The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1900-01-18
SENATE ACTS ON SEIZURES
ASKS president 10 SEND IN ALI
THE INFORMATION HE HAS.
Original Resolution as introduced by
Ous Lnnguage-Iis Amendment Inn
portant Questions TO be Decided.

| Senator Hale Declared to Contain Seri-
Ous Lansuage-Its Amendment I'm
portamt Questions TO be Decided.
Washington, Jan. ia spirited dis
cussion was participated in the senate
| this afternoon over the resolution in
| troduced by Mr.. Hale, of Maine, re-
| garding the seizure OF flour in Delagoa
bay by the British authorities.1 Mr..
| Davis of Minnesota, chairman of the
committee on foreign relations, moved
that the resolution be referred to his
committee. 1t was his impression, he
said, that the resolution was premature
ly introduced. He indicated that the
subject of the resolution was under
diplomatic negotiation. No conclusion
to that consideration had yet been
reached. Mr. Davis thought, however
that some assertion of the resolutions
we're to be gravely considered. 1t was
question as to whether they were
true. 1t was well understood that the
property seized was flour. 1T is said
this -four is not contraband," he con-
tinued, This may or may not be true;
but it is a question of fact to be deter
mined whether this flour is for use of
an active hostile"
serious Languna'.
Mr. Davis thought the real question
now under consideration was whether
the matter came within the province of
interna tional law. He said it did not
ha tnr NTr TJoIa aN n
troduce such a resolution al this time
But" said Mr.. Davis, what strikes
me as most to be criticized in the reso-
luton is the concluding paragraph 1t
is stated that If the detention of the
property is persisted in such act will
be considered as without warrant and
offensive to the government and people
of the United States. | venture to say
that no pronunciamento upon SO i'm
portant question was ever made by a
government until the diplomatic nego-
tiations relating to it had been COM
pleted. 1t is statement which is made
only on the verge of hostilities. That is
very serious language. In its present
form it means serious difficulties. I
think the resolution would be better re-
ferred.'
American Hlour or Not.
In response to the statement of MIR.
Davis Mr. Hale declared the senate
and country were entitled to know what
the situation was, as there was ignor- \
ance as to what was to be done. He
deemed it perfectly clear that as it was
flour and not arms or ammunition that
had been seized the seizure was not of
contraband goods. 1t needed, he
thought. no investigation by commit
tee to determine that -four was not con-
traband of war. "a majority of this
senate can stifle this resolution" said
Mr.. Hale warmly, "but 1t cannot be
suppressed in any other way" In re-
sponse to an inquiry by Mr.. Wolcott of
Colorado, Mr.. Hale said one of the
things he was trying to have answered
was whether the flour seized was
American flour, the property of Ameri-
can shippers.
Food Products as Comtrnbumd.
The discussion of the question as to
whether food products were ever con-
traband of war was precipitated by a !
question of Mr. Lodge. Mr.. Hale was |
of opinion that it would take a very |
tAttHlt tctsc " hldhe llOuI CUHlIdDdIu
of war, but he could conceive that it |
might be in certain circumstances. Such
an admission would in his opinion,
however, be fraught with great danger
to the United States now and in the
future. He did not imagine that the
state department was doing anything
that would get us into trouble but he
wanted to know what was being done.
The Resolution m ended.
The resolution offered by Mr. Hale
was materially amended, Mr.. Hale
himself accepting the suggestions of
senator's that certain objectional feat
Ires be eliminated.
Mr.. Tillman called attention to the
shipment of mules to the British forces
n South Africa from ports Of the Unit
I'd States, the government taking no
pains to prevent it. Mr.. Plat OF Con-
lecticut replied that there was no in
libition against the shipment of sup
)lies to the British. The shippers made
he shipments at their own risks.
The resolution, as amended passed.
t is as follows:
Whereas, 1t is alleged that property of
iti7ens of the United States not contrn
and of war, has been lately seized by the
liitary authorities of Great Britain in and
ear Delagoa bay, South Africa, without
ood reason for the same, and contrary to
he accepted principles Of international
Nv: and
Whereas, it is alleged said property is
ow unjusty detained by the military au-
horities of Great Britain, In disregard to
he rights of the owners Of the same: there
)re
Resolved. by the Senate of the United
tates, that the president is hereby re- ,
uested to send to the senate, IL in HIS
pinion not Incompatible with the public
lterest, all information in possession of
he state department relating to said al
lform the senate what steps have been
iken in requesting the restoration Of prom
rty taken and detained as aforesaid 4
Vote on Financial BiIl
An agreement was easily reached in '
he senate to-day TO take the final vote I
n the pending bill fixing gold as the
Landard of value in the United States
n February 10. In the intervening ,
me the measure would be discussed,
Philippine Inquiry.
After several days of debate, the drag +
ct resolution Of inquiry regarding the | q
1nduct OF the Philippine war was q
dopted 1t was introduced by Mr.. r
oar of Massachusetts and practically Q
as adopted as a general substitute for
solutions of a similar but less ex-
nded character offered by Mr.. Petit "