Evening star., 1902-01-22
THE SENATE.

Soon after the. Senate convened today
Mr.. Culberson (TexasD secured the adop
ton OF resolution directing the Secretary
OF War to transmit to the Senate copies of
all suggestions. statements, criticisms and
correspondence between the War Depart
ment OF any official thereof and any per-
Son or corporation relating to the customs
tariff affecting the Philippine Islands.
Mr.. Teller offered the following concur
rent resolution. which he asked to go over
until tomorrow: Whereas it is an
nounced that sentence of death has been
passed upon COmmdndant Scheepers of the
Orange Free State army, now prisoner Of
war in the hands of the British forces In
South Africa. and
Whereas il is known that said Com
mandant Scheepers was captured while iy-
E Ing sick and wounded in hospital, such
: capture being in violation of articles and
% OF the Geneva convention, and
: Where as his execution by the British
: authorities will lead to acts of retaliation
: and reprisal. be it
: Resolved by the Senate. the House of
; Representa- tives cOnCurring, that the Presi-
T. dent request the government of Great
Britain TO set aside in the interest of hu-
mauity such sentence of death and accord
To Comma ndant Scheepers the privileges
and iulrn uniuesl guaranteed under the
Geneva convention.
After reading press dispatches reciting
the statements of fact in the resolution,
MT iSlser Sdlt. am tOIl we can nave
by tomorrow official evidence that the
" statements in the resolution are correct.
. This Is a case which certainly calls for the
Intervention of the United States or of
some other government which has some
feeling of humanity. War, wherever it Is,
should be conducted upon principles If hui
= manity. or at least IL not. We should enter
'our protest against it.
Department of Commerce.
At the conclusion of routine business Mr.
Nelson called up the bill establishing a de-
partment of commerce
Mr.. Qusrles (Wis.) offered an amendment
providing that the secretary of commerce
should have complete control of the work
o. gathering and distributing statistical In
formation naturally relating to the subjects
c"ufidSd Ia mis- department, and to this end
the secretary of commerce should have au-
thOrity to call upon all other departments
of the government for statistical data to
b. published he may deem wise.
Mr. GaHinger made a vigorous argument
In support Of the pending measure. The
establishment of such department he
said. nad been demanded by commercial
and Industrial bodies throughout the cOun-
try for years
The president pro tenn. Mr.. Frye laid
brf6re the Senate letter from Samuel
G"Iupers- president of the American Fed
Grafton OF Labor, protesting against the
incorporation OF the department of labor
in the proposed department of commerce
He said that the department of labor had
been organized AT the earnest solicitation
OF the organized labor of the country in
the hope ultimately that IL might become
one of the executive departments of the
government with 4 secretary Of labor who
should have d seat In the Presidents cabi-
net Mr.. Gompers was of opinion that IL
the department Of labor were Incorporated
In the department of commerce II would
minimize the interests of labor and he pro-
tested against any such result.
At o'clock the unfinished busfness-the
Philippine tariff bin-w6s laid before the
Senate. but senator was prepared to
proceed with the debate. the mea sure, on
motion Of Mr. Lodge OF Massac chusetts I'm
charge of II, was laid aside Temporarily
and the Senate continued the discussion of
the department Of commerce BILL
Mr.. Allison opposed the amendment Of
feTed by Mr.. Quaries and Mr.. Spooner sup
ported it
After long discussion the bill with all
Amendments was ordered reprinted, pending
further consideration
Mr.. Pettus (Ala) offered an amendment
providing that the department of labor
should not be transferred to the department
OF commerce.
In Executive Session,
Pesding action upon the amendment the
Senate at 2:25 pm. on motion of Mr.. CuI-
iom. went into executive session