The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-06-08

ment Of one thousand additional sea-
men II also made unlawful the employ
m1nt OF naval or marine officers on the
active or retired lists by parties FUR
nlshing supplies or materials OF war TO
the government. a special resolution au-
thoriZel the acceptance by the govern
ment OF the ram Katahdln, which failed
TO make the speed requirements OF the
contracts but which satisfied the de-
partment, being largely an experimental
craft The naval reserve system was
strengthened by plan designed to draft
vessels engaged In the coastwise trade
into the service In time OF war An act
was passed to establish naval training
station on Yorga Buenn Goat lslnnd),
In San Francisco harbor
The secretary was empowered to ac-
cept certified checks In lieu OF bonds
from contractors for naval supplies.
No special legislation was contained
In the army appropriations bill. Spe-
cial bills were passed, however, crea-
ting the positions OF chaplain Cwho will
also be professor of history, geography
and ethlcs), and an assistant professor
OF the same branches at West Point
academy, making the national military
parks fields for manoucvres by the
national guard or militia, and u reso-
luton appointing General W. B. Frank
lin, OF Connecticut, General Thomas j.
Henderson. OF Illinois. Representative
Steele, Of Indiana, and George l.. Bealc,
OF Maine, members Of the board OF man
ayers for the national soldiers home.
OF tariff and financial legislation, this
Congress, as was said, has accomplish
ed none. With safe margin OF free
silver votes In the senate and a ma
porlty OF nearly two to one against sll-
yer in the house. II was evident from
the beginning that no general policy
could be agreed upon.
The two bills framed by the house
ways and means committee and bear
ing the name OF their author Mr..
DIngley, OF Maine, one bill for the is
sue oI n short term popular loan and
OF certificates OF Indebtedness, the
other to Increase the rates Of tariff
schedules in wool. manufactures OF
wool and other articles. were Killed In
the senate by the determination to
substitute therefor silver coinage meas
ures. on the other hand the scrAlte res-
olutiun to prohibit the issue OF bonds
without the authority Of Congress, one
OF the last important acts Of the sem
ate, was reported adversely by the
house ways and means committee. The
only one OF the many proposed changes
in the tariff laws which became an ac-
tualIty, was the repeal OF that clause
OF the Wilson act giving free alco-
hol In the arts and manufactures, this
being done on the recommendation OF
Secretary Carlisle and Commissioner OF
Internal Revenue Miller. This repeal
met 81 much antaEonism from mem-
bers representing manufacturing In
terests that It could only be effected by
coupling with II a compromise scheme
devised by Senator Platt and Represcn-
tatlve Russell. Of Connecticut, for a
congressional commission to recon-
mend legislation at the beginning OF
the next session by which free alcohol
can be secured under sufficient safe
guard for the governments interests.
The policy Of reciprocity was thor
ouEhly Investigated by n sub-commit-
tee Of the ways and means. at the In
stigatlon OF Messra Tawney OF Mimi,
and Hopkins Of Ills. but Il was thought
inadvisablc by the Republican leaders
to attempt legislation on that single
feature OF the tariff system so long as
agricultural revision was out OF the
question. Although the house commit
tee on banking and currency devoted
much time to discussion OF financial
questions Il was able to agree on but
two bIlls-one 10 permit banks 10 issue
circulation to the amount OF the par
value Of the bonds deposited by them
us security: the other for tha orCani-
zatlon OF national banks in the smaller
towns, neither of which was passed
this session. The only important bill
recommended by the house committee
on coinage that for thu adoption OF the
metric system of weights and measures
nj the beginning OF the next century,
met with a temporary rebuff In the
house, but will be brought forward
while foreign affairs divided with
finances the interest OF Congress COM
paratively little legislation resulted
from tn. discussions because SO great
n share OF the conduct OF foreign rela-
tlons rests with the executive branch.
Tho first nubiIc resolution adopted by
Congress and that nfter one hours DO
bate In the house and few days IN the
senatc-was that authorizing tn" Pres
idert TO create the commission 10 In
vcstlgate the VeneZucla-Rritlsh Guiana
boundary line.
Tho debates over Cuban AFFAIRS re-
suited in tho adoption Of concurrent
resolution expressing the sympathy OF
thlg government with the Insurgents:
calling upon tho President 20 accord
tbNm bcillEcrent rights and to offer the
friendly offices ri the United States to
Spnln to bring the war to an end. Res
buttons were adopted by both branches
Of Congress dcnOuncing the masslcres
OF Armcnlans in Turkey and calling
upon the slgnntnry powers to the Ber-
lin treaty TO protect the Armenian
christians. Srventy-hve thousand
dollars was appropriated for carrying
ont tho stipulati0ng Of the Rcrlng Sea
seal fisheries treaty with Great Britain
Another resolution passed was to de-
frny the expenses Of negotiating con-
ycntion 10 locate the boundary line
between Alaska and British America,
One Incident of the excitement which
attended the crlsia Of the Venezuelan
honndnrv dispute was the quick alnp-
tl5n bv both the senate md house OF
senator UlIl's proposition to repeal the
law forbidding N.COnrcdorntos who
rrIlnduishcd commissions In the United
states army or navy to be again np-
pointed 10 tho service.
Tho plnns To bring about tho Maher-
F'ltygImr!ang fight IN the Indian terri
tory lngpIrrd tho rnpli enactment Of n
In,, Imposing extremely severe penal
.,Ins f1r prize fighting In tho territories,
and IN, cpldcmIr Of train r0bbcrleg in
tho Indian territory brought about an
lronclnd law AGAINST crimes uf that
rIagu. ar attempts at them, with the
death penalty for any incidental loss of
NO. Another emergency act was that
authorizing the secretary of war to lend
fonts TO the cyclone sufferers Of ST.
Louis
prrynIIcl up1u Congress 10 enact the
,,,a.t ltpunrtnnt measure for their pro-
ioctfon since tho 0lromnrgarinc lawthr
"nllol chocFr" bill. which regulates the
manufacture nnd sal" Of ndnltcrod
cheese and imposes heavy. penalties for
lrcrptlDng.