The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-05-25
"ISLAND POSSESSIONS"
Govt's Duty Toward
Them Discussed
Another Heated Debate in the Sen
ate.
Mr.. Spooner Concludes
His Speech.
Many Statements ContrOyerted
BY Mr.. Allen.

Washington, May 24.-The duty OF the
United States towards its ''islnnd pos
sessions - was the subject of heated de
bata in the Senate again today soon az
Ter the Senate convened. Mr.. Bacon of
Georgia began an extended reply TO the
speech of Mr.. Plat delivered yesterday.
The remainder Of the afternoon was
occupied by Mr. Spooner of Wisconsin
in concluding his speech ON the Phil
ippine question. The debate which he
aroused, took turn decidedly political.
Many of his statements We're controvert-
ed by Mr.. Allen of Nebraska and Mr..
Pettigrew of South Dakota, and the con-
troversy at times became almost personal
At the opening of today's session of the
Senate, Mr. Chandler, chairman of the
committee on privileges and elections,
presented petition from \. W. Hilbert
and l6 pastors of churches in South Caro-
lima calling attention to the political
conditions in that state and asking that
remedial legislation be enacted.
The petition was referred to the COM
mittee ON privileges and elections.
A bill providing for the Investigation
of the historical archives ana pubiie rec
ordS of the several states and territories
and of the United States with a view to
their preservation by publication was
passed.
A joint resolution reappointing Mr..
Andrew ID. White regent of the Smith
sonian institute was passed.
Mr. Pettigrew of South Dakota offered
n resolution directing the secretary OF
the treasury TO inform the Senate what
disposition. has been made OF the appeal
of the defendant in the case of the United
states VS. the North American CONNER
tal al ~ :
due the United States, under order of the
court from North American Commercial
company, and also what number of seal
pups starved on the islands in Behring
Sea during the year 1898 and 1899, and
whether the branding of seals is still
practiced and what effect branding has
ON seal life. The resolution was agreed
to.
Mr.. Thurston of Nebraska called up
the conference report on the Indian APP
preparation bill and after some discus
sion il was agreed to.
Mr. Bacon of Georgia then called up
his resolution directing the committee on
relations with Cuba to investigate the
receipts and expenditure of money in
Cuba and addressed the Senate in reply
TO the speech delivered yesterday by Mr.
Plat of Connecticut. He maintained 1t
was a duty Congress owed to the country
and to the Cubans to make the investi-
gation He said the great purpose of the
investigation WHICH ne pFDpOStQ WIS ilOe
so much TO entrap the man or men who
might have stolen hundreds of thousands
of dollars, as an expert accountant might
do, but to ascertain whether by fraudu-
lent contractor or other devices of cor
ruption the millions handled by the ofiic-
iafs in Cuba has been disposed of dishon
estly The purpose of his resolution. he
said was to ascertain whether these
millions had been expended honestly,
economically and properly, even though
the books might balance and might
show no discrepancies. He called attention
TO the large expenditures made by the
officials in Cuba for per diem, mis-
caIlaneous, - ''salaries - carriages and
equipment and declared these subjects
had never been investigated. There
had been, he said, such looseness in the
conduct of Cuban affairs that it called
for most rigid and searching investiga-
ton. There We're an utter absence OF
accuracy anu specific statement in the
Cuban affairs that ordinarily were re-
quired in business matters.
MIR. Bacon declared that the American
people regardless of party We're deter
mined that the Cuban scandal should be
sifted over to the bottom and he said that
the investigation would not be limited To
the extent suggested by Mr.. Platt In his
speech of yesterday. lie denied that he
cherished any purpose of making cam
paign capital out of the incident.
Referring to a figure OF speech used
by Mr. Platt, he said his cheek did man
tleNyith the blush of shame at the pecu-
lation, thievery fraud and corruption in
Cuba, not because he was Singing mud,
but because he was an American citizen.
1t was a great duty he said, that de
Volved upon Congress To make the inves-
p tigation demanded and it ought in the
interest of the countrys honor to be
made without fear, without favor and
with uprightness Of purpose.
In conclusion, Mr.. Bacon said:
Il would like, before adjournment, to
see action taken that will allow the
nation to redeem its pledge and to leave
the island of Cuba in the presence of q
free and independent government. 1t
was agreed that the Senate tomorrow and
Saturday meet at IL O'Clock a. IN. On
motion of Mr.. Chandler chairman of the
committee on privileges and elections,
the resolution as to the Montana sena-
torlal case was postponed until Mednes
day the Both inst. At the instance of
Mr. Platt of Connecticut, the resolution
of Mr.. Bacon was referred to the com
mittee on contingent expenses.
MIR. Spooner then resumed his speech
ON the Philippine question. In discussing
the responsibility for the continuation
of hostilities, Mr.. Spooner quoted n de
spatoh from Gen. Otis giving an account
OF an interview he had with Judge
Terres, one of the Filipino commission
ers, who suggested that neutral zon'
b. established between the hostile armies
Gen. Otis informed him that the sug
gestion of the establishment of neutra
zone or an armistice in the eircumstan
ces, would have to come from Aguinaldo