The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-02-08
TEMPORARILY SUppLANT THE SHIP
SUBSIDY BILL
The Power OF the Senate to Demand
Copies OF Papers on File I'm the De-
partments D-iscussed-The Sampson
schIey Contest Up Again Senator
Bacon's Pertinent Question
SENATE.

alton Oh the Appropriation bills. This
action was k late in the day on
Senator Allison's request that the Dis
trict Of Columbia appropriation bill be
taken UP.
Senator Frye, in charge Of the shipp-
ing bill, who had said he would not
give way to appropriation bills with
out a vote OF the senate, was not in the
chamber at the time. but senator Aid
rich, Senator Hanna and others inter-
ested in the measure, were present and
Joined in the general assent given to
Senator Allison's request.
The shipping bills holds it place and
as unfinished business can be taken
mp when the appropriations bills are
not occupying attention. The District
of Columbia bill will occupy the atten-
ton of the senate tomorrow.
The subsidy bill did not receive at
tention today. The greater part Of the
time of the senate was given to list
..ening to a speech by ena Bacon,
of Georgia, on the right of the senate
to demand information on file in the
executive departments. He took the
position that the departments are the
creatures of congress and that depart
mental denial of any demand for papers
on file was preposterous, contending
that for 100 years there had been prac-
tically no refusal to ogn this
light.
Secretary Longs letter regarding
Santiago naval rewards caused a dis
cussion in which senators upheld their
course in this matter.
The senate at l o'clock, upon return
ing from the Marshall exercises in the
house, resumed it's sitting. Thomas
Kearns was administered the oath of
office as senator from Utah.
The hour of IL o'clock was fixed as
the time of meeting by the senate for
it's daily sessions until otherwise order
ed.
At the instance of Senator Chandler
the senate passed a resolution calling
upon the secretary of the navy for a
list of the of Admiral Samp-
sons fleet whose names were sent TO
the senate for promotion during the
Fifty-fifth congress. Senator
said he based his presentation of this
resolution on a published letter written
by Secretary Long to Senator Morgan
in which he had charged that the delay
in recognizing the services of these men
was due to the nOn-action of congress
rather than of the executive depart
ments. He said that upon failure of the
last congress to act, the president a
not renewed the recommendation for
the present congress. He explained
that the failure of the senate to act
had been due to the Sampson-Schley
controversy.
Senator Hale, as chairman of the
on naval affairs, also said
that no fault could be found with con-
gress. He referred also to the tying up
of all the nominations because of the
Sampson-Scley controversy and added
- I'D Lo1- x-oi%in~ DURING tho
entire Fifty-sixth congress expecting
that the presidents recommendations
would be renewed.
Senate Pettigrew said there had been
an effort to promote Sampson over
SchIey Notwithstanding Schley had
lone the fighting and had previously
utranke Sampson" Senator Petit
grew declared that the administration
was disposed to promote men who
have never smelt powder, X Corb1n
and Shafter." He accused Senators
Hale and Chandler with using the Long
letter as a pretext for flibustering
against the subsidy bill.
Replying, Senator said he
considered the action of the executive
in the matter of the promotion OF
Messrs. Schley and Sampson correct.
Would the failure to capture CerVe-
ra's fleet have beeen visited upon SchleS
or upon Sampson" acked Senator Ba-
con, of Georgia.
This question had the effect OF bring
ing Senator Hoar to his feet with a
protest tina if there was to be an EFFORT
to reply to that inquiry he would OBJ
ject to the continuance of the contro-
versy.
Senator Teller said the publication OF
the secretary's letter was bad taste.
Senator Morgan repudiated any idea
that he had given il out and said there
was nothing improper in the letter.
Senator Bacon then addressed the
senate upon his resolution declaring II
to be the sense of the senate that tha'
body had the right to demand infor-
nation and On file in the
executive departments. He had made
the resolution impersonal, he said, bu'
he predicated much Of what he said or
the recent refusal of the secretary o.
war through the president to supply u
the senate the report made by Audi
tor Lawshe concerning the Cuban pos
tai accounts.
senator Bacon spoke OF the question
S~as one of vast Importance and said tn
eaus in the Lawshe case was a direc
hh1enge of the senate's right to cal
for md secure information on file in
der rtment excepting so far as tina
-rigft was granted by the department
Shator Spooner, asked Senator Ba
conf he considered the president
con Wnunication a challenge.
" do most emphatically," replle'
Serator Bacon. TT constitutes such
challenge as requires an answer iron
they senate. That is very mucl
enlatged in gravity by the fact tina
newspaper publications indicate 1t a
not bnIy the action of the president
but The action of the cabinet and we ar
now eonfronted with the fact hat ther
is a~Igeneral and organized purpose o
the eabinet, as avowed. to deny to tn
senate the right to information to b
found on the files of the department
unless where the chief Of the depart
ment may, as a matter OF grace an
with his permission, permit the senat
to have such information"
The joint resolution providing for tn
appointment of three senators and thre
REPRESENTATIVES to make arrangement
for the inauguration of the presider