lhe Ser
| vices of Lieutenant Newcom and the
officers and men of the revenue cutter
| Hudson which rescued the torpedo
| boat Winslow at CardenaS, Cuba, by
! comforting gold and silver medals upoI
| them and to retire Captain HodgsoI
| of the revenue cutter Hugh McCul-
| loch, were passed.
| Francis r. LaSSiter, who succeeds
the late Representative Sidney Epe!
| from the Fourth Virginia district was
| sworn in. In connection with the pre-.
sentation of his credentials q communi
| cation was read from James Selder
| Cowden. protesting against the seating
of Mr.. Lassiter and filing notice of a
! formal contest on the ground that the
| vote by which Mr.. Lassiter claimed
! election was paper vote" not act
ually cast.
Bills were passed: To authorize the
| Carolina Railroad Company to con-
n. c.; to provide for the revision anC
| codification of the general laws Of the
| United States; to authorize the coz
| struction of bridge across the Bacl
Bay at Biloxi, Miss.
At 2 o'clock the senate bill to create
a commission to adjudicate all claims
| of the citizens of the United States
against Spain which the United States
under the treaty with Spain agreed tc
| adjudicate and settle was taken up.
| Mr.. Ray, of New York, opposed the
| bill. He argued that there was no ne
| ceSSity for such a commission. 1t Great
! ed, he said, three commissioners a
$1,000 annually; a chief clerk, at So, 600
an assistant attorney general, an un-
| limited number of assistant attorneys
| at 5000 a month and a big corps OF
| clerks and stenographers.
Mr.. Ray contended that the court OF
| claims should do this work. They had
ample time and this additiNnal labor
| would not break them down. The only
| excuse and justification for the enact
| ment of this bill, Mr.. Ray declared
| was desire of certain senator's to ge
| good berthS for their constituents. HI
| demanded to know how many claims
| had been filed and what they amounted
had been filed and what they amount
| ed to.
| Mr.. Mahon, of Pennsylvania, replied
that he did not know how many claims
| had been filed, but that the Legislation
was recommended by the president and
| the secretary Of state.
| Mr. Mahon, later, said the claim:
for Cuba aggregated $50, 900, 900, and
| those from Porto Rico $4,000, 900. He
offered substitute, providing that tn,
commission shall not exist over eigh.
| teen months; that all claims not filed
| within six months shall be fofevel
| barred and that the awards shar bt
| final.
After further debate the bill and the
| substitute were recommitted to the
committee on war claims, with instruc
tons to report back bill to refer the
claims to the court of claims.
AT 4:20 o'clock the house adjourned.