The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-11

WASHINGTON May 10.-Four war meas
ures were passed by the Senate to-day. One
of them provided for carrying the addi-
tonal work in the adjutant generals office;
the second authorized the enlistment of a
volunteer signal corps, two-thirds of the
members of which must be expert eiectri-
clans or telegraphers; the third was the So
called immune BILL, passed by the House
of Representatives, and the fourth was a
measure suspending existing law so that
additional hospital stewards can be APP
pointed.
The postoffice appropriation BILL carrying
appropriations which aggregate more than
500, 100000, was passed after a debate which
has lasted for several days determined
effort made by Mr.. Butler to cut off
the sum appropriated for the fast mail
service between New York and Washington
to Atlanta and New Orleans, and to pro-
vide for two committees to investigate pos
tai affairs, but it was unsuccessful, all
amendments. except those offered by the
committee on appropriations, being voted
down.
After an extended and interesting debate,
the resolution submitting to the Legisla-
lures of the various States an amendment
to the Constitution of the United States,
changing the date of the beginning of the
terms of the President, Vice President and
members of Congress from the 9TH of March
to the 4th of May was adopted. Following
is the text of the proposed amendment:
The term of Office of the President and
Vice President and of the Fifty-siXth Con-
gress shall continue until the 4th day of
May in the year 1901 at noon, and the 4th
day of May. at noon, shall thereafter be
substituted for the 4th of March as the
commencement and termination of the Of
ficial term of the President, Vice President,
senators and representatives in Congress.
Soon after the opening of the session Mr..
Hale entered q motion to reconsider the
vote by which the Senate yesterday passed
the bill increasing the number of rear adj
Rted some surprise, but it Is the opinion of
the committee on naval affairs that the
President has ample authority to nominate
Commodore Dewey as rear admiral without
the bill passed yesterday.
Mr.. Sewell then reported from the COM
mittee on military affairs bill providing
for the increased volume of work in the
office of the adjutant general of the army.
The bill provides for one assistant adjutant
general with rank of colonel and one with
rank of major. The bill was passed.
From the military affairs committee Mr..
Carter favorably reported and secured the
passage of bill providing for volunteer
signal corps. The measure authorizes the
President to organize a volunteer signal
corps for the existing war. The corps shall
colonel, one major. disbursing officer,
and such other officers and men as may be
army corps, and two captains two first
lieutenants, two second lieutenants, five
first sergeants, ten Sergeants, ten corporals
and thirty prigateS to each organized div1-
sion of troops. Two-thirdS of all officers
below the rank of major and a like proper
ton of the enlisted men shall be skilled
electricians or telegraph operators.
MIR. White introduced resolution IN
structing the committee on foreign relations
10 forthwith investigate the cases of Harry
i. Spring and Charles w. Nelson, citizens
OF the United States and residents of the
State Of California, who are under arrest
in the Republic of Colombia, and to inquire
whether they have been detained unreason-
ably without trial and whether the diplo-
matte officers and agents of the United
States in Colombia have made appropriate
eXertions to procure their release or trial,
and to report by resolution or otherwise.
The resolution went over under the rules.
Mr.. Hawley, chairman of the military ar
fairs committee, called up the bill providing
for q volunteer brigade of engineers ana
the enlistment of 10000 'immunes' in the
Southern States. 1t had been passed by the
House, with two amendments, and MI.
Hawley moved that the Senate concur In
the amendments The motion prevailed.
The bill will now go to the President for his
Signature.
AIR Morrill, called up the House bill to
readmit Mrs. Nellie Grant Sartoris to citl~
zenship in the United States. The bill was
passed. 1t has already passed the House.
At :05 D. m. the Vice President announced
his signature to the resolution OF thanks 70
Commodore Dewey and the ofncerS ana
men OF his command -,
Mr. Hawley secured the passage OF bill
suspending certain provisions OF law SO
that hospital stewards TO a number exceed
ing one hundred may be appointed during
the existing war.
Mr. Hawley also moved that the Senate