The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-09
TO TAKE PRECEDENCE IN THE SENATE
UNTIL DISPOSED OF.
THE COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Leaving Open the Door for ~Interna-
tionaI Bimetalism - Other Amend
ments Propo-ed-BiIl to Allow Rail-
road Bridge Over Lumber River.
Butler Speaks on the Carolina Fran
chise Observation-Disclosures Que.-
ton Discussed In the House.
SENATE.

SENATE.
Washington. February s.-Until the
financial measure now pending before
the senate shall nave been disposed OF
finally il will be considered by the SEN
ate every legislative day TO the exclu-
sion of all eXcepr purely routine bust
ness. This agreement will have The
effect OF cutting off all debate on the
Philippine question or other matters
except by unanimous consent of the
senate. unless senators choose TO dis
cuss other questions in the time they
devote no the financial bill.
Senator Aldrich. chairman of the
finance committee, offered an amend
ment TO the pending inancial bill pro-
viding that nothing in THE bill shall in
terfere with efforts to secure internal
tional bime -'ltsm with the concur
renee OF sc sading nations of the
world.
another amendment providing hat the
bill shall not be construed to affect the
present legal tender quality of silver
dollars coined by the United States.
To the same bill, Cenator Chandler
proposed an amendment providing that
NllC SOlu Il vi GOO SLdll olid OilC
silver dollar of 412k grains shall be
the unit of value and that all forms
of none issued or coined by the
United States shall be maintained at
that parity of value; and that the
United States notes and treasury notes
when presented ito the treasury for re-
demption shall be redeemed in gold
or silver coin of such standard.
Senator Jones, of Arkansas, also gave
notice of an amendment to the same
bill providing for an emergency
fund of $50, 900, 900 in treasury notes.
A joint resolution authorizing the
PRESIDENT to appoint n woman CJm-
missioner to represent the Tlited
States and the National Society of the
Daughters of the American Revolution
at the unwilling Of the statue of La
Fayette, at the exposition at Paris was
passed.
A bill was passed to erect a public
building at Selma, Ala, at a cost of
500, 900.
Senator Caffery, Of Louisiana. then
resumed his speech on the Philippine
question.
"Can the contitution Of the United
States" he asked, embrace within its
holy arms UGH Observation-Disclosures
and savages-and make them forever
citizens of the United States? The
American people do not want them.
o course there are certain respon-
SibilitieS resting Upon US. We must
see that peace is restored in the islands
and that some government is estab-
lished there. When one the status
quo is restored, however, we should
let them go their way and not inocu-
late our citizenship with the person Of
theirs"
Senator Butler, Of North Carolina.
replied to speeches Of Senators Nor
gan, McEnery and Money on the pro-
| nnCQ6 amnn6manr rn tho constitution
Of Month Carolina. He maintained ehat
the proposed amendment was clearly
unconstitutional.
Senator Shoup, of Idaho, announced
that the committee on privileges and
elections would press the consideration
Of the case Of former Senator Quay,
of Pennsylvania, as soon as the inan.
cial bill had been disposed Of.
The conference report on tire urgent
deficiency bill was agreed to, thus
passing the measure.
The following bills were passed: To
authorize the Southeastern railroad to
construct a bridge across lumber
river, within the boundary lines OF
Robson county, North Carolina; to
extend the time for the completion Of
a brige across the East river between
the city Of New York and Long Island.
After a brief executive session, the
senate at 4:55 o'clock p. m. adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The Philippine question again occu-
pied the attention of the house today.
Mr.. Williams, of Mississippi, present.
ed an argument against the annexa-
ton Of the Philippines which attract
ed much attention. 1t was devoted al
most entirely to the commercial as
poets of the acquisition.
Mr.. Morris, of Minnesota, made an
exhaustive legal argument in support
of the right to hold and govern the
islands. The other speakers were
Messrs. Gibson, Of Tennessee; w. H.
and H. C. Smith, of Michigan; Coch-
ran, of Missouri, and Neville, Of Ne
braska.
The general debate on the diplomatic
bill closed today n it will be taken
up tomorrow for amendment under the
five minute rule.
The final conference report on the
urgent deficiency bill vas agreed to.
Mr.. Williams said it was not very
lofty to discuss this question from the
standpoint of dollars and cents. but
the spirit of commercialism made it
necessary. He said that from the
standpoint of American agricultural
industry and American labor the an
nexation of the Philippines would be
Instantaneous in comparison with
what could be done under comparative
ly free trade relations. He believed
that if we aided the Filipinos in set
ting up a stable government, there
we could obtain perpetual free entry
for our goods and escape the great
question that was perplexing us. The
cost of maintaining an army of 65,0U
men, which would be necessary II We
retained the Philippines, would be
three times the value of the imports
and exports of the islands
Now, my friends, n or two things
will follow. Either commercial condl-
otions in the Philippines will remain
substantially as they are or they VIII
be vastly improved under our nag. III
they remain as they are, then if all the
Filipinos who wear clothes were to put
into one gigantic order all the cotton
they want for a year and send 1t with
in one week to the city of New Or
leans it would not create a ripple upon
the cotton market Now, il upon the
contrary, We teach them TO wear
al.L 1881 hn,,so or