The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-04-10
COMMITTEE REPORTS.
low Wheels Of Legislation in Wash.
ingtOn Turn.
RESOLUTION FAyORING THE ELE.
VATION OF GENERAL MILES.

Mrs. Maybrick's Case Taken Up Again
and Inquiry Ordered-Chairman of
Foreign Affair Committee Directed to
Secure Legislation for Establishing
ConsuIshis in AIexandretta.
Washington, April 9.-Mr. Hull of
Iowa, chairman of the House military
committee, filed today 3 majority report
on the Hardy joint resolution, which pro-
notes Major General Miles to lieutenant
general The report refers to the action
of Congress in comforting this grade upon
Major General Sohofeld and states that
the army, since 1S4e, has been almost
continuously commanded by either lieu
tenant generals or full generals, and the
pending measure will not be an increase
of the general officers. The resolution
was introduced, the report declares, in
response to widespread demand from
various organizations of men more or
less closely identified with the volunteer
army of the late war. Copious as is the
official record Of Gen. AIiles's service to
his country, 1t continues, there is not up
on 1t single blot, not a line which will
not bear close scrutiny. It is not on
record that Miles ever fell short of expec-
tations, but he often so far surpassed 1t
as to call forth expressions of unstinted
praise. The report shows that he was
engaged in every battle Of the army of
the Potomac with one exception, and
yUa oP
received in battle. He was four times
wounded, thrice badly. The report in
conclusion states that the committee
deems the .,anK Of acknowledgement
a most appropriate title for the general
commanding the army in nation of this
mangitude.
The House committee on District Of
Columbia, today, ordered a favorable re-
port on the bill of Mr.. Bartlett of New
York, allowing horse racing in the Dis
trict of Columbia between April and No
vmber. and prohibiting book-maki ng or
gambling of any kind.
The Senate commerce committee today
favorably reported bill establishing
life saving station near Hampton, n. 81.
The House committee on foreign affairs
today, instructed Chairman Hit to re-
port with the recommendation that it be
passed. resolution asking the Secretary
OF State to report to the House what facts
are in possession of the department. reiat-
ing to the case of Mrs. Florence E. May
brick, formerly of Mobile, Alabama, and
what steps, If any, the government has
taken to secure her release or mitigation
Of punishment.
The chairman of the foreign affairs
committee was authorized to secure legis-
lation for the establishment of consul
late at Alexandretta, Asia Minor, and
for the abolishing of the one established
at Harpoot. The Turkish government
declines to grant eXequatur to the consul
appointed for the latter place.
Mr.. Heatwole, Republican of Mime
sofa, was directed to prepare and report q
joint resolution appIopriating S75, 600 for
the establishment of boundary line be-
tween Alaska and British Columbia in
accordance with the convention between
the United States and Great Britain re-
lating to that subject.
The naval appropriation bill reported
to the Senate today authorizes the Secre-
tary OF the Navy to contract for the build
ing of two submarine torpedo boats of
the Holland type, at cost not exceeding
$175, 600 each. These boats are to be COLI
struoJed and delivered within four
months from the date of contract, pro-
vided the Holland boat now being built
for The department shall be accepted as
fulfilling all requirements of the con-
tract. No action shall be taken until the
Holland boat, now beng built, shall
have been fully tested to the satisfaction
| Of the Secretary Of the Navy and ac-
cepted.
The amendment empowers the Score
tary of the Navy to cause one Of the six
light draught composite gunboats au-
| fiscal year to be built and furnished for a
training ship for the Annapolis academy.
Among the important additions to the
bill are the following: For testing
methods ofa throwing high explosives
| from guns on board ships with ordinary
| velocities, $50O.O0O. TO the appropriation
of $3.50, 900, for reserve guns for auxiliary
cruisers is added the proviso that the
| Secretary of the Navy, may purchase all
or any part of sach guns. The approprj-
alton of $500 sor the preliminary work
towards the construction OF q ''model
| tank" for the use of the bureau of con-
strnction and repairs is stricken out. A
number of provisions in the House bill.
relative to the marine corps have been
eliminated. The bill as reported by the
committee carries total net reduction of
| 1857, 757.
| Some measure, either bill or joint
resolution re-enacting in general terms