The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-02-08
RIDICULRD BY GROSVHNOR
Mr.. Shafroth Made the Butt of His
Biting Sarcasm.
The Colorado Member Makes
Strong Plcn for Mediation Between
the English and Bocrs-Tnken TO
Task by the Ohionn - The Dipio-
matte and Consular Bill Passed

The House yesterday passed the Diplo-
matte and Consular Appropriation bill for
the year 1901 practically in the shape re
ported from the Committee on Foreign Af-
fairs. After iisposing of some routine
business. cons Iteration of the Diplomatic
and Consular Appropriation bill was re-
sumed.
Although general debate closed Tuesday
afternoon. Mr.. Shafroth of Colorado was
allowed forty-five minutes in which to
complete a speech he began last week urg-
| ing mediation by the United States in the
South African war. Mr.. shafroth. replying
| 10 question, insisted that the South At
rican Republic was an Independent Gov
ernment, Notwithstanding Great Britain's
claim of sovereignty.
Mr.. Shafroth said he was not asking for
armed intervention on the part of the
| United States, but he wanted this Govern
ment to exercise the right given it By
Article III of The Hague treaty. The third
article OF that treaty made IL the duty OF
| nations, strangers to the dispute upon
| their own Initiative, TO offer to mediate
| the trouble
Mr. Grosvenor of Ohio ridiculed Mr..
! ShafrOths speech. He said he sympathized
with any people struggling for liberty. Re-
viewing history. he pointed out here and
| there the wrongs suffered by the Poles
| Hungarians. Finlanders, etc and yet the
| United States had not felt called upon to
interfere
The great German Empire had taken from
France two provinces and absorbed the
people who objected to the transfer. Great
God!' shouted Mr.. Grosvenor. in mock he
roics rs this thing TO be permitted TO
go on and We say nothing?" [Laughter.l
He suggested that there should be APP
pointed a committee of not less than TWEEN
ty-five members, mot more than thirteen
of whom shall be members of the same
political party. whose salaries ought to be
at least $40, ,OOe year each, with a rowing
commission authorizing them to go to all
parts of the world" Whenever they found
any wrong being done in any place they
should return and report the facts.
Mr.. Shafroth plaintively enquired why
he should be held up to ridicule. Why. II
liberty was being violated on the earth, 1t
were a crime to mention the fact in the
House.
Mr.. William Alden Smith of Michigan
asked Mr.. Shafroth il he knew that media
tion had not been offered: that mediation
was not generally accompanied by brass
band.
Mr.. Shafroth replied that he did not
know; but il so, God bless the man who
had offered it,
When the paragraph making sppropria-
tions for the salaries Of consuls General at
London and Paris was reached Mr.. Dolli-
yer OF Iowa. stating that current rumor ac- |
corded to each of those officials an annual |
income largely in excess of the salary re-
ceived by the President asked for the facts |
Mr. Hit of Illinois. in charge of the bill. |
replied that the gross annual income of
these officials was about $4,000. out OF /
which they we're required to pay consd- |
cradle sum for clerical service. Until |
within recent years. however. Mr.. Hit /
stated. the official fees, now turned into |
the Treasury. went to swell the Consul |
Generals income.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Heatwole |
OF Minnesota was agreed to, providing for |
the appointment of Consul General at /
Christiania, Sweden at a salary Of Sl.50O.
Mr.. Terry of Arkansas contrasted the |
Republican party in 1861. crusading against |
human slavery, with that party in 1899, |
making treaties with powers that not only |
hold human beings in slavery, but indulge
in harems as we'll.
Mr. Ciliett of Massachusetts said that |
there could be no political lines drawn in
fixing the responsibility for ratification
of the treaty that gave US the Philippines.
The question was not shall We take the
Philippines? Shall we govern them? But
how shall we govern them? They already
belonged to the United States. Regarding
the responsibility for the war now raging
in the islands, he preferred to accept the
statements OF our officers rather than
those of our enemies.
Without further changing the bill the
committee rose the hill was reported, the
amendments agreed to, and the bill
passed.
Resolutions reported from the Commit
tee on Accounts were agreed to authorizing
the appointment of clerks for the Commit
tees on Pacific Railroads, Revision of the
Laws. Elections. Nos. 2 and 3. and assis-
tant clerks for the committees on Military
and Naval Affairs Interstate and Foreign
Commerce.
AT 2:I5 The House adjourned.