Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-03-07
SENATE'S SESSION.
A Lively Discuss on About Limit.
ing Debate Prec'pitated.
CABINET NOMINATIONS CONFIRMED.


cratic Senators Hold u Conference
Handwriting at White House.
Washington, March 6.-Qnite unex-
pectedly a lively debate was precipi-
tated yesterday at the first business
session of the senate of the Fifty
seventh congress. Senator Platt, OF
Connecticut, offered an amendment to
the rules to limit debate in the SEN
ate. Its prepayment had no purpose to
provoke discussion upon it yesterday,
but several senator's expressed their
views in no uncertain terms. Senator
Mason, of Illinois, thought it did not
90 far enough and gave notice Of an
amendment under which he said the
majority would not be under the con-
troll of the minority. Senators We'll
lington, of Maryland, and Bacon, Of
Georgia, denounced the effort to
change the rules us unseemly, the
former challenging the right of the
senate to consider the proposition ut
this session.
After Senator Morgan had offered
resolution declaring the Clayton-Bul-
wer treaty between the United States
and Great Britain abrogated, which
went over, the senate at LOS o'clock
went into executive session.
The president sent the following
nominations to the senate: John
Hay, of the District of Columbia, to
be secretary of state; Lyman J. Gage,
of Illinois, to be secretary Of the
treasury; Elhu Root, of New York, to
be secretary of war; John W. Griggs,
OF New Jersey, to be attorney general;
Charles Emory Smith, of Pennsylva-
MIA, to be postmaster general; John
d. Long, of Massachusetts, to be
secretary of the navy; Ethan A.
Hitchcock, of Missouri, to be secre-
tary of the interior; James Wilson, Of
Iowa, to be secretary of agriculture.
They were Immediately confirmed.
Congressman Arranging Trips.
Washington, March 6.-The house
committee on rivers and harbors yes
terday arranged the details of two
trips Of inspection which they will
make. The first will be to Havana.
The members will leave this evening.
In June they will make trip to the
Pacific coast. going first to Calves
ton and other gulf ports, then into
Los Angeles and northward, visiting
all the hnrbors as far north rs Puget
sound. The committee has no official
\ existence and the members 90 as pri-
yate individuals. All. however, are
members of the house and doubtless
will be on the committee in the next
rongress. Some of the members of the
military committee have decided to
visit Cuba and Porto Rico to inquire
into conditions. there and will leave
in a few days. Although the bill to
create a special committee of the in
snlur affairs committee to visit Porto
Rico, Cuba and the Philippines failed
Chairman Cooper and several of the
members of the naval committee are
contemplating a trip to the islands at
their own expense. They consider
the need of the first hand information
to be imperative.
Democratic Senators Confer.
Washington, March 6.-The demo-
cratic members of the senate held an
informal conference after the adjourn
ment of the senate yesterday to con-
slider the wisdom of filling minority
places on the senate committees made
vacant by the retirement of senators
on the democratic side, but adjourned
without deciding whether action
should be taken or not. There also
was discussion OF the cIoture move
ment in the senate and, while no ef-
fort was made to secure formal ex-
preston upon the subject, there was
a sufficient exchange OF opinion to
cause those present to conclude that
the move would be resisted to the end
OF the session.
Much Handwriting At the white House.
Washington, March 6.-This was a
day of much handshaking and little
business at the white house. Mem
bers Of congress and the supreme
court, visiting governors and their
stats, clubs and other organizations,
gave the president very busy day.
Retail Hardware Dealers Convention.
Chicago, March 6.-The Interstate
Retail Hardware Dealers association
held an executive session last night
preparatory to its annual convention
which opens to-day. Two thousand
five hundred retail dealers in hardware
in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Mis-
souri,, Iowa, Kansas, North Dakota
Ohio and Wisconsin are represented
by the association.
An American Fights Duel.
Paris, March 6.-John MacWilsor
Durant, of New York, who has beer