The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-01-17
SENATE AND CABINET
BILL FOR SECRETARY or COM
MERGE CRITICISED.
MANY OBJECTIONS MADE.
MIR. HOAR RECALLS HIS BOER
RESOLUTION.

The Article of the Hague COnven-
Not Adopted by the United States.
Governor of bermuda VIII Rec
ommend Repeal of Such Duties.
Mallory and Clay Explain Their
Position ON Isthmian Canal-Mr.
Hale Criticises the Secretary of
Commerce BiII.
Washington. Jan. 16.-For a brief
time to-day the Senate had under con-
sideration the bill creating a depart
ment of commerce. The discussion
tended to show that the measure will
have to be amended in many partca-
lars before it can receive the approval
of the Senate. Serious objections were
raised to the transfer to the proposed
department of several important bu-
reaus, now a part of other departments
OF the government. Notice of several
important amendments was given, but
no definite action on the measure was
taken. A large number of uncontested
bills and private pension measures was
passed, after which the Senate ad-
journed until Monday.
Mr.. Hoar asked that his resolution
adopted yesterday, calling for informa-
ton concerning the exaction of duties
upon supplies and comforts sent 10
Boer prisoners in Bermuda from this
country, be recalled. He explained that
the article of The Hague Convention
upon which the resolution had been
based had been adopted by Great
Britain, but had not been adopted by
the United States. He said he had
been informed, since the adoption of
the resolution, that the Governor of
Bermuda proposed to recommend to the
Legislature of Bermuda that the law
exacting such duties be repealed. He
said the exaction of such duties was
not violation Of treaty obligations,
but he thought it was a matter which
ought to be investigated The motion
| to recall was adopted, and the resolu-
| ton was referred to the Committee on
Foreign Relations.
| A House concurrent resolution pro-
viding that the two branches of Con-
gress assemble in the hall of the House
| of Representatives on Thursday, Feb.
"a, to participate in services in menu
ory of the late President Mckinley,
was adopted.
Mallory and Clay Explain.
Mr.. Mallory, Florida, rising to a
| question Of privilege called attention
to an article in New York newspaper
of the 14th inst, purporting to give a
poll of the Senate on the subject of
an isthmian canal, in the course of
which he was represented as being
in favor of the Panama route. He
said he had had no interview with
any one upon that subject. AS a
matter of fact the article misrepre-
sented him entirely.
Il am decidedly in favor" said he,
''of pressing the Nicaragua project as
rapidly as possibly, and if it were in
my power, / should be very glad to
bring the matter up for a vote to-
day"
Mr.. Clay, Georgia, made a similar
statement about the same article, as
serting that he had never intimated
to any one what his views on the canal
question were, but that he did, as a
fact, favor the Nicaragua project, and
not the Panama route, as stated In
the article in question.
The bill to establish the department
of commerce was called up by Mr.. Mel
son, Minnesota.
After some minor amendments to the
measure had been offered by Mr. Mel
son and adopted, Mr.. Lodge offered an
amendment to Section of the bill pro-
viding that the Secretary of State
should designate an official in his de-
partment to furnish instructions to
consular officers supplied by the Sec
retary of Commerce and to prepare the
dispatches of the consular officers for
-. ,f
merce.
The amendment aroused considerable
comment all of it being favorable to
Mr.. Lodges proposition.
Hale Attacks Commerce Bill.
Mr.. Hale sharply criticised the bill.
He said the measure so suddenly
flashed upon the Senate created the
largest department in the government.
The new Secretary of Commerce
would become the most important
member of the cabinet. He would be
even more important official than
the Secretary of the Treasury with
all of his great administrative duties.
Many bureaus had been included in
the proposed department that have no
more relation to commerce than light
has to darkness. He referred partic-
ularly to the transfer to the new de-
partment of the coast and geodetic
survey, and urged that If that bureau
we're changed at all 1t should be placed
under the Navy Department. He re-
ferred to various "navies" in the sew
eral departments.
Mr. TiIIman Fires shot.
This brought Mr.. Tillman to his feet.
Il would like to add another navy to
those enumerated by the Senator" he
said. THAT is, the army transport
service That is assuming great pro-
portions and about it / have heard
some scandal"
At the instance of Mr.. Teller section
G OF the bill providing for the trans
fer of the geological survey to the De-
partment OF Commerce was stricken
out.
Mr.. Hale gave notice Of an amend
ment providing for the transfer Of the
coast and goedetic survey to the Navy
Department.
After MIR. Platt, Connecticut. had
criticised the bill and urged that no
sction be taken at this time the meas
ure went over. The following bills, to-
gether with a large number OF pri-.
vate pension bills. were passed.
Approprlatlng ss0.000 for government
expenses and floor space at the
Charleston. 5. e. Exposition; 10 con-
struct al q cost Of sli.500 q road to the
National Cemetery. at Dover Tenn. 20
pay certain persons IN the South for
property taken from them by the mill
fgrtr f1raau 80 fhn TTRlfen gfuf@m