The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-01-19
SENATE.


difficulty and within five minutes an
agreement was reached in the senate
today to take the final vote on the
pending bill fixing gold as the standard
of value in the United States. Senator
Aldrich, chairman of the finance COM
mittee, suggested February 1st as a
suitable date for the vote. Senator
Jones. democrat, of Arkansas, named
February 18th and his proposition was
accepted by Senator AIdrich. In the
intervening time the measure will be
discussed.
After several days of debate the
drag-net resolution of inquiry regard
ing the conduct of the Philippine war
was adopted. 1t was introduced by
Senator Hoar, of Massachusetts, and
was adopted as a general substitute for
resolutions of a similar, but less eX-
tended character, offered by Senator
Pettigrew and Senator Lodge. Beyond
a vigorous speech by Senator Petit
grew the resolution aroused no debate
and it is within the discretion of the
president to send or not to send any
of the information requested.
The resolution offered by Senator
Hale, of Maine, as to the seizure of
-four by the British authorities was
adopted, but only after spirited de-
bate and after the resolution had been
materially amended.
THE PHILIPPINE RESOLUTION.
When the Hoar resolution, amended
by Senator Lodge, calling for general
information regarding the conduct of
the insurrection in the Philippines was
taken un, Senator Pettigrew, of South
Dakota, spoke in favor of it's passage.
He declared that he had received infor-
nation since the Introduction of his
resolution that assured him of the facts
he had asserted. THE blood of every
soldier said he, who has fallen
since the war began is on the hands
of the administration. The blood of
the sixty soldier boys of South Da-
kota, who lost their lives after being
conscripted into an unwilling service
after their terms had expired, lies at
the door of the administration and
there is no escape for it. I charge that
the censorship of the press and the
suppression of facts are for the pur-
pose of advancing the political ambi-
tions of Mr.. McKinley.'
If this action, said Senator Petit
grew, put the administration in a hole
as was stated, it was not his fault.
The resolution was then passed with
out division.
Senator Hale, of Maine, called up his
resolution requesting the secretary of
state for information relating to the
seizure and detention of American flour
by the British authorities in Delagoa
bay, South Africa.
Senator Davis, of the foreign rela-
tionS committee, moved it be referred
to his committee, saying it was prema-
ture, in view of the present diplomatic
iC to ha
termined whether the flour is for use
of an active hostile. Senator Davis
thought the real question now under
consideration is whether the matter
comes within the province of interna-
tional law. He said it did not become
the senator (Hale) to Introduce such
a resolution at this time, and referring
to the paragraph that further detention
will be considered as without warrant
and offensive to this government, he
ventured to say that no pronouncia-
mento upon SO important a question
was ever made by government until
the diplomatic negotiations relating to
it had been completed It is q state
ment which is made only on the verge
of hostilities
Senator Hale replied that the reSolu-
ton was limited to one of inquiry; that
the country was entitled to know the
situation and that he deemed it per-
fectly clear that the seizure was not
OF contraband goods. 1t needed, he
thought, no investigation by a commit
tee to determine that flour was not
contraband of war
"A majority of this senate can stifie
this resolution said Senator Hale
warmly, but it cannot be suppressed
in any other way" He said one of
the things he was trying to have an
swered was whether the flour seized
American shippers
The discussion of the question as to
whether food products were ever con-
traband of war was precipitated by a |
question of Senator Lodge Senator
Hale questioned 1t very decidedly in |
the case of this flour, but he could con-
ceive that it might be in certain cir
cumstances. Such an admission would.
in his opinion, however, be fraught
with great danger to the United States
now and in the future.
Senator Hawley, of Connecticut be-
heved the resolution as introduced was
q thtnly veneered threat of war. Our
relations with Great Britain ought not
TO be disturbed unless fer very grave
reasons
Senator Tillman, of South Carolina,
called attention to the shipment of
mules to the British forces in South
Africa from ports of the United States,
the government taking no pains to
prevent.
Senator Platt replied that there was
no inhibition against the shipment of
such supplies to the British. The ships
made the shipments at their own risks.
Senator Foraker suggested that the
resolution be directed to the president
instead of the secretary of state, but
Senator Hale heatedly declined to ac-
cept further amendments.
Senator Foraker then moved that the
resolution be amended as he had sug-
gested, and the motion prevailed.
without further controversy the res