Omaha daily bee., 1901-02-05
SUBSIDY BILL LAID ASIDE
ssrats Devotes Itself to Appropriation
Measures at Allison's Instance.
PtTTI6REW AND BACON AS sPELLBINDtRs
south Dakotnn Rakes IN Sampson
schIey Controversy. While the
Georgian Complains of Pres
Idents so-CaIIcd Challenge.

WASHINGTON Feb. 4-The ship sub
sldy bill was laid aside Informally by the
senate today TO permit consideration OF
the appropriation bills. This action was
taken late in the day on Mr. Ali5ons re-
quest that the District OF Columbia appro-
priation bill be taken up. MIR. Frye, in
charge OF the subsidy bill who had said
he would not give way to appropriation
bills without a vote of the senate, was not
in the chamber at the time, but MIR. AL
drich and Mr. Hanna Joined in the general
assent given to Mr.. Allison's request. The
ship subsidy bill holds its place and as un-
finished business can be taken up when the
appropriation bills are not occupying at
tention. The District OF Columbia bill will
occupy the attention OF the senate tomor-
row.
The subsidy bill did not receive atten-
tion today, the greater part OF the time
OF the senate being given to listening to
speech of Mr.. Bacon on the right OF the
senate to demand information on file in the
executive departments He took the po-
sition that the departments are the crea-
lures OF congress and that departmental
denial OF any demand for papers on file
was preposterous, cOntending that for loo
years there had been practically no re-
fusal to recognize this right. Secretary
wards caused discussion In which senu-
tors upheld their course in this matter.
In pursuance OF a special order the SEN
ate met at 0:45 to enable il to
participate in the ceremonies OF the house
OF representatives in honor OF former Chief
Justice Marshall a resolution Of the Cali
fornia legislature inviting the members OF
the senate to witness the launching of the
battleshp Ohio at San Francisco In the
spring was read
The senate resumed its sitting at o'clock
and Mr.. Rawlins presented the certificate
OF election OF Thomas Kearns as senator
from Utah TO fiji a vacancy. Mr.. Kearns
was escorted to the presidents desk by
Mr.. Rawlins and the oath administered by
President Pro TEN Frye. Mr.. Kearns was
assigned seat on the democratic side of
the chamber, where n number of other re-
putlicans are located. His desk was orna
mented with wreath of American Beauty
roses.
on motion OF Mr.. Allison the hour OF II
o'clock was fixed as the time OF meeting
by the senate for Its daily sessions until
otherwise ordered
sampson-schicy Controversy.
At the instance OF Mr. Chandler, the
senate passed "A resolution calling upon
the secretary OF the navy for list of the
members OF Admiral Simpsons fleet whose
names were sent to the senate for pro-
motion during the Fifty-ffth congress. Mr.
Chandler said the occasion for his pre-
sentation of this resolution was found in
the letter written by Secretary Long to
Senator Morgan. He called attention to
the fact that while the list OF officers for
promotion had been sent to the senate dur
ing the last congress, the president owing
to failure to act In that congress. had not
renewed the recommended action in the
present house. He said the failure of the
house had been due to the Sampson Schey
controversy. IA -, B., Il
Mr.. Hale, chairman OF the committee on
naval affairs. said that no fault could be
found with congress and he repeated what
Mr.. Chandler had said, as to the failure
of the nomination to secure confirmation
during the last congress. Indeed he said,
he considered that congress had been en-
tlrely liberal In recognizing the 'pictur-
esque exploits" of the Spanish war. He
referred to the tying up of all the nomina-
tions because of the Sampson Schley con-
troversy and added that he had been walt
ing during the entire Fifty-sixth congress
expecting that the presidents recommen-
dation , ould be renewed.
Mr.. Pe,tigrew said there had been an ef-
fort to promote Sampson over Schley. mot
and had previously outranked Sampson"
He said the president afterwards had cor
rected this injustice and that having done
this because of the attitude of the senate
that body did not deserve the secretary
criticism. Proceeding Mr. Pettigrew de-
clared that the administration was disposed
to promote men who have never smelled
powder, like Corbin and Shafter,"
After a few further remarks on the
Sampson -Schley controversy, during which
Senators Teller and Morgan criticised the
Navy department for giving the Long let
ter to the newspapers. Mr.. Bacon ol
Georgia addressed the senate on his resolu-
tion, declaring It to be tho sense OF the
senate that that body had the right &c
demand information and documents on fllC
In the executive departments He had
made the resolution impersonal, but he
predicated much Of what he said upon the
recent refusal of the secretary of war
through the president, TO supply TO the
senate the report made by Auditor LawshC
concerning the Cuban postal accounts
Mr. Bacon said the refusal in the LawshC
case was a direct challenge OF the sen
ate's right to call for and secure informa