Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-12-12
56TH CONGRESS,
Clay Of Georgia Opposes Ship
Subsidy Bill.
House Opens the Debate on Reduction
Of the War Revenue.
Special Committee Will Investigate Death OF
Late Cadet Boosc.

Washington, Dec. 1.-THE first
speech in opposition to the ship subsidy
bill in the Senate was delivered, today,
| by Clay, Ga. He is one of the minority
members of the committee on COM
merce which conducted the hearings on
! the measure and reported ii to the SEN
| ate. He is recognized at one of the
most vigorous opponents Of the bill in
the Senate, and during nearly two
| hours he was accorded close attention
by senators on both sides of the cham
ber. Hanna, who expects to reply to
| Clay's argument, gave him a particu-
| larly attentive hearing.
| In the early part Of the session a
| lively colloquy was precipitated over
| the reference to committee of the
Grout oleomargarine bill, just passed
! by the House OF Representatives.
| Finally it went to the committee on
| agriculture. This was n victory for
| the friends of the bill.
| There also was a sharp debate over
| the Montana senatorial case, but no
| action was taken. the matter by con
sent going over temporarily. Tomor-
| row. no business session of the Senate
will be held, as the day will be devot
ed to the celebration of the centennial
of the establishment Of the seat Of gov
ernment in Washington.
There were no set speeches on the
| Hay yPauncefote treaty in the execu-
| tive session of the Senate, today. Such
discussion as there was consisted Of
questions and answers directed to-
| wards clearing up doubts concerning
the effect of the treaty, generally re-
garding the rights of the United States
| in Central America.
| Senator Beveridge took the initiative.
| He asked for information as TO the eff
| feet OF the pending negotiations on the
questions disposed of for the time by
the Clayton Bulwer negotiations. The
questions brought out replies from
| Senator Lodge, in charge of the bill
| and after Mr.. Lodge had concluded d
| number of senatorial lawyers found
| occasion TO participate in the contro-
versy which ensued. Those who spoke
| included Senators Foraker, Teller.
Money. Mason and Spooner.
When the Senate convened. Allen,
| Allen, Neb.. who had not been present
| during the present session, was in at
| tendance. IL was understood generally
that the ship subsidy bill was to be
discussed, and that fact attracted
| considerable audience 10 the galleries.
Bills were passed authorizing Eth
Gilbert Watts. United States consul at
| Kingston, Jamaica, to accept a decor
alton from the Khedive OF Egypt; also
authorizing George w. Hill of the de-
partment Of agriculture, to accept Il
decoration from the French republic.
Hale, Me. called up the question of
the order of business in the Senate.
tomorrow. He directed attention TO the
fact that the Senate had passed a bill
providing for the centennial celebra-
tion of the establishing in Washington
of the government. Upon his mo-
| ton the Senate agreed to adjourn, to-
day. until $50 tomorrow. TO meet IN
joint session in the House Of Repre-
sentatives.
The Senate took up the ship subsidy
bill. and Clay, Ca. spoke against II.
An order presented by Cockreil, Mo,
was ratified by the Senate, directing
that the vacancies on the committees
Of the District of Columbia, geological
survey, Indian affairs, mines and min
ing. Pacific islands, territories and
railroads. be filled by the appointment
of Senator Towne of Minnesota.
The resolution offered. yesterday, by
Hanna for the appointment by the
President pro TEN. Of a committee Of
three senators to make the necessary
arrangements for the Inauguration Of
the President of the United States on
the fourth Of March, was adopted
without debate.
The Grout oleomargarine bill pass
ed by the House. was laid before the
Senate. and Frye. the President pro
tenn. announced that he felt obliged. in
view of the previous action of the Sen
ate on similar measure. to refer the
bill to the committee on agriculture.
AIdrich, chairman Of the committee on
finance. said he would offer no objec-
ton to that reference.
The reference made by the President
pro tenn. precipitated a lively discus
sion. as had been anticipated.
Vest. Mo. a member of the finance
committee. contended vigorously that
the bill, being TO his mind a revenue
measure. ought to be referred TO the
committee on finance. He declared thai
if the bill was an honest measure. it
was q D4ii c3l1 IL - HNit G.
dishonest measure it was an effort to
use the taxing power of the govern
ment as a police regulation.
Proctor. VT. moved that the bin be
referred to the committee on agricul-
ture The question was discussed
briefly by Kyle, S. D.. Stewart, Spoon
er. Allison and Money. the last named
declaring that the Grout bill was
measure. the primary object Of which
was to tax one industry at the expense
of another.
In a general objection to the proposed
reference Vest declared that here il was
rroposed in this bill to turn Congress into
a state legislature and make IL exercise
DtIrely police power in the various states.
The motion TO refer the bill to the com
rnittee on agriculture was agreed to.
Carter called up his pending motion TO
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