Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-02-28
AN lNSULAR DEBATE.
Speeches Made In the Senate on the
Philippines and Cuba.
The NAVAL BILL IN The HOUSE.



Washington, Feb. 26.-The real
struggle for insular legislation at
this session began yesterday in the
senate. The army appropriation bill
was under consideration and the Phil
ippine amendment was reached. In
addition the Cuba amendment was
offered and the general debate on
these propositions began. Sharp
opposition to the Philippine
amendment developed on the demo-
cratic side, beginning with point
of order, which the senate overruled,
and followed with speeches by Sena-
tors TilInan, Rawlins, Caffery, Ba-
con and Morgan. The amendment
was defended by its author, Senator
Spooner, who pointed out the neces-
sity for the legislation. Senators
Vest, lloar, Bacon and Rawlins of
fered amendments tending to limit
the powers conferred by the Spooner
amendment. Senator Morgan made
an extended speech severely criticising
the proposed legislation. An evening
session was held to allow time to
continue the debate.
Senator Carter, who is one of the
senators in charge Of the army appro-
piation bill, insists that the Cuban
amendment to the bill must be fur
ther amended so as to compel Cuba
10 render an accounting to the United
States for the money which has been
expended by this government IN Cuba,
with a view to the repayment at some
future time.
Senator Chandler reported favor
ably from the senate committee on
privileges and elections resolutions
to pay Hiram Il. leevels, Il United
States senator from Mississippi 30
years ago, SASH in salary. and Jo-
seph e. Abbott, United States SEN
ator from North Carolina, 81 years
ago, S6,jl3 in salary. They came in
during reconstruction days to I'll va
cancics and were paid from the time
they took their seats. The resolu-
tons give them pay for the full term.
Senator Bard of California, Of
fered an amendment to the sundry
civil appropriation bin extending the
life of the industrial commission I'M
i'll March q, 1868.
Senator l!u&sbrough, from the sem
ate committee on library. reported
fmerably an amendment to the sum
dr. civil bill for the purchase OF a
rpiIica Of the bronze statue of Ro-
chanbcau recently unveiled at Ven
dome, France.
\ resolution offered by Senator Gal
liuper, of the committee on pensions,
authorizing that committee to make
nm examination of all laws granting
pensions to soldiers. their survivors
and dependents. to make investigation
of special pension legislation and to
make any other inquiry on the general
subject of pension legislation as the
committee may deem desirable, was
adopted.
The house yesterday jettisoned the
authorization for two battleships and
two cruisers which were in the naval
appropriation bill as it passed that
body. The senate had rejected the
proposition and against the appeals
of the house conferees the house
voted by big majority to agree to
the senate amendment striking out
the authorizations. Chairman Can
non, of the appropriations committee,
contributed largely to this result by
a vigorous speech in favor of the SEN
ate amendment A partial conference
report on the naval bill was agreed to
and the bill went back to conference
The house also agreed to the confer
ence report on the bill to create a
commission of five to adiudicate the
claims of United States citizens
against Spain assumed by the United
States under the treaty of Paris.
Some time was spent in clearing
up conference reports upon District
of Columbia business. Just before
the adjournment Mr.. Tawney, chair
man of the special committee on the
st. Louis exposition, asked unanimous
consent to disagree to the senate
amendment to the Louisiana purchase
exposition bill and send the bill to con-
ference. but Mr.. Shepherd, of Texas,
objected, The senate resolution to
donate certain letters Of the early gov
ernors of Iowa now in the interior de-
partmcnt to Iowa was adopted.
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