Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-04-13
IN THE HOUSE.

IN THE HOUSE.
washington, April 12.-The House.
today, after a spirited debate adopted
the resolution reported from the lnsu-
lar affairs committee to authorize the
secretary of the treasury to designate
depositories in Puerto Rico. Cuba and
the Philippines for the deposit of gov
eminent funds BY the terms of the
resolution it applies to Cuba only 50
long as the island shall be occupied by
the United States. An amendment to
include the Philippines in this provis-
ion as to Cuba, offered, as stated, to
emphasize the desire of the opposi-
ton to retain the islands, was defeated
by party vote.
The Senate bill which will permit the
dependent mothers Of soldiers or sail
ors of the Spanish war. even though
they married Confederate soldiers.
to receive the benefit Of the general
pension law was passed. The remain
der of the day was devoted TO debate
upon a resolution from the committee
on election of President, Vice Presl-
dent and representatives. in Congress
for a constitutional amendment en-
towering the legislature of the states
to decide whether United States s2na-
tors shall be elected by the legislature
or directly by the people. y substitute
resolution was offered by the minority
of the committee which differed from
the majority resolution in giving the
states no option but providing that in
all states the people should vote di-
rectly for United states senators.
Cooper. chairman Of the committee
on insular affairs. called w the rcSo-
luton to authorize the secretary Of the
treasury to designate banks in Puerto
Rico, cuba ana the Philippines as q
government depository.
Jones. va. offered an amendment
which provided that the act should
apply to the Philippines and cuba
only as they should be occupied by the
United States.
Cooper opening the debate, said that
for some incXplicablc reason The bill
had been called the STANDARD oil
bill" After patient investigation he
had failed to find one fact to support
such Slur. Cooper explained the nee
essity for government repositories in
our insular possessions. DisbursinG
officers Of the government, he said,
could deposit only in government de-
positorics. If the deposited elsewhere
they were guilty of technical embez-
Element.
Brewer, Ala, said he supported the
Jones amendment in order to cmpha-
size in every possible way his aversion
to the retention Of the Philippines. He
said he had rather see any Republican
who opposed the retention Of the
islands President than n Democrat who
favored holding them. He charged
that the situation in the Philippines
was pcrSistently misreprescntcd by the
war department. The insurrcction was
not over. Only last week the FiiipinoS
had attacked an outpost within five
miles of Manila. we hold C1ly the
territory within the range Of our guns -
wrote an officer in a letter to him.
Peace would come, he said, in gencr-
alton if we hold on. He was in favor
of turning the islands over to the in
habitants at the earliest possible mo-
ment.
Cox. Tenn. criticised the bill because
1t did not require the repositories N
deposit United States government
bonds for the security Of government
funds.
Jones said that if Cooper had in
quircd further he would have discover
ed a better reason why this bill was
called the Standard Oil bill He re-
called the letter written by Mr.. Hop
burn of the National City Bank of New
York. to Sec. Gage asking for just such
n privilege as this bill bestowed. he
cause some of the banks directors had
t,.;l frDnrip1ly tn N al IN
Of Mr.. Mckinley in 1896. The Nation
al City Bank. Jones said, was owned
by the Standard Oil co.
Fitzgerald Mass. offered an amend
mcnt requiring designated repositories
in cuba. 1t was another straw which
indicated a purpose u get hold Of
everything in Cuba that was wOrti
having.
Cooper. in closing the debate. de
prccated the constant agitation of pol
itics whether is was pertinent to the
bill under consideration or not. He
said there was practically no money fol
the banks in being designated as gov
eminent repositories because the
moneys deposited would remain but
short time. There was. perhaps. some
advertisement in it for the banks. That
was all. The relief was desired hy the
disbursinS officers of the government
Jones amendment was lost. l21 to 49,
Fitzgerald's amendment was also lost
Levy. \. y. offered an amendment
which was ruled out on a point Of or
der. TO deduct o per cent Of the Gus
toms revenues Of Cuba for the creatio
OF fund to repay to the United state
me money spent on behalf Of Cuba.
Inc bill was passed 1SS to 100.
Loudenslager. \. J., from the com
mittee on pensions. called IN the Sen
ate OH to repeal Section 4716 of tn
HeVlsed Statutes. so far as ii relate
20 the dependent parents of soldier
ana sailors of the Spanish war. TIL