The age-herald., 1900-04-29
BOER RESOLUTIONS BEFORE THE SENATE It Was Referred to Committee By Vote of 32 to II. PARTY LINES NOT DRAWN Many of Those Who Opposed Immediate Action Were in Favor of Finally
 Passing the Resolutions
 Of Sympathy
PARTY LINES NOT DRAWN

Washington, April 2S.-Quite unexpected ly the senate today was brought face to face with the proposition to extend its sympathy to the Boers in their war with Great Britain. In the midst of the consid- eration of bills of minor importance, MT. Pettigrew of South Dakota called up the following, and asked for its immediate consideration:
 Whereas, From the hour of achieving their own independence the people of the United States have regarded with sympa- thy the struggles of other people to free themselves from European 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 MT. Lodge of Massachusetts had formally ascertained that no committee had reported the resolution to the senate he moved that it be referred to the com mittee on foreign relations. Without word of debate the vote was taken, 32 sen- ators voting in favor of referring and Il against it. As the vote disclosed the ab- sence of a quorum, an affort was made to secure one, but it was unsuccessful and the senate adjourned.
 Party lines were not drawn in the vote to refer. While all those who voted against referring are in favor of the adoption or the resolution, several senators on potn sides of the chamber who are known to be favorable to the measure, voted to send it to the committee.
 Beyond the passage of a few bills, no business of importance was transacted.
 THE HOUSE
 Washington, April 2S.-The house passed a number of bills of importance today, and the major portion of the session was de- voted to the senate bill to create com- mission to adjudicate the claims of citizens of the United States against Spain, assumed by this country by the treaty of Paris. The bill developed considerable opposition, and was finally recommitted to the common war claims committee, with instructions to re- port back bill to refer the claims to the court of claims. Bills were passed for the appointment of an additional United States commissioner for the Northern Judicial dis trict of the Indian Territory; to transfer the county of Concho, Texas, f{og' the Western to the Northern district Of Texas; to provide for the revision and codication of the general laws of the United States; and to authorize the construction af a bridge across the bay at Biloxi Miss.
 The senate bill to create a commission to adjudicate all the claims of citizens of the United States against Spain which the United States under the treaty of Paris be- came responsible for, was taken up.
 MT. Ray of New York opposed the bill. He argued that there was no necessity for such a commission. It created, he said, three commissioners at $5,000 annually; chief clerk at $3,00O an unlimited number of assistant attorneys at $200 month, and big corps of clerks and stenographers. MT. Ray contended that the court of claims should do this work.
 MT. Richardson of Tennesse thought it would be well to adjudicate lhese claims while they are fresh, and not allow them to run as the French spolation claims did, and to grow with years.
 MT. Hit of Illinois said 1t was necessary to place time limit upon the filing of such claims.
 Claims" said he, generate claims. They propagate each other, and none null tiply so rapidly as foreign claims I had some experience with the Mexican war claims. The manufacture of these claims became regular industry. Claims amount ing to hundreds of millions were filed Only about 8 per cent of them were allowed, and we afterwards discovered that the largest awards made were obtained by sheer fraud and villany. That was the case with the infamous Well claim"
 MT. Mahon of Pennsylvania said the claims from Cuba aggregate $33, ,000,0 600, and those from Porto Rico $4,000,00. After some further debate the bill was recommitted.
 At 4:20 p. m. the house adjourned.