Evening star., 1901-02-26
IN CONGRESS TODAY
Senate Agrees to Conference Report
on the District Bill.
Mr.. MORGAN ON THE PHILIPPINES
He Intimates a Desire to Fully
Debate Cuban Proposition.
b U S l n E S S IN USE

soon after the Senate convened today a
pih TO supplement the existing law as to
the disposition of public lands was passed
1t provides for the division of lands In
Oklahoma into counties, for the establish
ment of county seats, for the erection of
court houses and for the appointment of
temporary county officials
A House joint resolution was adopted
authorizing the importation, free of duty.
OF articles intended to be exhibited at the
San Antonio international fair and Dallas
state fair and exposition
District Bill Agreed To.
Mr.. Allison called up the conference re-
port upon the District of Columbia appro-
| priation bill.
Senator Butler said he did not think SO
important a report should be adopted with
out ample time for senators to consider it,
Senator Allison said the conferees had cut
down the Senate amendments about ore
half in amount and that these amendments
related chiefly to the Improvement OF county
roads, to the improvement of the ;. weraga
and water supply, and he thought there was
no opportunity for criticism Of the confer
ence report. Mr.. Butler said lie hai no OBJ
lection to the report. which was then
adopted.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Fairbanks
calling upon the Secretary of War for an
| English translation OF the Cuban consti-
| tuition was adopted.
| Mr.. Pettigrew's resolution, coming over
from previous day, calling upon the Pres
ident, If not Incompatible with the public
interest. to inform the Senate whether
| all kilograms from Manila, prior to Feb
! ruary 4, 1899. We're subjected to censor
ship; and also to send to the Senate
| copy Of the telegram of General Otis
| nouncing the commencement of hostilities,
the hour it was filed in Manila and some
| other collateral information, was agreed
| to without comment.
Canal Bill Resolution Referred.
| The resolution of Mr.. Morgan coming
over from yesterday declaring the Mica
ragua canal bill the unfinished business OF
the Senate was called up. After Mr.. Nor
gan had made brief statement regarding
! the parliamentary phases Of the question,
in the course of which he said he knew
| the enemies of the Nicaragua canal bill
| would employ every device to kill the
measure, the resolution, upon his motion,
was referred to the committee on rules.
| Mr. PettigreW directed attention to the
fact that the document containing the In
| structionS and papers sent to the Paris
peace commission did not contain one tale
| gram to the commission that he considered
| important and remarkable. The telegram
| instructed the commission not to lose sight
| of the fact that the war with Spain was
waged in obedience to the dictates OF
| humanity, and with no design of aggran-
| diZement ambition OF conquest
| Mr. Pettigrew read from the document
| containing the instructions. saying In his
| comments that the instructions were "of
| high-toned order
| Mr. Pettigrew's Object.
When asked soto voce, by Mr.. Lodge,
| what his object in reading from the
| Instructions Mr.. Pettigrew replied that he
| was trying to illustrate the complete men
tai somersault of the President on the
| Philippine question.
After some discussion the resolution Of
| fered by Mr.. Pettigrew to reprint the docu-
| ment with the telegram he had read was
| referred to the committee on Philippines.
| Bills were passed as follows: Providing
an American register for the steam yacht
| May; for the relief Of parties for property
| taken from them by military forces OF the
| United STATES. The bill provides for the
| payment for horses taken from confederate
soldiers after the surrender or Gen Lee
| Conference reports on bills to ratify
| agreements with the Muscogee or Creek
| Indians and with the Cherokee Indians
We're agreed TO-
Mr.. Morgan Continues His Speech.
| Consideration of the army appropriation
bill was resumed, Mr. Morgan being en-
| titled to the floor to continue his speech be-
| gun yesterday.
| Mr. Hoar asked Mr.. Morgan to yield
briefly 20 him that he might present re-
| lating to the restriction upon the sale of
| public lands in the Philippines and the
| granting of franchises that were not indis-
| pensable to the proper development OF the
| islands He said that the amendment had
| found favor both sides of the chamber.
and if it could be adopted now it would
| facilitate materially the consideration of
| the measures.
Mr. Lodge (Mass), chairman Of the
| Philippine committee. on behalf of the
committee, accepted it.
Mr.. Bacon (Ga.) said he could see no rea-
son why the Senate should not go as far as
1t went in the Porto Rican bill and provide
that all franchises should be ratified by
Congress.
been read, insisted upon proceeding with
| his speech, saying it was evident that sena-
tors disagreed as to the wisdom of the
adoption of the amendment at present.
No Intention to Prevent Vote.
He said his attention had been directed to
a statement in a morning newspaper to the
effect that the democratic members Of the
Senate had reached an agreement that no
vote should be had on the pending propo-
sition before the 4th of March. This state
ment he denied emphatically. He did not
know why such a fabrication had been
INDUCED in, as there not only had been no
agreement of the kind, but there had not
been even a suggestion that the vote be
postponed. Personally, he would not oc-
cupy a minutes time that he did not deem
necessary to a proper elucidation of the
question He then asked Mr.. Platt (Conn.),
chairman of the Senate committee on re-
lations with Cuba. whether 1t was the in
tention of the committee to press the
amendment 1t had proposed to the bill.
II had hoped" Mr.. Platt replied. that
the amendment would meet with practical
unanimity, and that it would be placed
upon this bill"
There cannot be unanimity with respect
to it," said Mr.. Morgan. without some ef-
fort to amend it. l do not think the Senate
is ready to proceed with its discussion. We
have not the necessary facts and data We
certainly are getting upon dangerous
ground"
II Should not feel justified in withdrawing
the amendment" said Mr.. Platt Il think
1t ought to be passed and be passed on this
bill. think 1t will settle what is known
as the Cuban question satisfactorily to the
Cubans and to the people of the United
States"
Full Discussion Intimated.
Mr.. Morgan protested against entering
upon the discussion of a, question upon
which the Senate did not have all neces-