The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-05-22
LIVELY SENATE DEBATE.
RESOLUTION TO ADMIT BOER EN-
vOYs PRovOKEs DISCUSSION.
Maintained They Have Not Omcial
Status to Warrant Extension Of
the COurtsey-ResoIution De-
feated-CanaI Bill Motion Lost

WASHINGTON, May 21.-A pyrotechnic
discussion of the status of the Boer com
missfoners, now In Washington, was pre-
cipitated in the senate today by a resolu-
ton offered by Allen extending to the
commissioners the privileges Of the floor
OF the senate during their sojourn in the
national capital. The resolution was de-
feated by a vote Of Sc to q, but not until
after sharp controversy between its
author and Mr.. Davis, chairman OF :he
committee on foreign relations. Allen
maintained that the resolution was In line
with precedents, while Davis held That
In the particular circumstances the senate
ought not to- take any action that might
be considered a recognition OF Boer diplo-
mats until the president, who alone had
the power to receive diplomatic representa-
tives. has taken action.
The postoffce appropriation bill was
passed, finally, the amendment to appro-
PIRATE $4,000 to carry out existing con-
tracts for the pneumatic tube service be-
Ing agreed to.
An effort was made by Morgan to dis
place the Spooner Philippine bill with the
Nicaragua canal bill. as the unfinished
business but IL failed by vote OF q to %.
A bill to detach the county of Concno
from the western district of Texas and at
tach 1t to the northern district Of Texas
was passed. The resolution offered a few
days ago by Mr.. Morgan. directing the
interoceanic canal commission to make on
investigation, with a view Of ascertaining
whether there is any corporation or or
ganization Of individuals which has for its
purpose the obstruction of the United
States In constructing an isthman canal
and for other purposes, was adopted.
A house bill TO detach certain counties
from the northern judicial district of Cali
fornia and to attach them to the southern
judicial district OF California and provid-
ing for the holding OF terms of the United
States courts in Fresno and Los Angeles
was passed
At the request OF the committee on privi-
leNee and elections the resolution RELAXING
to the Montana senatorial case was post
poned until Thursday at o'clock.
Sullivan offered a resolution directing the
secretary OF the treasury to inform the
senate whether volunteer officers and mon
In the late war with Spain were paid twice
for the same service; referred to the com
mite on military affairs.
Aliens Boer Resolution.
The resolution offered on Saturday by
Allen. extending to the Boer delegates now
In Washington, the privileges OF the floor
Of the senate was advocated by Allen. lie
maintained It was the universal practice
OF the senate to extend to such
visitors the courtesies OF the sem
ate. citing the recognition by the
senate or Charles Stuart Parnell years ago
ana the more recent recognition OF Lord
Herschell and tho members OF the joint
high commission from Canada. The Boer
commissioners. he said. desire to lay he
fore the American people the facts con-
corning the present war. They were not
here seeking anything but the friendly Of
fees OF this government and that natural
sympathy which they had right. Allen
thought. to expect from people so devot-
ed to the cause OF liberty az the Ameri-
cans are Davis. chairman o; the commit
tee on foreign relations, opposed the reso-
luton.
OUuosed nv senator Davis.
..rh,. rosn,,,,o, - .oia he nraooc,i.,o.
thssa aartiarn, hy ra,a as ,ha oo,n,n,s~
s,on.rs y, The south A,ricar oovorrm.rts
T,ho, racosn,,ion h,, ,ho co,,,t,,,,,o,, "a
coraaed axcIusivel,, 70 ,he rrcs,d.rt n,
the United states There L. not a foreign
ambassador or minister to this government
entitled to admission to the floor of the
senate
Tho 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 Bu-
tain and the United States as that which
has brought the gentlemen here to state
their cause to the government and the
American people. II il 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 ambassa-
doris or ministers Of any foreign country"
The senator from Minnesota" replied
Allen, "is entirely mistaken as to the
scope Of the resolution. II does recite the