The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-23
SENATE.

Sumed for a time IN the senate today,
Senator Kenny speaking against the
M by the United States of the
islands and urging that the Filipinos
be accorded the right to govern them
selves.
After the passage of the ffty-two
pension bills and a number of bills on
the general calendar, consideration
was resume of the Hawaiian govern
ment bill. Some amendments were
agreed TO, but consideration of the
measure was not concluded.
The credentials Of Thomas r. Bard.
of six years beginning March 4, 1900,
were presented and filed.
\ resolution was adopted authoriz-
ing h printing of a special edition of
5000 copies of the e book of the de-
partment of agriculture for distribu-
ton at the Paris exposition.
Senator kenney, whose former col
league, ex-senator Gray, was a mem
Der of the peace commission, then
spoke. He aid
Il am n of those senators who voted
for the ratification of the treaty of
49, AAo ~AAN@ A@GA
the end of the war we had commence
ed for humanity's sake, and that the
$50, 000, coo awarded Spain was the act
not only of a -magnanimous victor, but
as well as a ribute placed on liberty's
altar by a people who know the value
of freedom. Are there any who know
the history of the last two years who
will contend that if at the time the
vote On the treaty was taken il had
been stated on the floor of this senate
hat war in the Philippines was to go
on and that the millions awarded to
Spain was the purchase price for a
people to be held in perpetual vassalage
that instrument would have been rat
flied? l 10 not think there are any
such"
The general calendar of bills was
taken up and those passed included one
granting lands to the state of Alabama
for the use Of the Agricultural and Me-
chanical college of Alabama for ne
groes, and The State Normal college, Of
Florence, Ala.
consideration of the a bill
was then resumed.
\ long discussion enSued over a pro-
posed amendment to extend to Hawaii
the inhibition against contract labor
Importation which exists in the United
States, and the following was adopted:
PROVIDED that no proceeding shall
NC " AAS StSSAAAS ~
anCs OF any contract heretofore or
hereafter entered into for personal
labor " service and there shall be no
criminal proceedings fer the breach
thereof"
senator SpooEer offered an amend
n.ent striking out the section provid-
ing that the supreme court o. the ter
ri,ory should be the judge of the cleo
item % II. -nbers o. the Iaw allan leg
~isiatuTe nd comforting upon each
branch u the Legislature the power to
determine the qualifications OF its
mer45-.s and after some discussion il
was adopted
After - snort session the
senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
Again today there were but three
speeches in the house upon the Porto
Rican tariff bill. Five hours were
consumed in their delivery. Mr.. Hop
kins. OF Illinois, spoke in support OF
the bill and Mr.. NewlandS, of Ne
vada, and Mr.. Swanson, of Vir-
ginia. in opposition to it The speak
ers devoted themselves almost exclu-
sively to the constitutional question
involved and were listened to with at
tentioz.
The republican leaders are becoming
nervous over the fate OF the bill. They
have only a majority of fourteen over
the OppOSIGIOH NIECIl 10 SOAAAtS op4OSt
to the measure. Eight votes from tbs
republican side would therefore defeat
it. and there are from twelve to ffteer
republican votes doubtful.
A movement for a republican caucu:
is being agitated, and although no cal
had been issued w to the time of ad-
jOurnment tonight the general under
standing was that one would be helC
tomorrow night. The republicans re
ported to be opposed to the bill are
Nessrs. Mccall. of Massachusetts
LittIefeld. of Maine; Powers, of Yer
mont; Tompkins, of New York; Brom
we'll, of Ohio: Loriler, of Illinois; Heat
woIe. of Minnesota: Tongue. of Ore
gon: Loud. of California; Zones ar
Cushman. of Washington, and Crum
packer. of Indiana.
At the opening Mr.. Hepburn, o
Iowa, attempted to secure an agree
ment to take Up the Nicaraguan cana
bill and asked unanimous consent tina
it be taken up two weeks from toda.
and. later, pressed for it a week hence
Mr.. Richardson, of Tennessee, tn
democratic leader, had no objection
but Mr.. Cannon. of Illinois. Chairman
Of the house appropriations committe
disSented.
The house then went into committe
Of the whole, and Mr.. NewlandS. o
NeVads. a membe OF the ways an
means committee took the floor.
1t was evident. Mr.. Newlard
said. that so far as Porto Rico wa
concerned. whatever present objection
there might be pom the part of tn
dorrlnant party TO establishing free
dom of trade between that island an
the union, such trade would no lon
be deferred. as. apart from the import
aace of the constitutional question
raised by a discriminating tariff. whic
doubtless would be only temporary.
was evident that both Of the politics
paFeies OF the country were now o
Substantial agreement that Port
nco should become a part or tn
ainon."
Mr. Newlands said, however. ths
he republicans were losing sight {
the possibility that the unrest an
dissatisfaction created By inequalit
sf laws might make our problem {
government In Porto Cleo mucn mo-
difficult than IL now seemed. Whetf
81 these islands were to be regarded Z
dependencies or territories. freedom
trade. freedom Of migration n euua
NU of RIGHT and burden must be eStAi