The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-25
CHARGES As TO IMPROPER CONDUCT
IN ELECTION OF 4 SENATOR
SHIP SUBSIDY BILL DEBATED
vest Makes q Forceful speech
In Denuncistion II Our Navigation
Laws This Bill Made Unnnished
Business-The ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
eion Bill Taken Up-House Discusses
the Naval Appropriation Bm-Allu-
sion to victoria,s Death.
SENATE

Washington, January ss-Considera-
sson OF b shipping blu was resumed
this afternoon by the senate. II was
mad the unfinished business. thus
restoring It to its privileged position
Senacr ves,. OF Missouri. took the
floor Immediately In q characteristic.
brilliant. forcefui and interesting
speech. lasting neariy three hours. He
vigorously ATTACKED the navigation laws
OF the United States. holding they were
responsible for the decadence Of tho
merchant marine OF America
senator Rawiins. democrat, OF Utah.
precipicated n lively colloquy by
charging chat a deal had been entered
into between the republican members
OF the Utah legislature and certain
railroad interests and the ofrio9aas o.
the Mormon church To secure election
of Thomas L. kearIs TO the senate
from that state.
The blind chaplain. Mr.. Malburn, IN
his opening invocation. referred beau
tifully and touchingly to the death OF
Queen Victoria.
The legislative bill was then taken
UP. The pending question was the
amendment of Senator Jones, or Arkan-
sas, providing for the appointment OF
an assistant attorney general to rep
resent the government in al matters
OF Claims pending before congress.
Senator Chandler opposed the ameni-
ment and offered an amendment pro-
viding that the assistant attorney geu-
eral should have an office In the capt.
toll, an assistant at a salary OF s., 500
per annum and be assigned two clerks
who should assist him in the work OF
his office.
Senator Chandler withdrew his
amendment 10 Senator Jones amend
ment and offered az a substitute a
provision enabling the secretary OF the
treasury and the secretary Of the IN
terror a to appoint n competent.
lawyer to represent the United states
before committees OF when
requested by the committees to do 50,
concerning claims against the govern
ment, h salary OF each to be $4.-
600.
The substitute amendment was
agreed to withou further debate. The
bill as amended then was passed.
At SIS O'Clock the senate adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The blind chaplain Of the house in
his invocation referred feelingly to the
death of the queen. The senate reso-
luton for the celebration of o Mar
shall Day, February 4th, was adopted.
The house then in committee of the
whole, took up the navy bill. H.
Mr.. Foss said the ~controverted quea-
ton as to armor plate had been hap
PLY settled by the action Of the secre-
tary Of the nav in accepting bids for
$3.50 tons OF armor at 1920 per ton and
$24.23 royalty for Krupp and $11.20 per
ton for Harvey armor. He declared
that at that price the United States
would Obtain arnor af 9r mar cant ha-
low the price paid by other countries.
rs this the same sort Of armor."
asked Mr.. Bartlett. OF Georgia, which
the naval committee last year. said
should be purchased for $545 per TONI"
Mr.. Foss explained the controversy
last year which Mr.. Wheeler, OF Ken
lucky, excepted to. intimating that the
chairman Of the naval committee "a
disingenuous.
Mr.. Foss. Of Illinois. chairman Of the
naval ommftte who was in charge Of
the measure. explained the salient fea-
lures. He said tha u navy was larg-
er than the German navy and was
keeping a little ahead Of IL.
Mr.. Grosvenor, Of Ohio, o excep-
ton to this remark which he considered
unfortunate and capable of miscon-
struction.
Mr.. Foss disclaimed any idea hat
We were directing u energies to-
var keeping ahead of Germany.
Mr.. Richardson commended hat the
bill carried an increase OF 81, 000, 900 I'm
time Of profound peace. He said Last
year the bill carried $13. 1000, 900 more
than the bill for the previous year.
Year by year there come these great
increases for the navy. The present
bill is $50. 000. 900 larger than the bill Of
W. years ago."
Mr.. Wheeler. Of Kentucky. spoke en-
Enthusiastically in favor Of a great a
He was opposed. however, to a large
army.
| After the dill was read for amend
ment under the five minute rule. the
| house at $40 o'clock y. m. adjourned.