The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-01-21
AT THE CAPITOL.
What Was Done By Congress
Yesterday.
RESOLUTIONS IN THE
SENATE and House.

The Latter Passes the Military Academy
Bill-Senator Peffer Wants Cheap
Coffins for Dead Statesmen-Gossin Mt
the Capitol-Activity in Naval Affairs
-Honoring Gen. Miles ETC., etc.
= Washington, January 2O.-Mr. Hardy
of Indiana, offered In the House TODAY a
resolution looking to the recognition of
the services of Major General Nelson A.
Miles. The resolution revises the grade
of lieutenant general, in order, when
deemed proper, to recognize the distin-
guished services of General Miles and the
law reviving the grade is to expire on
the retirement of General Miles. Mr..
Hardy in speaking of the proposition
thought that the special recognition
should be accorded General Miles in
recognition of the volunteer soldier.
The House committee on invalid
pensions today ordered favorable report
on the Senate bill granting pension of
SIS per month to the widow of General
William Cogswen of Massachusetts,.
The House committee on banking and
G urrency today indefinitely postponed
further consideration of the bill to regu-
late the lcaning of money by national
banks to their officers and directors.
The Presidents message in answer to
the resolution.of the House asking for in
regard to certain speeches
made by Ambassador Bayard, in Eng
land, was read and referred to the COM
mittee on foreign affairs.
(Ihe Message and Correspondence will
be found in anoteer column
Mr.. Cannon, Republican Of Illinois, re-
ported the urgent deficiency bill which
went on the calendar. The House went
into committee of the whole to consider
the. military academy appropriation bill.
The bill was explained by Mr.. Curtis,
Republican of New York, chairman of
thu committee on military affairs.
There is provision repeating SO much
Of the act of 1886 as requires special text
books at the academy. Mr.. Morse. Re-
alarm the temperance sentiment of the
country without satisfactory explanation.
Mr.. Curtis explained that the law re-
quiring teaching to the effects upon the
human system of the use of alcohol and
narcotics was not disturbed, but the pro-
fessors were relieved from the necessity
of using a certain. text book. The bill
WAS accepted as it came from the oom
mittee, with an increase of $3.50 In the
salary of one clerk, making the total
amount carried by the bill S449, III. 1t
was reported favorably to the House and
passed. .-
The committee on ways and mems re-
ported joint resolution directing the
immediate destruction of all returns
made under the income tax provision of
the tariff bill of 1894 declared unoonstitu-
hu tho Snurarnp 0n11Tt
agreed to and the House then adjourned.
In tho Senate.
The Monroe resolution as reported to
the Senate this morning by Davis, is
along the lines of previous dispatches
giving t he purport of the resolution.
1t announces that any attempt to
secure new or additional territory on this
continent or any Of the islands adjacent
thereto. either through force, oession,
occupation purchase, colonization or
otherwise, will be looked upon as an in.
fringement of the doctrine and that the
by the United States. 1t also places the
control Of any canal that may be con-
structed connecting the Atlantic and
Pacific oceans within the protection OF
| the doctrine.
The Senate committee on Pacific roads
held meeting this morning, but took no
action on any Of the Important bills re-
ferred to them relating to the Pacific
railroad. A hearing will be held in the
room of the committee on commerce
February 1, at which time all persons in
teresued in any of the Pacific roads are
requested to be present and make such
statements as they may see fit to the
committee.
Mr. Frye, Republican Of Maine, from
the committee on commerce, reported a
bill on the subject of naphtha launches
and explained its provisions. Under it,
launches less than fifteen tons burden
shall not require inspection, or engineer,
or licensed pilot; launches exceeding
fifteen tons carrying passengers for hire
or carrying freight for hire, shall be
subject to Inspection sThe bill provides
Mir. Frye said, that none Of those
launches shall, hereafter, be utterly
Iawless, but shall be subject to all re-
quirements as to the laws Of road, as to
safety appliances to be kept on board,
signals in fogs and the meeting and pass
ing of vessels, which now apply to steam
err craft The bill was placed on the
calendar,
The resolution heretofore offered by
Mr.. Sewell. Republican of New Jersey,
placing limitations on the Monroe
doctrine and condemnlng the Presidents
message on the subject, was taken up and
MIR. Sewell addressed the Senate.
He argued that Mr.. Cleveland's position
was way in advance of what was contem
plated in the Monroe doctrine, and that
| the effect of it would be the establish.
meut of a proteotorate over Mexico and
each OF the South and Central American
States. The South and Central American
States would be hasty and recklessly
violent, if they found they were to be
protected by the United States, and this
county would find itself thereby involved
! in interminable trouble It appeared te
him that the action of the Executive was
unreasonable and premature.
The resolution was allowed to remain
on the table.