Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-20

by Mr.. SulZer (N-YD -.
Resolved, That the Secretary of War is
hereby directed to inform the House of
Representatives as early possible what
fortifications Great Britain is erecting, con-
structing and completing along the north
ern frontier of the United States. especially
at Puget sound and otherpiaces on the Pa
cific ocean, contiguous to the state of
Washington and the district of Alaska
The committee recommended that it lie
upon the table.
The resolution had been referred to the
War Department. Mr.. Hull said. and came
back with the following Endorsement.
The information the department pos
sesses on this and like cases has always
been held to be confidential, and. for good
and sufficient reasons has not been made
public
1T is remarked. however that Great
Britain. SO far las the department is in
formed, is in no instance erecting fortifica-
lions trespassing on our rights.
(SigneO H c. CORBIN.
"Adjutant General"
Acting Secretary of War Meiklejohn SUBJ
mitted an Endorsement, calling attention to
that of the adjutant general.
Mr.. SulZer and Mr.. Richardson, the DEM
ocratic leader, demanded time to debate the
motion. but the Speaker ruled that 1t was
not debatable. Thereupon Mr.. Sulzer re-
queSted Mr.. Hull to yield five minutes to
him.
II have no objection replied Mr.. Hull.
IF the House desires to hear the gentle
man. do not
Sulzer Attacks the Administration.
There was no objection, and Mr.. Sulzer
took the floor for five minutes.
MIR. Speaker said he. this resolution
was introduced in good faith and at pop
ular demand for legitimate information
which the War Department should furnish
to this House. in order that it can properly
consider and transact its business. There
Is nothing in the resolution which calls for
any secret Information from the War De-
partment. All that this resolution does is
to ask the War Department for such infor-
nation, not incompatible with the public
interest, as 1t possesses In regard to what
Notifications Great Britain is erecting on
Puget sound and especially at Esqaimault
and at other places contiguous to the state
of Washington and the district of Alaska.
1T is very strange, it seems to me, that
the committee on military affairs are so
sensitive in regard to this resolution. The
report from the adjutant general is pre-
posterous and untenable. He says that
this Information is secret. This resolution
calls for no secret information. He says
that Great Britain is not trespassing upon
our territory No one contends that Great
Britain is trespassing upon our territory.
How ridiculous it is for the adjutant
general to say that in this report. What
we do declare and what every thinking
and intelligent citizen of this country
knows is that while Great Britain is pre-
tending to be our friend she is sedulously
and studiously and consistently erecting
great Notifications on our northern from
tier which menace the integrity of the re-
public and which on notice of twenty-four
hours could destroy our cities. our towns
ana lay waste the property of our people.
ut seems to me that today the adnlinistra-
ton IS being humbugged by the demonstra-
ton of Great Britain. Nothing can be done
unless We get the consent of Downing
street
What Notifications Are Needed.
81 say that on this resolution I want to
get the sense of this House and find out
who are the friends of America and who
are the friends of Great Britain. We ought
to have this Information The gentleman
from Illinois the other day reported to this
house the Notifications bill. carrying an APP
preparation of three or four millions more
than the last appropriation bill We want
this information in order to fntelligently
know what Notifications we ought to erect
in opposition to the Qualifications Great
Britain is erecting. l think this resolution
should pass. L think it should have been
reported favorab1y. ...s
There is a feeling air over this country
that the administration has absolutely and
abjectly surrendered American rights to
British interests. 1t has done so in Alaska.
1t has done so in regard to the Nicaragua
canal itris. doing So now in the orient in
the Philippines, in China. 1t has been done
by Great Britain in this war in South
Africa applause on the democratic side.
II it had not been what the administration
did the other day, after consultation with
Lord Pauncefote, after being told what TO
do by Salisbury, there would have been a
concert of European powers which would
have demanded the cessation of war in
South Africa. The administration here *
more English than the administration in
London: and it is time for some one 10
stand up here and talk for American rights
against British interests" cloud applause
on the democratic side.b
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Sulzer's re-
marks. on rising vote the motion to lay
the resolution on the table was carried
81 to S. Thereupon Mr.. Suzer derna nded
the yeas and nays. which were ordered.
The resolution was laid upon the table
40 to ~
Mr.. Corliss (Aiicn) asked unanimous con-
sent for the consideration of the Senate
joint resolution recognizing the paIIantr,-
of Frank H.. Newcomb, commanding the
revenue cutter Hudson, and retiring Capl
Daniel r. Hodgson of the revenue cutter
service for efficient and meritorious SER
vices in command of the cutter Hugh Nc
Culloch at Manila
MIR. Wheeler Cky) said it was the duty
OF all our officers to be gallant, and he OBJ
jeCted to such resolutions
The Loud Bill Called Up.
The special order, the Loud bill, relating
to secoi.d-class mail matter. was then called
up. 1t Was arranged that general deba te
should continue today and tomorrow and
Thursday until o'clock. when the bill
should be read for amendment under the
fiVe-mihute rule until o'clock, when the
ti.al vote should be taken.
Mr.. Loud, chairman of the committee on
post offices and post roads, who had charge
of the measure, explained its provisions,
which are practically the same as the bill
which passed the House in January 1885,
and which tailed in the last Congress Its
main provisions cuts off from the privileges
OF secOnd-cldss mail matter which pays one
cent per pound, publications purporting to
be issued periodically and to subscribers
but which are books reprint of books
and defines the conditions under which a
publication shall be admitted to the mails
as second-class matter
Mr. Loud said that when the bill failed in
the last Congress he had said that he would
never again press this measure But when
he had returned to the present Congress
he had been urged by members, who said
they had voted against It under misap-
prchension in the last Congress to bring il
up again. He said it was not an exaggera-
ton TO Say that POO members had appealed
TO him.
Mr.. Loud sketched the history of the bill
which had been drawn by the first assist-