New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-06-07


cept for extraordinary Many bills for tho re-
lief OF enlisted men from the charge OF desertion
were also considered and In few cases rel'et was
recommended. The committee reported IN laVor Vi
the re-enactmcnt OF the law Of 1885, which expired
by limitation in 1898, giving the Secretary OF inc
Navy power to grant such relief In certain cases
The Committee on Pubic Lands reported back 70
the House more than sixty Of the bills and joint res
olutions referred 20 It, a number Of which were
passed by that body. and several Of Which became
laws Under the craftsmanship OF Major Lacey Oh
Iowa this important committee has done an I'M
usually large amount Of useful and valuable WORK.
IMPORTANT FOREIGN MATTERS.
Chairman Hit and his colleagues OF the Commit
tee on Foreign Affairs were called upon TO deal with
several important and somewhat perplexing as wei
as delicate questions. and they did SO In manner
which commanded the approval OF the House and or
the country Among other things they reoonihehu.
ed and the House adopted resolutions winch WIZ
prevent any diplomatic representative OF the uh'eu
States hereafter from committing such an offence
as that of which Ambassador Bayard was guilty.
Tho Venezuelan Commission bil which was 70
promptly passed by both branches OF congress ana
approved by the President. was reported by Cniii
man HIT. Of this committee. within few hours
after the special message had been rece"cu ""a
read In the House OF Representatives.
atng to foreign affairs also consdereu anu uif"'-
mously reported concurrent resolutions IN regard
"a tho Armenian outrages and the insurrection IN
Cuba which were passed with substantial uhahi-
nifty by the Senate and House Of Representatives,
The Armenian resolutions. after recitng certain
provisions OF the treaty OF Berlin OF July u.s. 1919
continues follows:
Tint u 10 an imperative duty. In the interest OF
iIat IL 20 exnre,s the earnest hope that tho
European concert brought about by inc uen'! ~
fsrred 70 NAV speedily be given Its Just erect IN
aucb decisive measures as shall stay the hand OF
fanatcism and lawless violence ana as T srS EN-
"a the unoffending Christians OF the iurklSn Ell
tho rUhf
ana Christians and as benehciares OF Inc cNp"0''
That the President be requested 10 comniun ..
tbase resolution. 10 the Governments OF Grea,
Britain, Germany. Austria. France l''HS anu
That the Senate OF the United States, the House
President in the most vigorous action he may
take for the protection and security OF r ,
citizens in Turkey and TO onam rrIT r",ertv ~
turieS committed upon 'He P'i'0"" " fO'''
such citizens
These resolutions. which were passed ia'e IN
January were followed some two months later ny
the concurrent resolutions relating TO Cuban AFFAIRS
which read as follows: -
That in the opinion Of Congress. condition OF
nrhlic war exists between the Government OF spain
and the Government proclaimed ana Ior some uiie
na,ntained by force OF arms by the people OF Nupa'
md mai the United States OF America should main
tain strict neutrality between the conten1lhs
movers according TO each all the rights OF PEI,
tyerents In tho ports and territory OF the United
States u . ~. 1-,.ed c.a,..
ebomId no offered by the President to the Spanish
Government the recognition OF the indepehdehce
OF Cuba. ~
.n,,v ons or,c,ally transmitted 10 the Execu-
tive What action. X any. has been taken by him.
is not known TO the country
The Committee on Merchant Marine and Flsher'e''
OF which Mr.. Payne. OF New-York Is chairman con
s,dered and reported number OF important pms
several OF which passed the House and one OF whch
was rejected owing 10 the temporary absence Oh
many members when the vote was taken ana mis-
understanding among other members as 10 the scope
of the measure. II was one TO abolish compulsory
pilotaRe as TO vessels engaged in the coast"ise
trade One OF the bills from this committee which
beca,n. A law authorized the President to recon-
vene the delegates OF the United states to the inter-
national Marine Conference Of 1889.
Among the other bills reported from the COM
mittee and passed by the House were the follow
ing: To amend Section 5.294 OF the Revised stat
utes IN relation to the power OF the Secretary OF
the Treasury TO rem; mitigate fines. penalties
and forfeitures and for other purposes TO improve
The Merchant Marine and increase tho efficiency OF
the Naval Reserve. This bill as II passed the
House compels all American vessels TO employ
only United States citizens as engineers and as
s.stant engineers. 1t also regulates their term OF
license and provides for their draft into tho naval
service IN case OF A bill passed by the House
| concerning tonnage tax does away with the pres
| en-. one-sided reciprocal provisions which enabled
| foreign vessels 10 escape the payment OF N'""' OF
tonnage taxes annually while vessels OF the United
States by the zane provision saved only 300 or
| 1900 annually. The bill Will save the Treasury
! about $4,000 per annum \ bill to amend Sec
! tson 2 esl OF the Revised Statutes and make al
vance freight charges and contributions In general
| average lien in favor OF the ocean carrier upon
| goods imported became a law. bill passed for
| the protection OF yacht-owners and ship-bulders
OF the United States is In the line OF protection 10
| the workmen In American shipyards.
r>tIL, pACII>IC RAILROAD DEBT.
! After long and patient Investigation and thor.
| ouph consideration and after hearing exhaustive
| arguments pro and con. the Committee on PacinC
| Railroads reported to tho House a bill TO refund
the indebtedness Of the Pacific Railroads 10 The
| United States Inasmuch tho measure finally
| received the Joint approval OF a majority OF The
| Senate Committee well as OF the House Com
rn,t,ee the prospect Is fair that this matter which
| has SO long occupied the attention OF Congress
will be satisfactorily disposed Of at the next ses
sion.
The Committee on Immgrat ton considered sew.
| eral important bills to regulate and restrict immi
| grafton and heard arguments from number Of
| persons interested In the subject. Two bills were
| reported 10 the House. one OF which, imposing al
| educational test. was passed with an amendmen
| after full consideration and thorough discussion
| The amendment designed 20 cure an abuse
| which has grown up along the Canadian border
| and which has subjected workingmen who arr
| residents and citizens Of the United States e
| unfair competition from Canada. bill OF 4 SIM!
| lar nature was favorably reported by MIR. Lodge
| from the Senate Committee on immigration
| The Committee Interstate and Foreign Com
| nerce, Of which Colonel Hepburn. Of Iowa. Il
| chairman, considered and reported upon large
| number Of measures. many OF which were mainly Of
| local interest, while several were OF inernatona
| inheritance and interest Among the latter were
| The Nicaragua Canal bill and the bill for a sub
| marine cable between the United States anC
| Hawaii. Japan and China. Protracted hearing:
| were held on both these measures. which were
thoroughly discussed pro and con by persons Inter
ested In the respective projects well as sc'entn'
| experts. and In each case majority OF the com
| mittee gavo a favorable decision.
| PENSION COMMITTEES OVERWHELMED.
AS usual the Committee on Invalid Pensions nae