The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-02-27
SENATE.

SENATE.
Washington, February 22.-When the
senate convened today all the galleries
were crowded, and many people vainly
sought admission from the corridors.
It was a splendid compliment to Sen
ator Foraker. of Ohio, whose election
to read the Washington Farewell Ad-
dress in accordance with the annual
custom had been announced. 1t vas a
fine bit of elocution which met with
warm congratulations
In accordance with a tacit agreement
with the senators absent at the meet
ing OF the democratic national commit
tee, Senator Penrose, of Pennsylvania,
deferred calling up the Quay case till
tomorrow. This announcement brought
out a discussion Of parliamentary pro-
cedure.
enato Foraker again gave notice
Of his intention to move the consider
alton of he, Porto Rican bill after the
Hawaiian government easur a
been disposed of. but the would not op-
pose Senator Penrose's action.
Senators Chandler, OF New Hamp-
shire, and Hoar, of Massachusetts, de-
clared the question of the right to a
seat in the mate was privileged and
it was not necessary TO take up the
question by vote. A senator had the
right to address the senate on the SUBJ
ject at any time during a session, as
a matter of the highest privilege.
Senator Aldrich, Of Rhode Island,
disputed this. as contrary to the rules
and practices of the senate After
further discussion the senate at los
o'clock, p. m. without division, adj
journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The debate on the Porto Rican tariff
bill brought out several notable
speeches in the house today, including
who answered a number of questions
as to the attitude of the president; an
other by Representative Mccall, OF
Massachusetts,, the republican member
of the ways and means committee who
dissented from the majority report, and
Representative Moody, another Massa-
ohusetts republican who sharply criti-
cised the position Of his colleague. Mr..
Mcclellan. of New York, and Mr..
Brantley. of Georgia, also spoke
against the bill, and Mr.. Parker, OF
New Jersey. in support of it. The de-
bate was continued at a night session.
The house began holding early ses-
sions today, meeting at II o'clock a. m,
owing to the pressure for time in the
Porto Rican debate.
W~ashington's birthday was referred
to by the chaplain in his invocation,
and the character Of Washington held
up a model for emulation today.
Mr.. Mcclellan, of New York, opened
the debate. He argued at some length
that the inhabitants OF Porto Rico are
citizens of the United States, with all
Tho A0nCfifIrtfnna1 riOhfa Of citizens
and that the constitution extends pro-
prio vigore over the island of Porto
Rico, the United States only holding
it in trust, for the state eventually to
be erected out Of the territory.
The moral aspect of the case" he
said. is quite Is important as is legal.
1t involves the good faith, the credit
and the honor of the United States"
Mr.. Brantley. of Georgia, spoke
against the bill and particularly on
the future of the Philippines. He
pointed out that a year had elapsed
since the treaty Of peace, and yet con-
gress had failed thus far to lay down
a policy for the Philippines. 1t was
this inaction by congress-, he said,
which spread uncertainty among the
Filipinos and nerved them to further
opposition. He declared hat the new
Philippine commission could accom-
lish nothing and that if it went to the
Philippines at all it should go with the
authority and power which congress
alone could grant.
MI. Grosvenor, in opening, said that
any political party or individual who
took part in ratifying and supporting
the treaty with Spain was eStopped
from opposing any Of the legitimate eff
of hat treaty. When that treaty
hung in the balance, a certain NebraS-
ka colonel left his regiment and came
Washington to aid in securing ratih-
cation and he did influence votes at a
critical juncture. So that, Mr.. Gros-
venor said, if there was n man In
the country who should shoulder re-
sponsibility for the treaty n its sue
ceeding responsibilities, that man was
J.. Bryan, of Nebraska.
Mr.. Grosvenor said there was only
one alternative to this tariff measure
and that was to go down in our W
and appropriate from the
enough to sustain the island.
said he was not the m~outhplece OF
the president; but" said he, know
ing him reasonably we'll, speaking as
an individual, and knowing all the
things involved in TIE situation here
now, 1 think that nothing o give
~ president greater sorrow than the
defeat of this bill and the turning over
of this house to the democratic minor
ity.
Mr.. G~rosvenor's discussion of the ifs
cal and constitutional questions was
varied by good natured political rail-
lery with members across the aisle.
Mr.. Neville, Of Nebraska, asked
MI. Grosvenor expected to embalm
the Filipinos along with the declara-
ton of independence in the philippines,
Ohio member answered that with
the Filipinos it would need embalm1ng-
At another point Mr.. ere
ated laughter by referring ironically to
as the George washington
the Philippines"
"a gentleman went out in the ORR
he said, with a little more pow
han he had authority and the hrst
thing We knew he had captured the
Lord only knows o many LANDS out
there. We have never found out how
many ourselves; but he took them and
we are there and u flag is there and
we were aided in getting a perfect title
to them from h democratic senators
in congress without any protest from
ANYBODY. We are going to make all the
money put of the transaction We a
charging our trade with the ORR
entail countries and we are going to
lo,%;rac ~ fho 6oplara-