The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-06-02


debate today was caustic and as warm as
the weather outdoors. At times the ex
changes between Senators bordered on
personalities. Much OF the discussion
was Of a political nature, although In
themselves the questions involved were
not essentially political. Soon after the
Senate convened memorial was present
ed from the people of California asking
that the government provide some relief
for the starving people Of India. Mr..
Hale Of Maine with this as text, severe
ly arraigned Great Britain for expanding
hundreds of millions Of dollars in crush
ing liberty and freedom In South Africa,
instead of caring for the helpless and dy-
ing people Of England chief colony.
1.-The world has been horrified-almost
stupe1ed," he said, lat the suffering
now being endured in India. That Is
the chief of Englands colonies. The
pestilence and famine are appalling to the
imagination. Whole families have been
wiped out of existence; the babe lies dead
beside its mother. The situation Is aw-
full. Now, the Senator.comes here with
proposition that we should appropriate
money for the relief of lthese people. /
should like to ask him what England has
done for the people of India. She has
spent tens and hundreds of millions Of
dollars in striking down and crushing
republics. 1t is the most brutal manifes-
tation of strength against liberty and
weakness that the world has ever seen
and am moved therefore to ask the
Senator what Great Britain has done to
relieve the suffering of her Indian sub
jects. What has he in the way Of infor-
nation on this pointY What informa-
ton has he In regard to England's action
in this matter while she is spending
hundreds of millions destroying the Boer
republicsf''
AS Mr.. Perkins was about to reply,
Mr.. Aldrich Of Rhode Island, remarked,
1T does seem strange that we cannot
have petition presented here without
two or three political 'speechesinade upon
it," .s.-....-s-
"What do you mean by political speech
esq" inquired Mr.. Hale.
1T does not seem at unnecessary re-
piled Mr.. Aldrich, THAT the presentation
Of petition should call out pro Boer
or other speeches. do not believe the
Senate or the country desires enlight-
ment ON that subject"
my remarks were called OUT said Mr.
Hale, ''by the suggestion that the gov
eminent should interpose for the relief of
the starving people of India. | asked
question and l want an answer for it,
Mr.. Perkins, In reply said he fully
realized the force of Mr.. Hale's question
II am not asking the Senate to take ac-
ton at this time. / ask that the memo
rial be referred to the committee on APP
preparations in order that the members Of
the committee may carefully consider the
subject The petition was so referred. A
little later when Mr.. Hale reported u
further disagreement on the naval appro-
priation bill an exciting discussion arose
over the armor plate question. A sharp
political twist was given to the debate
by u speech which Mr.. Hanna of Ohio
delivered in favor of leaving the whole
matter in the hands Of the Senate con-
ferees and of comforting discretionary
power upon the secretary of the navy, in
accordance with the House proposition.
He became involved in n controversy
with Mr.. Tillman Of South Carolina and
Mr.. Allen of Nebraska over the govern
ment's ability to manufacture armor sat
isfactorily. Mr.. Teller of Colorado, Mr..
Allen and Mr.. Pettigrew replied to Mr..
Hanna all speaking in political vein.
A yea and nay vote was taken on Mr..
Hale's motion further to insist upon the
Senate amendments, to disagree TO the
proposed amendment Of the House as to
armor plate and that the Senate agreed
to further conference. The motion was
agreed to unanimously 63 votes being
cast. Messrs. Hale, Perkins and TILL
man were appointed as conferees.
The Senate then passed 70 private pen
sion bills. The military academy appro-
priation bill was passed with the folio w
Ing amendments:
Providing:
That the senior major general COM
manuing the army shall have the rank,
pay and allowances OF lieutenant gem
eral and his personal staff shall have the
rank, pay and allowances authorized for
the staff Of lieutenant general; that
the adiutant general of the army shall
have the rank, pay and allowances of u
major general in the. army OF the United
States and on his retirement shall receive
the retired pay of that rank. This lat
ter provision TO apply only to the present
incumbent, General Corbin.
That the corps Of cadets at West Point
shall consist of one from each Congress
sional district, one from each territory,
one from the District of Columbia and
fifty from the United States at large, not
more than two of whom shall be from
the same state. They shall be appoint
ed by the President. 1t was agreed on
motion of Mr.. Fairbanks that the Cuban
extradition bill should be considered I'M
mediately after the general deficiency APP
propriation BILL Mr.. Hoar, declaring that
it would be a national scandal IL action
were not taken ON the bill before final
adjournment.