The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1904-01-28
NATIONAL LAWMAKERS
What the Two Houses Of Congress
Are Doing.
Pure Food Bill,

" dS Tcddg u duIOuIu. anu, Ou AotiOh
Of Mr.. Hepburn, a recess was taken
until 11:55 tomorrow. This will re-
tain the bill before the House without
interruption for consideration tomor-
row. Just before the recess an amend
ment coming from the Democratic
side was adopted inserting the word
"wilfully." relative to the sale OF
prohibited adultcrated goods by re-
taiIers, which would make it incum-
bent upon the government to prove
knowledge on the part OF retailers
that the sale of such goods was con-
trary to law. The principal speeches
Of the day were made by Messrs. Hep
burn and Mann in favor of the bill
and Adamson, Bartlett and Clark in
opposition. Mr. Adamson elaborated
the views he expressed in a minority
report. He said such legislation was
unnecessary, as local communities
had ample power to correct evils, Mr..
Clark believed the present bill should
be modified, especially the sections
pertaining to the acquisition Of sam
samples, which, he said, required a
man to furnish evidence against him
self, which was unconstitutional.
Patterson Talks.
Mr.. Patterson completed his speech
on the Panama canal question and Mr..
Platt, of Connecticut, began on the
same subject. Mr.. Patterson declared
that the President was largely respon-
sibIe for the revolt in Panama and an
nounced bis decided preference for the
Nicaraguan route Mr. PIatt took this
pronounce for Nicaragua as the
text for his remarks, saying that this
preference for the more northern route
explained away the mystery of the
otherwise uneXplainable opposition on
the Panama treaty.
Referring to the Presidents declara-
ton that what had been done in Pan
ANA had been done as the mandate Of
civilization, Mr.. Patterson quoted with
approval a statement by Mr.. Spooner
to the effect that that was new
! phrase, adding: ut was a new phrase,
and the man who penned it must have
been in a state of mental exaltatiOn at
the time, as others have been on other
occasions Mahomet, Joe Smith and
Dowie have moved in such exalted
spheres that they imagined themselves
as the very vice regents of the AL
mighty, and It may be that the Presi-
dent moves in the same sphere
L
to displace the Nicaraguan canal with
the Panama canal was in the interest
OF those who wanted no canal at all and
who, X they were to have any canal
wanted the one which would give the
least competition to the trans-conti-
nental railroads. He believed the Mic
aragua canal could be completed In fif.
teen years less time than the Panama
canal. He would, therefore, vote
against the ratification of the treaty.
rir. Platt's Visws'
Mr.. Platt, of Connecticut, concluded
his speech on Panama Thursday, con
suming most Of the time Of the oper
session, after the expiration OF ths
morning hour He defended the course
of the President throughout the Pan
anna revolt and eulogiZed the executive
personally as brave and fearless. Du
ring the morning hour Mr.. Morgan
spoke in explanation OF his bill for thu
annexation of Panama to the United
States basing his argument on th'
ground that the pending canal treat!
practically contemplated that resul
and said, in effect, that II it was tt
be done at all it should be done b!
legislation and not by treaty.
which the country has encountered il
Panama, saying that they are not o
the country's seeking, but were du
to the precipitancy of the President o
the United States. It was, however
impossible to undo what had beel
done. and he cortended that furthe
proceedings should be in accordanc
with legislation. In order to get rid
the consequences of our acts we mus
make, he said, some equitable arrange
ment with Panama, for it was not to b
supposed that Colombia meant to SUP
NIT calmly. If, he argued, we are t
build a canal In Panama, We must haV
the good will of Colombia, for withou
itthe obstacles of disease and outlaw
will be infinitely increased.
Mr.. Morgan predicted that the Presl
dent would not be able to secure futur
appropriations.
Indeed" he said, II don't bellev
that he wants appropriations. 1t
better for campaign purposes that leg
islation On the canal question shoul
consist of purposes only"
He said that he had inserted In nj
bill the provision for the payment Q
S15,000,000 for the practificatlon or 20
, Iombia because he had heard that tn
President had entered into an agree
ment for the payment Of that sum TO
, that purpose.
Mr. Platt defended the Presiden
against the charge Of committing
act of war or even an act OF interver
, . ton, denying that his acts in conne<
, -: ton with the Panama revolt amounte
i to either. The charges that the Pre-:
ident knew Of the revolution and ha
connived at it, Mr. Platt characterize
as disgraceful and untrue. He said tE
!, ! President had the right to protect traI
| sit across the isthmus even again:
| Colombia.
Mr.. Platt referred to the retireme1
of the Colombian forces and was inte
/ rupted by Mr.. Tillman, who asked
e the attitude of the Colombian force
: was not in the nature of dicker {
D badger to increase the price Of going
: Mr.. Platt replied that Mr.. Hubbar
q and his 424 men had nothing to. do wit
, | the Colombian troops.
81 want a canal at Panama." sal
Mr. Tillman, ''if we don't have to ste
a it."