Daily Kennebec journal., 1900-05-25
56TR CONGRESS-.
Senate Discusses Duty to Our
Island Possessions.
Bacon Replies to PIatt-- --Spooner Con-
cludes His Philippine Speech.
The Discussion Heated and al lines Becomes
Dangerously Personal.

Washington. May 2i.-The duty Of
the United States toward its Island
Possessions" was the subject Of heat
ed discussion in the Senate, today
Soon after the Senate convened. Bacon
Of Georgia, began an extended reply
to the speech Of Platt delivered yes
terday.
The remainder Of the afternoon was
occupied by Mr.. Sponner of WirConsin,
in concluding his speech on the Phil
ippine question. The debate which was
aroused, took a turn decidedly politi
cal.
Many Of the statements We're contro-
yerted by Mr.. Allen Of Nebraska, and
Mr. Pettigrew of South Dakotl. and
the controversy at times became almost
personal.
At the opening of the session of the
Senate chandler. chairman Of TIL" com
mittec on privileges and elections. pre-
scented a petition from y. w. Gilbert
and 16 pastors of churches in South
Carolina. calling attention to The polit-
ical condition in that state and asking
that remedial legislation be enacted.
The petition was referred to the COM
mttcc on privileges and elections.
4 bil providing for the investigation
Of the historical archives and public
records Of the several states ana terri
tories and Of the United States with
view to their preservation by publica-
tion was passed.
Pcttfgrew. :. d.. offered a resolution
directing the secretary of the treasury
Yn INF 10 IN ~ Iicn1Ejt
had been made " the appeal of tho
defendant in the case Of the 1-nitnd
States vs. the North American Com
morcial CO.. also what amount il now
due the United States under order of
the court from the North American
Commercial GO. ana also what num-
bcr of seal pups starved on the is
lands in Rehring s5a during the years
1895 and 1899. and whcr" the branding
of seals is still practiced. and what cf-
feet branding has on seal life. The
resolutions We're agreed to.
Thurston. Neb.. called up tho con-
ference report on the Indian appropr-
alton bill and after some discussion il
was agreed to.
Bacon. Ga, then called up his reso-
luton directing the committee on rcla-
tinns with Cuba To investigate the re-
cpipte and expenditures Of money in
cuba and addressed the Senate in re-
ply to the speech delivered. Yesterday
hy Platt. Conn. He maintained it was
duty Congress owed to the country
and to the Cubans to make the irves-
tiEltion. He said the great purpose
Hi thr investigation which he proposed
4, ~,
men who might have stolen hundreds
~ thousands NJ dollars as an expert
accountant might Az. but Ia ascertain
whether by fraudulent contracts or
other devices ~ corruption. the mil
lions handled by the Officials IL cuba
had been disposed of dishonesty.
The purpose Of his resolution. he
said. was to ascertain whether these
millions had been expended honestly.
economically and properly. even
though the books might balance and
might show no discrepancies. H. call
ed attention to the large expenditures
made by the officials in cuba for per
diem" miscellaneous" salaries"
Carriages and equipment" ana de-
Clared these subjects had never been
investigated There were an utter alb
sence Of accuracy ana specific state
mcnt in the cuban affairs that ordina-
rily were require d in business matters.
Bacon declared that the American
people regardless Of party were deter
mined that the Cuban scandals should
be sifted over to the bottom and he
says that the investigation would not
be limited to the extent suggested by
Platt in his speech Of yesterday. He
denied that he cherished any purpose
of making campaign capital out of the
incident.
Referring to figure of speech used
yesterday. by Platt. he said his check
did mantle with the blush of shame at
the peculation. thicvcry. fraud and
corruption in Cuba, not because he
was singing mud. but because he was
m American citizen. II was a great
duty he said. that devolved upon
Congress to make the investigation
demanded and it ought in the interest
Of the country's honor to be made
without fear. without favor and with
uprishtness of purpose.
IN conclusion. Bacon said: Il would
like. before adjournment. to see action
taken that Will allow the nation to re-
deem its pledge and to leave the island
Of cuba in the presence Of a free and
Independent government"
Il was agreed that the Senate. tomor-
row and Saturday, meet at II O'Clock
A. NJ on motion Of Chandler. chair
man of the committee on privileges
Continued on page %