The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-06-20

Washington, June 16.-After a dis
cussion extending over parts of sew
eral lays the senate today passed
what is popularity known as the Ion
don dock charges bill. The opposition
to the measure practically collapsed
and it was passed without division.
Consideration then was continued of
the isthmian canal project, Senator
Cullom, of Illinois, and Senator Kit
fridge, of South Dakota, delivering
speeches in advocacy of the Panama
route. The former based his argu-
ment principally upon the report of
the isthmian commission, recommend
ing hat route, asserting that he was
satisfied that a good title to the prom
erty could be obtained. Senator Kit
fridge, not only strongly favored the
route. which in his Judgment
was much the better but also attack
ed the Nicaragua plan as lacking in
oe1nlteneSS. He pointed out that
costa Rlca was constitutiOnally unable
to grant the necessary concessions to
the United States and if the Nicaragua
route was selected it probably would
0S " IOiS llIle DelOEe "Ork could be
begun, even if it ever could be. The
speeches of both senators were ac-
corded close attention by the senate.
Just before adjournment a spirited
discussion was precipirated over a mo-
ton by Mr.. Proctor, of m to
agree to a conference with the house
on the army appropriation bill. Sew
eral weeks ago the senate was af-
fronted by a message from the house
refusing to submit to conference GER
tain senate amendments to the bill.
The opposition to Senator PrOctor's
motion was so vigorous that finally he
was forced to withdraw it for the
present.
Senator Allison made a conciliatory
speech in which he urged that Senator
Proctor a made his motion with the
idea OF facilitating public business.
The question of the honor OF the sem
ate was not directly involved, al
though the motion, in a sense, did ex-
tend the olive branch to the house.
instead of extending the olive
branch exclaimed Senator Tillman,
1T is running up the white flag. If
the senate was wrong in appointing
the special conference committee to
insist upon its rights why not say
so? Why dodge the question in this
way?"
Senator Tillman said the adoption of
amendment would remove the
bone of contention"
If that" said he, is not an ignomi-
nous surrender l don't know hi it
Is"
After some further discussion the
motion was withdrawn.
Senator Cullom made a speech on
the canal question, at the conclusion
of which the nate agreed TO a on
ference on the naval appropriation bin
and Senators Hale. Perkins and Till
man were named as cOnferees.
Mr.. kittridge, of South Dakota. then
spoke in advocacy of the Panama
House of Representatives.
The house today transacted some
miscellaneous business under suSpen-
sion of the rules. 1t included the adop-
ton of resolutions apprOpriating $25,-
600 for the preparation of plans for a
memorial in this city to Abraham Lin
coin; 500, 600 toward the erection of a
monument to the prisOnship martyrs
who died off Brooklyn as a result of the
cruelties to which they were subjected
by the British during the revolutionary
war and SO, 900 for the erection of a
monument at Fredericksburg, Va. to
the memory of General Hugh Mercer
who was killed during the revolution
airy. The resolution adopted today was
to carry out an authorization made for
this in 1I7 by the continental
congress.
Two bills were passed to lei the
general pension laws, one to provide
for the restoration to the general PEN
sion rolls of the widows of soldiers who
subsequently married and were again
widowed and one to increase the PEN
sion of those who hav lost a limb or
were totally disabled while in the mill
tary or naval service. The latter bill
also CARRIED an important provision to
increase the pension of a soldier under
the dependent act of 1890 from S12 to $50
per month when such pension requires
%frequent or periodical attendance.
The resolution calling on the secre-
tary of war for his reasons for the dis
missaI of Rebecca ]. Taylor, a clerk in
the war department, was laid on the
table by a vote of 100 to 81. Three re-
publicans voted on this question with
the democrats. A bill TO authorize the
secretary of war in his discretion to ia
vOr American built ships in the trans
%pOrtation of government supplies to tbs
Philippines was defeated.
The house adopted a resolution to
make the Philippine government bill a
special order from June 18th to 26th in
elusive.
The senate amendments to the naval
appropriation bill were non-concurred
in and the bill was sent to conference.