The Portland daily press., 1900-03-15
District Of Columbia Bill 0Stensible
Business.
Nicaragua Canal And
Philippines,
Open Door, Election Of Senators
Among Topics.

| Washington, March IA The tine for
general debate on the District Of Column
bia appropriation bill, which was taken
up in the Houte today. was occupied BY
mem Der In a series Of set speeches. Mr.
Adams on OF Georgia. discussed the Mo-
aragua canal, Mr.. Cowhsrd the Philip
pine question Mr.. Howard Of Georgia,
questions relating to the Philippines and
the "open door" policy In the Orient :
Mr.. Rucker Of Missouri the advisability
Of eleoting Senators by the people and
Air. Boutelle of Illinois, replied to Mr..
Cowherd.
The District of Columbia sppropri-
alton bill was brought mp. Some routine
bueiness was first transacted.
| A resolution was adopted setting aside
alternate Fridays except such as are de-
voted under the rule adopted last week to
pension legislation to the consideration
OF private bills reported BY the clains
and war claims committee. Messrs.
Roberts, Hestwole and briggs were ap-
pointed o special committee to investi-
gate storage room IN the Capitol. dhe
| House then went into committee Of the
whole to consider the District Of Colu m
bia appropriation bill.
1t was agreed that general debate IN
the bill should close today. air. Grout
OF Vermont, In charge OF the bill, made
u general explanation of Its provisions.
The bill carries 60, COS, ,37s.
Mr.. Adamson OF Georgia took advan-
taRe of the latitude permitted in general
debats to deliver lengthy argument In
favor of an Isthmian canal,
MIR. Cowhsrd OF Missouri addressed the
House on the subject of the Philippines
holding that the advocates Of Imperialism
were aotuated by two motives military
ism and commercial greed. He denied
that Jefferson was the father Of modern
expansion, quoting extensively from
Jefferson's writings to show that Jeffer-
sons motives in securing the annexation
OF Louisiana was to avoid EN- broiling the
country In foreign wars In the future.
Jefferson, he said, desired to insure peace.
Modern expansionists courted foreign
complicati lions.
"Mr. Chairman, concluded Mr.. Cow.
herd, "thers was q time when we boassed
not of the money We could make, not
that our flag carried trade In Its wake.
but that 1t carried liberty. Today it's
proud boast is that trade follows the flag.
into Kimberley. to the relief Of that
beleagured oity. the newspapers tell us
the citizens held a reception for the Eng
Iish officers and Cecil Rhodes, the very
Incarnation OF the land-srabbing spirit
OF the age, in Response to toast, said
that the people Of Kimberley had done
their part In preserving for the world the
greatest oommeeial asset of the age. the
English flag. =
"M. Chairmsp,I i hope the day will new
er come when any man can rise in any
land and points to yonder banner as
commercial asset. (Applause.)
az trust, sir. that something still will
survive OF the days when that banner
floated above Washington and his bare
footed patriots at Valley Forge trust
something still win live OF the spirit that
animated the men who upheld that ban
Her when they stood with stubborn old
Andrew jackson at New Orleans. 1
trust something Of the lifs OF liberty still
permeates this nation that permeatsd d
the followers Of. yonder dag when they
marched with Grant on his stubborn adj
vance to Richmond.
"And, Mr.. Chairman, If the day ever
comes when that banner is nothing but
commercial asset, then, sir,evsry stripe
Of white upon its folds should bs dyed In
the blood OF the men we killed and con-
quered, and from yonder ground Of blue
you should take every star that represents
an independent state" (Applause on
the Democratic side.)
Mr.. Howard OF Georgia discussed the
"open door" policy In the east.
Mr.. Ruoker Of Missouri submitted an
argument In favor OF q constitutional
amendment for the election Of senators
ty the people. He said that 80 states
were on record a. favoring the popular
election OF senator's.
Mr.. .Boutelle of Illinois, closed the de-
bate with . brief reply to the argument
Of Mr.. Cowherd. he said that military
glory and commercial greed were as
rspugnAnt to him As to the gentleman
from Missouri. He hoped and pray cd
that in dealing with the probisms which
confronted Us we would be guided By
the highest motives and that The bless
ings OF the God Of nations and the sp-
proval Of all civilization would rest up
On us.
The House then adjourned,