Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-04-25

Continuing, Mr.. Butler adverted t.
what he regarded as the excited" ut
terances OF the Senator (Mr. Hawiey)
who. he said, mad risen and flung at hin
charges OF treason. He thought those
who were guilty of treason were those
who had refused to make provision fol
good armor at reasonable price.
docs anybody know" inquired Mr.
Allen, whether the modern bsttleship
is fighting machine or not ?"
sit is a great fighting machine, OF
course" said Mr.. Hale, "but its power
and efficiency have never been demon
strated. It has impregnable armor, the
finest of known ordnance and excellent
machinery, but it is fact that it has
never stood the final crucial test of
naval battle.n
Mr.. Tillman made an extended speech
in favor of the proposed amendment, in
the course of which he had passage at
arms with Mr.. Chandler based upon
report made by the latter favoring a re-
duction of the price of armor.
Mr.. Hale offered an amendment au.
thoriziDg the Secretary of the Navy to
enlist at any time after the passage of
the act as many seamen, landsmen and
boys as he may deem necessary to man
the ships of the navy or for the use of
the navy as a temporary force and ap-
propriating IS, $50, 900 for that purpose.
Mr. German objected to the term
Temporary force" as indefinite and
thought the time ought to be limited.
q RI DIM mn
offered by Mr.. Cockrell that the time
should be during the existing war"
The amendment was agreed and the
bill passed.
The Senate then went into executive
session and passed a declaration OF war
against Spain.
Senator Hawley then called up the
army reorganization bill.
HOUSE.
The galleries of the House were
thronged this morning in anticipation
OF the Presidents message asking Con.
gress to make formal declaration of
war.
While the Journal was being read,
Major Pruden, the Presidents execut
i've clerk, appeared with the message.
The Speaker Immediately directed it to
be read by the clerk. There was no
demonstration at the conclusion of the |
reading and no demand for the reading |
of the diplomatic correspondence that |
accompanied the message. The Speak
er simply ordered it referred under the |
rules to the committee on foreign az |
fairs and printed for the information of |
the House.
No interest was manifested in the |
proceedings, Members and spectators
waited impatiently for the foreign al
fairs committee to bring in the war
bill. The contested election case of
Wise vs.. Young from the second Vir-
ginia district was called up With the |
understanding that four hours should |
be allowed upon each side.
Shortly after ] o'clock Getting Chair |
man Adams entered the hall and the
news that the committee had unani-
mously agreed upon q bill declaring the
existence of state of war was known
all over the House. Mr.. Adams held |
hurried consultations with the Speaker
and Messrs. Dinsmore and Berry of the
minority of the committee.
At l.2O p. m. he interrupted Mr..
Mesick, VINO was talking on the con-
tested election case, and asked unani.
nous consent for the consideration of
the bill DECLARING the existence of a
state Of war between this country ar. !
the kingdom of Spain. Ther,c, was not
a murmur OF dlSEeeIntt. The bill was
READ. Inc house held its breath.
MIR. Mcguire arose to ask question
but refrained. The question was put
on the third reading and passage of the
bill and in chorus the whole House
responded AYE" The announcement
of its passage was greeted with round
OF applause and then the House resum-
ed the consideration of the election case,
MIR. Mcguire explained subsequently
that his purpose in rising was to ask
whether the declaration in the bill that
war had existed since April 81 was in
tended to legalize the seizure of the
Buena Ventura. II consider that act
and the other seizures up to this time"
said he emphatically, nothing more
than piracy"