The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-02
OF THE HOUSE OVER THE PORTO RlGAN
GOVERNMENT BILL.
DECIDED REPUBLICAN VICTORY.
Committee Amendments Adopted and
the Bill Passed Every Nvaila bleVote
on Each side secured Some Remark
Work-Senator Nc cLaurin Advocates
Expansion from standpoint OF SOUTH
ern Farmers and Manufacturers.
SENATE.


senate to vote on Hawaiian govern
ment bills at today's session, the final
vote on the measure was postponed I'm
til o'clock tomorrow. Practically no
progress was made on the bill today,
although it was under consideration
nearly four hours.
Senator Aldrich explained the con-
ference work on the financial measure.
One of the amendments authorizing the
gold reserve to be held in bullion as
well as gold coin was added, because
the facilities for the coinage of gold
would not at present admit of coming
the gold in sufficient quantity to main
tain at all times the reserve in gold
coin. The provision prohibiting the
use of bond proceeds to pay current
government expenses was due to the
apprehensionS of the house conferees
that a so-called endless chain might
be established. He said the authority
to suspend the Issue of certificates
where United States notes and silver
certificates in the general fund eX-
ceedS S60,000,000 was simply another
way of protecting the reserve. The is
sue first of silver certificates of small
denominations was to avoid any pos
sible contraction of the currency. The
additional coinage of 500, ,0OO, 900 of sub
sidiary silver was to meet expected la
ter needs of our island possessions. The
authority for banks to issue one-third
OF their circulating notes in denomina
tions of s. was agreed to because banks
in remote parts of the country needed
a good deal of currency in small bills
to accommodate customers.
Concerning the bimetallic amend
ment, Senator Aldrich said the position
taken by the United States was that
bimetallism was now impossible ex-
-cept by International agreement.
Mr.. .McLaurin, of South Carolina,
was then recognized to speak en- the
Philippine question. He said:
In the discussion of this question
there has been manifested a disposi-
ton to ignore the conditions by which
we are confronted, and to project the
debate upon n line of political senti-
mentalism. This mode of discussion is
not only unpatriotic, but is an evasion
of the trust issue. This is not a polit-
/ ical question"
Senator McLaurin strongly deprecat-
! ed the position which the democratic
party had taken in making the Philip
| pine question and expansion a political
! issue. He pointed to the past tt
/! show that some of the greatest demo-
! Gratis who ever lived We're expansion
! lists and to prove by their acts and
measures that if It had not been for
| them the United States would not
| have been the nation it is today.
| Mr.. McLaurin then discussed the
/ special interest of the south in the eX-
/ pansion of our trade.
Il am glad,'' said he Ito believe that
| the southern people have determined
! to investigate and study this question
! rather than to be led blindly by politi-
| cal anti-eXpansionists. The southern
! farmers, by the increased price received
| for raw cotton last year. has become
/ aroused. Fealty to party and mis-
! leading information, 1 fear. has pro-
duced among them opposition to terri
| torial expansion. The effort has been
made in my own state to suppress all
| information and arouse public senti-
| ment against expansion. The fright
! full ghost of imperialism has been
held up before the people of the south
| to frighten them, but / believe it is
| impossible much longer to thus mis-
| lead them.''
Senator McLaurin said, in sketching
the progress of the south during the
past twenty years, that the blight OF
| negro suffrage and negro domination
/ had almost entinguiShed hope and en-
| ergy and manly effort, but, like q
| giant bound with fetters, she aroused
| herself at last and again started upon
| an era of industrial life.
Capital has flowed into that Sec
| tion," said he. There is confidence ir
| all southern enterprises. The bitter
memories of the past are being for
| gotten in the rush OF the development
of our resources. Our people feel tha,
| they are again part Of this great
| country and are left free and untram-
melled to work out their own destiny
Our southern manufacturers have al
| ready reached out TO the markets OF
the orient and discovered their ad-
| vantages- The southern farmer needs
such markets for his raw cotton tc
make its production remunerative.
| by the acquisition of the Philippines
We hoh the key to the eastern situa-
| ton. We need not rely solely upon
treaty rights to secure the open door.
but can demand equal commercial op-
pertunity with other nations, and il
necessary. with the vantage ground we
have, assert that demand. Will the
United States throw away the golden
opportunity by giving up the opportun-
| tiles? / am in favor OF holding them
| and believe the southern farmers and
manufacturers will sustain me in my
/ position"
| tack upon the bill. He declared that
the republican party was "aetuated
| by a wild and unrestricted dream OF
power"
| Senator Teller, of Colorado, offered
an amendment to the, section OF the
bill providing judges for the Hawaiian
/ courts. creating territorial judge who
should have full jurisdiction over al
national matters, except those relating
/ to admiralty.
| The discussion of the amendment
| continued for two hours and a half.
Senator Morgan, of Alabama, in con.
Guiding a long speech. declared that
he would prefer to see the DILL defeat
| ed rather than to have IL passed in It's
present crippled and emasculated
form.
The hill went oyer and a final vote