The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-20

stood that some Army officers were re-
ceiving large salaries in addition to their
regular pay.
Mr.. Chandler said Mr.. Bacons state
ments were very impoI ant and, If true,
Congress ought to know it. He, therefore,
| suggested that Mr.. Bacon offer a resolu-
| tion of enquiry into the subject.
| In colloquy between Mr.. Bacon and
| Mr.. Foraker, the former alluded to the
| purpose of having an adjournment of Con-
! gress in June in Difference to the wish Of
! the Executive anG said: We have heard
it stated on this floor within twenty-four
I hours (alluding to remarks by Mr. Hale)
that Congress ought to adjourn by the
| first of June, and that ii is entirely prac-
/ ticable to do SO. While doubt that il can
be done, / have no doubt whatever. Under
the statements made and the wishes ex-
pressed. that we will adjourn during the
month Of June, and, in all probability, be-
fore the middle of June.
IF that be the case is not the Senator
extending the limit too far when he fixes
il for the first of August? In other words
if we are TO adjourn by the middle of June,
and If almost all of those officers are 10 be
confirmed by the Senate. ought not the
limit to be such that there can be reasona-
bic probability that appointments may be
confirmed before the officers enter on their
.
nominations made subsequent to the ad-
tournament of Congress and after the OPP
portunity Of confirmation or rejection has
been lost?"
Mr.. Foraker said he could assure the
Senator from Georgia that the adjourn
ment of Congress had nothing whatever to
! Go with fixing the time limit. He thought
that the most of the appointments would
be made before adjournment, but some of
them might not be.
| Mr.. Plat of Connecticut, after express
I ing his obligation to Mr. Bacon for inform
| ing the Senate when Congress would ad-
| journ, was about to proceed when he was
| interrupted by Mr.. Bacon, who explained
that his information came from the news
papers, which stated that the leaders of
| the dominant parfy had been informed by
| the President of his desire for an early
adjournment.
Il think l might say" Mr. Plat re-
1 marked, holly ''th-.t | did not hear OF it.
! even If had read the newspapers. | have
| yet to learn that when the President ex-
presses a wish TO Congress he expresses it
through the city newspapers"
Mr.. Bacon explained that his statement
was TO the effect that the newspapers had
quoted the Presidents wishes as commuui-
Gated TO the leading members of the dom-
nant party in both houses of Congress
| Mr. Platt-As / do not reckon myself
among the dominant members OF any party
in either house / may not have heard OF
that express wish OF the President and
therefore, | am exceedingly obliged to the
Senator from Georgia for communicating
the fact to the Senate and to me. But
do want TO say this: That, whatever the
! President may think about the wisdom or
propriety Of an early adjournment and the
/ possibilities of it with a due regard TO the
! business of the country, so far as | know
the views OF Senator's they are all in
favor of an early adjournment and think
that the country will be very glad to
have us adjourn, even before the lst OF
June.
MIR. Bacon--I think that the Senator is
entirely correct. Nothing can be done in
this session of Congress except il is the
work Of the dominant party; and the less
of It that is done, the BITTER. And the
sooner We adjourn without doing any Of 1t
the greater the qualification Of the country
will be.
Mr. Hawley-I think, on the contrary
that the country expects us to stay here
and do whatever is necessary and import
ant.
After one or two unsuccessful attempts
had been made to amend the resolution II
was passed without division.