The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-22
Motion to Give Boer Delegates Privi-
liges of the Floor Defeated i'm
the Senate, SO to FL.
LABOR BILLS
TWO PASSED BY THE HOUSE UNDER
SUSPENSION OF RULES.
One Provides for an Efght-Hour
a Blow at Prison Made Goods.

discussion Oh the status or the Boer COM
missioners, now in Washington. was pre-
cipitated in the Senate to-day by a reso-
luton offered by Mr.. Allen, the Nebraska
Populist, extending to the commissioners
the privileges of the floor of the Senate
during their sojourn In the national capt.
tai. The resolution was defeated by vote
Of Sc to q. but not until after a sharp
controversy between it's author and Mr..
Davis chairman of the committee on for
eign relations. Mr.. Allen maintained that
the resolution was in line with prece-
dents, while Mr.. Davis contended that.
in the peculiar circumstances. the Senate
ought not to take any action that might be
considered recognition of Boer diplomats
Until the President. who alone had the
power to receive diplomatic representatives.
had taken action.
The postoffice appropriation bill was
passed finally, the amendment to appropri-
ate SOS 900 to carry out existing contracts
for the pneumatic tube service being agreed
to.
An effort was made by Mr.. Morgan to
displace the Spooner Philippine bill with
the Nicaragua canal bill as the unfinished
business, but it failed by vote of q to Is.
A bill to detach the county of Concho
from the western district of Texas and at
tach it 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 an investigation
with view of ascertaining whether there
is any corporation or organization of in
dividuals which has for its purpose the OBJ
struction Of the United States in construct
ing an isthmian canal. and for other pur-
poses was adopted.
A House bill to detach certain counties
from the Northern judicial district of
California and to attach them to the
Southern judicial district of California
and providing for the holding of terms
Of the United States courts in Fresno and
Los Angeles was passed. A bill to create
the southern division of the Southern dis
trict of Iowa for judicial purposes was
passed.
At the request of the committee on
privileges and elections the resolution re-
lating to the Montana senatorial case was
postponed until Thursday at o'clock
Mr.. Sullivan offered resolution directing
the secretary Of, the treasury to inform
the Senate whether volunteer officers and
men in the late war with Spain were paid
twice for the same service, referred to the
committee on military affairs.
ALIENS RESOLUTION.
Then the resolution offered on Saturday
by Mr. Allen, extending to the Boer dele
gates now in Washington the privileges of
the floor of the Senate. was advocated by
Mr.. Allen He maintained it was the uni
versal practice of the Senate to extend to
such visitors the courtesies of the Senate.
citing the recognition by the Senate of
Charles Stuart Parnell years ago. and the
more recent recognition of Lord Herschell
and the members OF the joint high COM
mission from Canada. The Boer commits
sioners, he said, desire to lay before the
American people the facts concerning the
present war. They were not here seeking
anything, but the friendly offices of this
which they had right, Mr.. Allen thought,
to expect from a people so devoted to the
cause of liberty as the Americans are.
Mr.. Davis, chairman of the committee
on foreign relations, opposed the resolu-
ton. This resolution" said he, "recog-
nizes these gentlemen by name as the
commissioners of the South African gov
ernments. That recognition by the Con-
President of the United States. There is
not a foreign ambassador or minister to
this government who is entitled to admis
sion to the floor of the Senate" The Ca
madam commissioners. he said. had been
admitted to the floor of the Senate, but
said he, there was no such question then
pending between Great Britain and the
United States as that which has brought
these gentlemen here to state their cause
to the government and to the American
people. 1t is not plain to me that the
to admit them as commissioners to the
courtesies of the Senate when such cour-
tesies are not extended to ambassadors
or the minister of any foreign country.
Mr.. Allen, SIS entirely mistaken as to the
scope of the resolution. 1t does recite
the names of the delegates and says they
are commissioners, but it does not bind the
Senate or the government to recognize
them in their official capacity.
Mr.. Mason said that while the President
had the power to recognize and receive
diplomatic representatives of foreign gov
ernments ii was within the power of the
Senate alone TO determine who should be
admitted to it's floor.
Mr.. Teller said we had already recognized
the South African republic and had sent
diplomatic representatives to that country.
NO DIPLOMATIC AGENTS.
Mr.. Davis said he did not know that any,
body ever denied the South African repub-
lies were independent countries ''But that
Is not the question" he said. 1T is fact
that neither of these states has ever be-
fore attempted to send diplomatic repre-
sentatives to the United States. 1t is also
a fact that the United States has never
sent diplomatic representatives to them
1T has sent consuls," interjected Mr..
Tillman.
THAT is just the mistake the senator
makes" replied Mr.. Davis. "a consul is
not a diplomatic officer The situation is
just this: The South African republics, for
the first time. have sent commissioners,
who diplomatic representatives, to the
United States. They ask TO enter into in
ternational relations with us of certain
nature and for certain action by this gov
eminent. Before any consideration of this
matter can be entered into by the Senate
these gentlemen must be received by the
President In that capacity in which they
are accredited to the government of the
United States. 1t is no part of the func-
tons of either branch of Congress to at
tempt to decide. one way or the other. the
diplomatic character of such agents, or
whether they shall be received such or
not. That is purely an executive function.
without attempting to disparage the eff
forts of the gentlemen, without attempting
to detract from the sympathy that may be
expected for them, feel bound TO say that
they have proceeded in a manner entirely
irregular and premature. Before they have
been received by the President they have
appeared In public meeting. and have
stated the object OF their mission and that
they desire 10 gain the good offices and
sympathy OF this government, and seek to
create public opinion to influence the ac-
ton Of the government"
Mr. Davis said he did not intend to bring