The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-05-22
NO FLOOR PRIVILEGES.
Boer commissioners Denied the Courtfsles
Of the Senate.
RESOLUTION pRtClpIrATED WARM DEBATE
Defeated by Vote of 80 to 21-Pneu
matte Mail scrvice--Nicarngun
Canal Matter Passed.

|
, Washington, May PA pyrotechnic dis
cussion OF the status of the Boer commits
sioners now In washington was precipi-
tated In the senate today by u resolution
offered by MIR. Allen (Neb.) extending to-
the commissioners the privileges OF the
| floor OF the senate during their sojourD
in tie National capital. The resolution
: was defeated by vote of SO to Il, butt
: not until after a sharp controversy he
tween its author and Mr.. Davis, chairman
OF the committee on foreign relations.
had occurred. Mr. Allen maintained that
tfe resolution was in line with preeedents
while Mr.. Davis contended that in the
peculiar circumstances the senate ought
not to take any action that might be con-
} Eidered a recognition of the Boer Gplo-
mats unul the president. who alone had
the power to receive diplomatic represen-
tatiyes, had taken action.
The postofflce appropriation was passed
finally, the amendment TO appropriate
$4,000 to carry ont existing contracts for
the pneumatic tube service being agreed
: 10.
An effort was MADE by Mr.. Morgan Of
Alabama to displace the Spooner Philip
Pine bill with the Nicaragua canal bill as
, The unfinished business, but 1t failed by a
, vote OF 81 to u.s.
, A bill to detach the county of Concho
from the Western district of Texas aud at
tach il to the Northern district OF Texas
, was passed.
The resolutions offered n few days ago
by Mr. Morgan directing the interoceanic
canal commission to make an investigation
with view to ascortatning whether there
is any corporation or organization of in-
diylduals which las for It's purpose the
obstruction OF the United States in CON
structlng an isthmian canal and for other
, purposes, was adopted.
Az tho request OF tho committee on
privileges and elections the resolution re-
lating TO the Montana senatorship was
postponed until Thursday at l o'clock
MI. Sullivan (Mss.) offered resolution
directing the secretary OF the treasury 10
, state whether volunteer officers and men
. in the late war with Spain were paid twice
| for the same service; 1t was referred to
the committee on military affairs.
The resolution offered on saturday by
Mr.. Allfn extending to the Boer delegates
now in Washington the privileges of the
u iioor of the senate was called up by Mr..
o Allen. He maintained that IL was the
q universal practice TO extend to such WIS.,
r ltors tho coslrtesies Of the senate. citing
a the recognition by the senate OF Charles
Stuart Paruell and the recognition of Lord
Herschell and the members or the Joint
high commission from Canada.
r sired to lay before the American people
tho facts concerning the present war They
!. were not here seeking anything but the
friendly offices of this government and
that natural sympathy to which they had a
! right, Mr.. Allen thought to eSpect from
: a people SO devoted TO the cause of lin
: erty as the Americans are. Mr.. Davis
: (Minn'), chairman of the committee on
foreign relations, opposed the resolu-
ton.
to
. these gentlemen by name as the commits
Q sioneys OF the South African governments.
y That recognition by the constitution in
!. confined exclusively to the president OF
: tho United states. There is not foreign
n ambassador or minister to this govern
!. ment who Is entitled to admission TO the
floor OF The senate
- The Canadian commissioners had been
>, admitted TO the floor OF the senate, but, =
- he said, there was no such question
e then pending between Great Britain and
! the United states as which has brought
y these gentlemen here TO state their cause
n 10 the government and to the American
- people. 1t is not plain to me that the
: United States should make haste 10 admit
! them as commissioners to the courtesles
10 of the senate when such coutesies are NOT
eStended to the ambassadors or ministers
l. of any foreign country"
ID Mr.. Teller said we had already recor-
nized the South African republics and had
10 SNHN aiPAoAliuNiO representatives. 10 them,
l. Mr. Davis said he did not know that
anybody ever had denied that the South
Of African republics were independent couu-
l. tries. But that Is. not the question:" no
said 1T Is fact that neither OF these
a states has ever before attempted 10 SEND
= diplomatic representatives to the United
Ia states. 1t Is also a fact that the United
States has never sent diplomatic represep-
mr. tatives to them y
l. 1t has sent conEuls" interiected Mr..
=, Tillman.
- THAT is lust the mistake the senator
i, makes" replied Mr.. Davis "a consul Is
- not diplomatic officer. The situation ia
lust this: The South African republics
!, Tor the first time, have sent commissioners,
A. VINO are diplomatic representatives TO tho
!. United States. They ask TO enter into
international relations with us OF GER
a. tain nature and for certain action by this
n government. Before any consideration
an or this matter can be entered into by the
senate these gentlemen must be received
v by the president in that capacity IN which
thev are accredited TO the government OF
g. the United States
VI ut is no part OF the functions OF either
Dranch Of congress TO attempt to decide
re one way or the other the diplomatic char
at aeter Of such agents or whether they scialI
M be received as such or not That is pure
e ~ an executive function,
at Without attempting TO dlsparage the
eHorta OF these gentlemen. without at
tempting to detraet from the sympathy
that may be expressed for them, / feel
bound TO say that they have proceeded IN
rr manner entirely irregular and prema-
lure. Before they have been received by
10 the president they have appeared In pub
i nc meetings aud have stated the object
70 OF their mission and that they desire 10
~ gam the good offices Of the United States
ed with its sympathy and seek to create pub
v lie opinion to influence the action OF the
n government"
Mr Davis said he did not intend to bring
J. into this question the merits OF the war
between Great Britain and the south
ID African states. He cut ont debate by NOV
n The motion was agreed to-ss 10 si--as
ne follows;
De Ayes-3e
g Allison. MeRrlde.
u baker McCnmas
barh. Mcmillan.
nurrow. Morgan.
Clark twgo3. Nelson.
o. laws Penrose.
al Fairbanks. Perkins
.-