The Savannah morning news., 1904-12-08
PLATT PUT IN HIS
ANTI-SOUTH BILL
CUTS OFF REPRESENTATION
WHEN NEGROES ARE DEPRIVED
OF RIGHT TO VOTE.

senator Bailey Wanted to Know a.
the Bill Would DO Anything About
Representation in the senate from
States Wherein IL Is Charged the
Governor and Not the legislature
Selects Senntors-Nothing in the
Bill About That, said Plat.
Washington. Dec. THE Senate to-
day reached decision to take a vote
upon the Philippine civil government
bill, providing for the construction of
railroads on the islands. on Dec. 16,
and in addition. transacted considera-
bic other business.
Mr.. Platt of New York created
something of a stir by introducing a
bill providing for a reduction in the
congressional representation of the
Southern states. on the ground that
many of the citizens of those states
are deprived of their right to vote,
and Mr.. Scott plunged the Senate into
an exceptionally early debate by at
tempting to secure the passage of the
bill granting pensions to the telegraph
bate was not concluded.
A large number of bills and joint res
buttons Were introduced and many Pc
titions presented. The discussion of
the time for voting upon the Philip
pine bill brought out the fact that there
is a general understanding that the
Christmas holiday recess will begin on
Dec. 10.
Bailey Was Sarcastic.
The introduction of the Plat bill
created considerable excitement on the
Democratic side of the chamber and at
the request of several senators por-
tons of the measure were re-read.
Mr.. Bailey was the only senator who
made any comment upon the measure.
With a tone of sarcasm he asked If
there was anything in the bill affect
ing the representation in the Senate
from states wherein 1t is charged the
Governor and not the Legislature Sc
lects senators"
Mr.. Plat replied that the bill con-
tanned no such provision.
With this the incident closed for the
time.
After an executive session the SEN
ate entered upon consideration Of the
calendar
Inc lISl measure on the calendar
is the Daniel resolution calling on the
President for all the correspondence
with the Colombian government rela-
| tive to the Panama revolution The
reading of the title of the resolution
evidently revived memories OF the last
| session, for a smile was noticeable
upon the faces of several senator's Mr..
Lodge suggested that the resolution
might be indefinitely postponed with
profit, but in the absence of Mr..
Daniel it was allowed to go over.
Operators We're Better Paid.
Mr. Scott, in explanation of the bin
to pension telegraph operators, said
that while the operators were not en-
listed, they were the confidential agents
of the government and had performed
most important services. He added
that there were only about 200 of the
operators.
Mr.. Gallinger announced his inten-
ton to vote against the bill. saying
that if 1t should pass, it would open
the way to the pensionng of all other
classes of civilians who served in the
war and entail large expenditures.
Mr. Cockrell called attention to fhe
fact that while soldiers were paid only
S13 per month, the telegraph operators
had received from $50 to 500 per
month, and on this account he OBJ
posed the bill.
Mr.. McCumber spoke in support of
the bill, saying that there would be
only 1877 beneficiaries.
The Senate adjourned until to-mor-
row.