Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1896-06-13

ance by the government VI 'H0 A"'
katahdin, which failed to make the speed
required by the contracts, but which sat
isfied the department, being largely IN
experimental craft. The naval reserve
system was strengthened by a plan de-
signed to draft vessels engaged n the
coastWise trade into the service IN time
Of war. An act was passed to establish
a naval training station on Yerba Buena'
or Goat Island, San Francisco harbor.
The secretary was empowered to accept
certified checks in lieu of bonds from
contractors for naval uspphes. No special
legislation was contained in the army
appropriation bill. Special bills were
passed, however, creating the positions
of chaplain, who will also be professor
Of history, geography and ethics, and an
assistant professor of the same branches
At West Point academy, making the ma
I'll military park fields for maneuvers
the national guards or militia, and a
esolution appointing General Franklin OF
Connecticut, General Thomas Henderson
of Illinois, Representative Steele of In
diana and George L. Beale of Maine
members of the board of managers for
the national soldiers home.
The senate resolution to prohibit the
Issue of bonds without the authority of
congress, one of the last important acts
of the senate. 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 actually was the repeal of the clause
of the Wilson bill giving free alcohol in
the arts and manufactures, this being
done on the recommendation of Secretary
Carlisle and Commissioner of Internal
Revenue Miller. This repeal met so much
antagonism from members representing
the foreign manufacturing interests that
1t could only be effected by coupling II
with a compromise scheme devised by
Senator Plat and Representative Russell
of Connecticut, for q congressional com
mission to recommend legislation at the
beginning of the next session by which
free alcohol can be secured under suffi-
cent safeguards for the governments in
terests.
The policy of reciprocity was thorough
ly investigated by a subcommittee of the
ways and means committee but it was
thought not advisable by the republican
leaders to attempt legislation on that
single feature of the tariff system.
ing and currency devoted much time to
the discussion of financial questions. it
was unable to agree on but two bills
one to permit banks to issue circulation
to the amount of par value of the bonds
deposited by them as security; the other
for the organization of national banks IN
the smaller towns, neither of which was
passed this session.
The only important bill reached by the
house committee on coinage was that for
the adoption of the metric system of
weights and measures.
The first public resolution adopted by
congress and that after one hours debate
in the house and after a few days in the
senate, was that authorizing the president
to create the commission to investigate
the Venezuela Guiana boundary line.
The debates over Cuban affairs resulted
in the adoption of a concurrent resolution
expressing the sympathy of this govern
ment with the insurgents: calling upon
the president to accord them belligerent
rights and to offer the friendly offices of
the United States to Spain to bring the
war to an end.
Resolutions were adopted by both
branches of congress denouncing the mas
sacres of Armenans in Turkey and call
ing upon the signatory powers to the
Berlin treaty to protect the Armenian
Christians. Seventy-fve thousand dollars
was appropriated for the carrying out
of the stipulations of the Boring sea seal
fisheries treaty with Great Britain.
OF tariff and financial legislation, this
congress. as was said, has accomplished
nothing. With a safe margin of free sill
yer votes in the senate, and a majority
Of nearly two to one against silver in
the house, it was evident from the be-
ginning that no general policy could be
agreed upon. The two bills framed by
the house ways and means committee