The age-herald., 1900-05-22
Morgan Attempted to Bring Up
 Nicaragua Canal Bill,
BUT FAILED AFTER A CLOSE VOTE
Motion of Senator Morgan to Proceed to Consideration of the Canal Bill Failed by Vote
 of 2S to 21

l Washington, May 2.-A pyrotechnic dis l cussion of the status of the Boer commits sioners now in Washington was precpitated in the senate today by a resolution offered l by Mir Allen of Nebraska extending to the commissioners the privilege of the floor of l the senate during their sojourn in the na- tional capital. The resolution was defeated by a vote of 36 to 21, but not until after a sharp controversy between it's author and MT. Davis. chairman of the committee on foreign relations.
 MT. Allen maintained that the resolution was in line with precedents, while Mir. Davis contended that in the peculiar cir cumstances, the senate ought not to take any action that might be considered recognition of Boer diplomats until the president, who alone had the power to re- ceive diplomatic representatives, had taken action
 The post office appropriation bill was pass ed finally, the amendment to appropriate $225,O 900 to carry out existing contracts for the pneumatic tube service being agreed to. Morgan's Effort Failed An effort was made by MT. Morgan of Alabama to displace the Spooner Philippine bill with the Nicaragua canal bill as the unfinished business. but it failed by vote of 21 to 2S | bill to detach the county of Concho | from the western district of Texas and att 1 tach it to the mortimer district of Texas was 1 passed.
 The resolution offered few days ago by Mir. Morgan, directing the inter-oceanic ca- nal commission to make an investigation x.yftI, x,{av ,f is any corporation or organization of indi- viduals which has for its purpose the ob- struction of the United States in construct ing an isthmian canal and for other pur- poses, was adopted
 At the request of the committee on privi- leges and elections the resolution relating to the Montana senatorial case was post poned until Thursday at 1 o'clock
 MT. Sullivan of Mississippi offered a reso- lution directing the secretary of the treas ury to inform the senate whether volunteer officers and men in the late war with Spain were pad twice for the same service; re- ferred to the committee on military affairs.
 The Boer Resolution
 The resolution offered on Saturday by MT. Allen of Nebraska extending to the Boer delegates, now in Washington, the privileges of the floor of the senate, was advocated by Mr. Allen. He maintained that it was the universal practice of the senate to extend to such visitors the court esies of the senate, citing the recognition by the senate of Charles Stuart Parnen years ago and the more recent recognition of Lord Herschell and the members of the joint high commission from Canada. The Boer commissioners, he said desire to lay before the American people the facts con corning the present war They were not seeking anything but the friendly offices of this government and that natural sympathy which they had a right to, MT. Allen thought, to expect from people so devoted to the cause of liberty the Americans are
 MT. Davis of Minnesota, chairman of the committee on foreign relations, opposed the resolution.
 This resolution,' said he recognizes these gentlemen by name as the commits sioners of the South African governments That recognition by the constitution is confided exclusively to the president of the United States. There is not foreign ana bassador or minister to this government who is entitled to admission to the floor of the senate"
 The Canadian commissioners, he said, had been admitted to the floor of the senate
 But, said he, there was no such question then pending between Great Britain and the United States that which has brought these gentlemen here to state their cause To the government and to the American people. It is not plain to me that the United States senate should make haste to admit them as commissioners to the courtesies of the senate when such courtesies are not extended to the ambassadors or ministers of any foreign country"
 Had Already Recognized Government
 MT. Teller said we had already recog- nized the South African republic, and had sent diplomatic representatives to them.
 Mir Davis said he did not know that any boddy ever had denied the South African republics were independent countries. But that is not the question:, he said ''It is fact that neither of these states has ever before attempted to send diplomatic rep resentatives to the United States It also is a fact that the United States has never sent diplomatic representatives to them''
 Tt has sent consuls.' interjected MT. Tillman.
 That is just the mistake the senator makes replied MT. Davis. "A consul Is not diplomatic officer. The situation Is just this: South African republics for the first time have sent commissioners who are diplomatic representatives to the United States. They ask to enter into in- ternational relations with us of a certain nature and for certain action by this gov- ernment. Before any consideration of this matter can be entered into by the senate these gentlemen must be received by the prsident in that capacity in which they are -----~---------~-~----~~~