The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1900-01-18
Pettigrew's Attempt to Make
Public Peace Commissions
Instructions Fails.
Secretary Of Treasury Sub
Jet Of 4 Sharp Attack
in the House.
By wire From w..hinxton. Jan. ~

The senate Is still in the throes Of dis
cussion Of the Philippine question, and, ap-
parently, there Is no near approach to q
| deliverance upon the subject.
Mr.. Vest (Mo.), yesterday voiced the opin-
Ion OF many senators when he said that
such discussion as was now in progress was
Of no consequence. as the country was con-
| fronted by a state Of facts that could not
be changed by talk.
Mr.. Pettigrew's resolution Of inquiry and
| Mr.. Lodges substitute for 1t were laid on
the table yesterday. and Mr.. Hoar's general
resolution OF inquiry as to the facts of
the Fnlilppine war was taken up.
An EFFORT Of Mr.. Pettigrew to amend 1t SO
as to call for the presidents instructions to
the Paris peace commissioners led to a pro-
longed debate over an objection by sena-
tor Davis.
AMENDMENT IS REJECTED.
After the senate had considered the mat
ter Denind closed doors. the amendment was
rejected by vote of Al to 20.
The debate for the day was concluded
by Mr. Vest, who made a notable speech
IN opposition to the assumption in certain
quarters that every man who does not agree
with the policy Of the administration is q
traitor to his country.
Mr.. Vest threw into his utterances all the
nervous force and energy, and the accom-
plished oratorical ability for which he is
famed. and commanded the attention Of the
senate throughout.
Mr.. McLauren, (Dem., s. c., addressed
the senate on the financial question, making
an argument In favor Of his proposition to
confer authority upon state banks to issue
circulating notes.
PROCEEDINGS In THE HOUSE.
The urgent deficiency bill was taken up
In the house yesterday under an agreement
which limited the debate with the expecta-
ton that 1t would open up a stormy debate
on the question Of expansion in view of the
large army and navy items 1t contains.
But the members early became very much
engrossed In discussion of an item OF
$l5O,OOO for rural free delivery, in which all
are personally interested, and the subject
OF expansion was barely touched upon.
The last hour Of the debate was enlivened
with an attack by Mr.. Richardson, the mi
norfty leader, upon the secretary of the
treasury, for his course in connection with
the sale of the New York custom house.
CHARGES ARE REHEARsED.
He rehearsed the charges that Secretary
Gage had been guilty technically of embez-
Element In connection with the sale Of the
custom house in depositing the funds in a
national bank which was a government de-
pository, instead Of in the treasury de-
partment, but said this charge would not
hold.
His purpose was, he said, to show that the
City National Bank had been favored, be-
cause OF the contributions Of its directors
to the Republican campaign fund Of 1896,
and to show that the course Of the secre-
tary in allowing the purchase price to re-
main in the bank while at the same time
paying rent for the property and keeping it
exempt from taxation, was not dealing
fairly with the trust funds Of the govern
ment.
DEPENDS THE SKCCRCH,A
Mr. Hopkins, Illinois, championed the
course OF the secretary, declaring that his
reply to the house resolution answered
every charge brought against him, and dis
played business ability that must meet the
approval Of all fair minded people.
He insisted, furthermore, that the title |
to the custom house passed to the bank
when it took possession Of the property,
and that it had not been exempt from taxa
ton since it had been purchased.
The debate caused little excitement, and |
there was no attempt to renew the assault |
upon the secretary after Mr.. Hopkins |
closed. The urgent deficiency bill will be |
taken up for consideration under the five |
minute rule today.