The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-01-22


Senate required less than a
minute today to dispose of the mo-
ton TO refer TO the committee on
postoffices the various resolutions
looking TO an investigation of the
p~ostofice department. The question
had been previously debated for hours
at a time, but when the motion was
put today, no Senator manifested any
disposition TO further discuss it, and
it was adopted without negative
vote.
The adoption OF h motion occur
red early in the day, n after the
passage of a half dozen bills, the Sem
ate returned to the consideration of
the Panama question. Mr.. Quarles
spoke for almost two hours in sup
port Of the course of the administra-
ton and was followed by Mr.. Pat
terson, who criticised the Presidents
course in Panama.
Mr.. Quarles declared the revolt of
Panama in the interest of the canal
to be the first movement on the 18TH
mus for the promotion of the rights
of civilization for the past 100 years.
Continuing Mr.. Quarles announced
his advocacy of a sea level canal.
saying he thought such a canal should
be constructed regardless of h time
required in construction or the eX-
penSe TO be incurred.
Mr.. Patterson said the secession of
Panama was an StrociouS crime. He
recalled disturbances in he United
States among them the Chicago strike
of the last decade.
Mr.. Spooner interrupted and said
that the course of President fCleve-
land in sending troops to Quell the
riot had been condemned by the
Democratic convention ef 1896.
Mr.. Daniel tool exception to the
remark, holding that those who had
taken hat view of the platform had
miscenstrucd it
Mr.. Patterson engaged in a COLO
guy as to the extent of the grant
made by Colombia to the United
states OF the right of transit across
the isthmus-
Mr.. Spooner said it was a right
and q grant of sovereignty and that
in return the United States had un-
dertaken to maintain neutrality on
the whole fsthmus. This obligation
had. he argued, descended to Pan
anna
The Senator contention then is
this" said Mr.. Patterson, that that
COUNT yielded the right to maintain
its own sovereignty over it's own ter
rtory7"
tentiouslE.
1T is too absurd" Mr.. Patterson
went on. flor the Senator from Wis
consin to believe that for a mo-
ment-"
The Senate adjourned until tomor-
row.
THE HOUSE.
Washington, January 1.-the
House spent the day considering the
Hepburn Pure Food bill. 1t was not
completed when the House was ready
to adjourn and on motion of Mr..
Hepburn, a recess was taken until
11-55 tomorrow. This will retain the
bill before the House without inter-
ruption for consideration tomorrow.
Just before the recess IN amendment
coming from the Democratic side was
adopted inserting the word "wilfully,"
relative to the sale of prohibited ad-
liberated goods by retailers, which
would make it incumbent upon the
government to prove knowledge on
the part of retailers that the sale of
such goods was contrary to law. The
principal speeches of the day were
made by Nessrs. Hepburn and Mann
in favor Of the bill, and Adamson,
Bartlett and Clark in opposition.
Mr.. Anderson elaborated the views
he expressed in a minority report He
said such legislation was unnecessary,
As local communities had ample pow
er to correct evils
Mr.. Clark believed the present bill
should be modified, especially the sec
ton pertaining to a acquisition of
samples, which he said required a
man to furnish evidence against him.
self which was unconstitutional.