The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-04
SENATE.

fered by Senator Tillman, of South
Carolina, calling upon the secretary of
the navy for information as to the
tests made at Indian Head of Krupp
armor was agreed to.
When the Alaskan bill was laid be-
fore the senate, Senator Carter, in
charge of the measure, conceded that
further effort at adoption of various
pending amendments relating to Ioca-
ton of mining claims would result in
the bills defeat. In view of the most
elaborate and remarkable prepara-
lions for developing nat country and
urgent, immediate necessity for enact
ing civil laws for Alaska, he asked
unanimous consent thai sections ~ and
73 of the bill and all amendments
thereto, including his own amendment.
be Withdrawn.
After some colloquy the request was
granted. The bill was then reported to
the senate and after the other amend
ments had been agreed to, was passed.
The army reorganization bill was
then called up but soon aid aside for
the army appropriation bill. The lat
ter, as reported to the senate, carries
S114, 951, $50. The reading of the bill for
was begun.
Senator Stewart offered an amend
ment providing that nothing in what is
known as the Foraker amendment to
the army appropriation bill of 1899,
prohibiting the granting of franchises
or concessions in Cuba, hou ''be
construed to apply to the landing in
Cuba of submarine cables from the
United States or as authorizing the
military authorities to Obstruct or pre-
vent the landing of such cables"
The ndm went off on a point
of RIDER.
a committee amendment was offered
by Senator Hawley striking out the
last paragraph of the bill and insert
ing the following:
That the act approved January u,
1899, granting extra pay to officers n
enlisted men of the United States VOL
unteerS shall extend to all officers and
enlisted men of the volunteer organ-
izatiOn who nave served honestly and
faithfully in the army of the
United States during the war with
SDain and have been h~onOrably dis
charged prior to January 18th, 1899,
with their organizations without fur
Tough, or by reason of their services
being no longer required, or at any
time by reason of wounds received or
disability contracted in the services
and in the line of duty and who have
not received the extra pay granted in
said act or subsequent acts of congress
supplemental thereto" Adopted.
Senator Berry offered the following
amendment, which precipitated a de-
bate upon the question of trusts:
The quartermaster'S department, in
making contracts and purchases of ar
ticles and supplies for the military ser
vice shall give preference, all other
things, including price and quality, be-
ing equal, to articles of the growth,
production and manufacture of the
United States, and as between the pro-
ducers. manufacturers, merchants and
dealers of the United States preference
shall be given, all other things, includ-
ing price and quality, being equal, to
those producers, manufacturers, mer-
chants ana dealers who are not mem
bers of or in any way connected with
any trust or combine formed to pro-
duce, manufacture, or sell the articles
which are being contracted for and
purchased by the QuartermaSter'S de-
partment for the military service"
Senator Sewell, of New Jersey, des-
ignated the Standard Oil Company and
the American Sugar Refining Com
pany as two combination of capital
which had cheapened their products
to the people. This "%populistic senti-
ment about trusts, he said, was the
adoption of the small ways of the pas
of ~ranSacting business and was not III
any respest based upon good sense.
Senator Berry said it was we'll under
stood that the object of such combina.
lions was to raise prices.
Senator HawIey opposed the amend.
ment, as officers would have to accept
lowest bids.
Senator Stewart took the ground
that it had thus far been impossible
to frame such legislation as would be
effective against trusts. The proposed
amendment was one of a comedy Of
errors in the way of efforts along thi:
line.
Senator Pettigrew produced figures
which. he maintained, showed tina
CG@-l@-l OIL 40
the American Sugar Refining Com
pany really had cheapened their pro
ducts. their action at all times being
directed toward the crushing out o
competition and the increasing of theil
own profits.
The amendment offered by Senate
Berry was defeated, Is to %.
senator Lodge offered the f%ollowin:
amendments:
For the purpose of establishing mil
.aIS telegraph and cable lines il
Alaska, $3.50, $50. Provided. further
that no telegraph or cable lines owned
wholly or in part or operated or con,
ILO.teu ny persons not citizens of tn,
United states or by any Corporation
shall be established in or nerra;tte5 -
enter Alaska" -
Senator Lodge said his amendment
did not bind the government to an,
route. but left the subject open 70 h.
adjusted in conference. He said if wa,
important that the United state
should control the telegraph lines i,
Alaska and it was important, too. tba
cable lines entering Alaska should h
under the control of the American gov
inner The idea of his proposition
was to prevent any foreign govern
ment or corporation from enterin
Alaska with either telegraph or cabl
lines. He adverted to the fact that
Canadian company was now con
structing a telegraph line with the ide
Of crossing Alaska and laying a cabl
from the Alaskan coast across tn
northern Pacific ocean to China. TIL
company had a subsidy of S250,000
year. 1t ought not to be permitted t
land its cable on the Alaskan coas
Inc American government, he though
ougnt to control the cable lines of til
Pacific.
Senator Lodges amendment Wa
agreed to,