The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-01-18
SENATE ON FLOUR SEIZURES.
PASSED DEMANDING
INFORMATION.

Philippine War, Was Also Passed
IL Was Fixed as the Day for Voting
on the Financial Bill.
Washington, Jan. 17.-Wthout difficulty
and within five minutes an agreement was
reached in the Senate to take final vote
on the pending bill fixing gold as the
| standard of value In the United States.
Senator Aldrich, chairman of the Fl.
nance Committee, suggested Feb. as a
suitable date for the vote. Senator Jones
of Arkansas named Feb. 10, and his prop
osition was accepted by Senator Aldrich
In the intervening time the measure will
be discussed.
After several days of debate the drag
net resolution of inquiry regarding the
conduct of the Philippine war was adopt
ed. 1t was introduced by Senator Hoar
and practically was adopted as a general
substitute for resolutions of similar but
| less extended in character, offered by
Senator Pettigrew and Senator Lodge.
Beyond a vigorous speech by Senator
| Pettigrew the resolution aroused no de-
bate. and 1t is within the discretion of
of the information requested.
The resolution offered by Mr. Hale of
Maine as to the seizure of flour by the
British authorities was adopted, but only
after spirited debate, and after the reso-
luton had been materially amended.
Pettigrew Makes Charges.
! When the Hoar resolution, amended by
| Senator Lodge, calling for general infor-
nation regarding the conduct of the in
surrection in the Philippines was taken
| up, Senator Pettigrew of South Dakota
| spoke in favor of its passage. He declared
that he had received information since the
| Introduction of his resolutions that assured
| him of the facts he had asserted,
The blood of every soldier" said he
| who has fallen since the war began, is
| on the hands of the administration. The
blood of the sixty soldier boys of South
| Dakota who lost their lives after being
| conscripted into an unwilling service aft
| er their terms had expired, lies at the
| door of the administration, and there is
| no escape for it. l charge that the CEN
sorShip of the press and the suppression
of facts are for the purpose of advancing
the political ambitions of Mr.. Mckinley"
| II this action, said Senator Pettigrew
put the administraton in hole, as was
stated. it was not his fault. The razssn-
ton was then passed without division. ~
Seizures of Flour.
Senator Hale of Maine called up his res
o'ution requesting the Secretary of State
for informa ton relating to the seizure and
| detention Of American flour by the British
| authorities in Delagoa bay, South Africa.
| Chairman Davis of the Foreign Rela tions
Committee moved that 1t be referred TO
his committee, saying 1t was premature
in view of the present diplomatic negotia-
| tions. Il is question to be determined
whether the flour is for use of an active
hostile.
Senator Davis thought the real question
now under consideration is whether the
matter comes within the province of in
ternatonal law. He said it did not be-
come the senator CHale) to introduce such
a resolution at this time and referring to
the paragraph that further detention will
be considered as without warrant and Of
fensiVe to this government, he ventured
90 say that no pronunclamento upon so
important a question was ever made by
government until the diplomatic negotia-
tions relating 10 it had been completed
1t is a statement which is made only on
the verge of hosriliiies.
Mr.. Hale replied that the resolution was
limited to one of inquiry; that the coun-
try was entitled to know the situation
and that he deemed 1t perfectly clear that
the seizure was not of contraband goods.
a committee to determine that -four was
not contraband of war.
Needed Majority.
"a majority of this Senate can stife
this resolution" said Senator Hale warm
ly but it cannot be suppressed in any
other way"
He said one of the things he was trying
to have answered was whether the flour
seized was American flour, the property
of American shippers.
The discussion of the question as to
whether food products were ever contra
band of wer was preciptated by a ques-
ton of Senator Lodge. Senator Hale
questioned 1t very decidedly in the case
of the -four, but he could conceive that
it might be in certain circumstances. Such
an admission would in his opinion how
ever, be fraught with great danger TO
the United States now and in the future.
Senator Hawley of Connecticut believed
the resolutions as introduced was q thin
~ yelled threat of war. Our relations
with Great Britain ought not to be dis
turbed unless for grave reasons
Senator Tillmar called attention to the
shipment of mules TO the British forces in
South Africa from ports of che United
States, the government taking no pains
to prevent it,
Mr.. Platt replied that there was no In
hibition against the shipment of such sup
plies to the British. The shippers made
the shipment at their own risk
Mr., Foraker suggested that the resolu-
ton be directed 70 the President, instead
OF to the Secretary of State, but Mrs.
Hale heatedly declined to accept further
amendments.
The Resolution ns Passed.
Mr. Foraker then moved that the reso-
luton be amended as he had suggested
and the motion prevailed.
Without further controversy the resolu-
ton as amended was passed. AS passed IL
reads as follows:
whereas, 1t is alleged that property OF
citizens OF the United States, not con-
traband of war, has been lately seized by
the military authorities of Great Britain
in and near Deagoa bay, South Afric1.
without good reason for the same, and
contrary to the accepted principles of ilI-
ternational law; and,
whereas, Il is alleged said property is
now unjustly detained by the military au-