The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-06-09

Washington, June s.-Soon after the
Senate convened today Mr.. Hale of
Maine, chairman Of the naval affairs
committee, reported favorably a bill to
define it's duties and regulate its pay.
The bill passed.
Under the bill the pay OF hospital
stewards shall be $50 month hospital
apprentices. first class, $50 a month; and
hospital apprentices, second class, 500
month, with the increase on account
of length of service as is now Or may
hereafter be allowed by law to other en-
listed men in the navy.
Mr.. Mason of Illinois reported from the
| committee on post offices and post roads
bill extending the ranking privilege
| through the mails to the officers and men
| of the army and navy during the existing
war, the privilege to extend only to first.
class matter, each piece weighing not
| more than one ounce.
Mr.. Platt Of Connecticut regarded the
measure as very sweeping In it's proyis-
ions and he could not let this bill go
| ohiOdSa WituOQu 6ACbptlOus VA lis OU-
| lection the measure went over.
Mr.. Quay of Pennsylvania, resigned
| from the committee on commerce, and
his colleague. MIR. Penrose was appointed
| to fill tho vacancy.
Bills to amend the charters of certain
District of Columbia street railroad COM
pan1es were passed after considerable dis
cussion, the opposition being led by Mr..
Pettigrew.
The Senate CONQUERED in the House
| amendment to the joint resolution direct
/ ing tie secretary OF war to return to the
| state Of Ohio, flags of certain volunteer
! regiments of Ohio, the House amend
| ment being also to return the flags Of
the 18th New York volunteer infantry.
| Bills as follows were passed:
To authorize the construction of a
| bridge across the Missouri river at Quin-
daro, Kansas, by the Kansas City, North
! western & Gulf railroad company; to pro-
vide for the purchase of site and for
| the erection of public building thereon
! at Ogden, Utah; an appropriation of
S25Q, 0OO being made for the purpose.
| Mr.. Chandler offered the following
| resolution, which under the rules, went
over:
| "That the COMMITTEES on foreign rela-
| tions be, and is hereby directed, to con.
| duct such inquiries as may be deemed
| advisable concerning all the questions
| arising out of the present war In reia-
| tions to foreign governments and the
rights and obligations Of this government
| connected Herewith and also concerning
such facts as the committee may deem
expedient to investigate, said committee
| to have power to meet during the sessions
| OF the Senate and during the coming
recess of Congress to act as full COM
mtttee and to summon and examine wit
nesses. The bill was passed to set aside
a portion of certain lands in the State
OF Washington now known as the Pacific
| forest reserve, as public park. to be
known as the Washington National
Park, and granting certain lands to the
| city OF Santa Barbara, Cali.
| At 2 o'clock the census bill was laid
| before the Senate, the pending question
| being the amendment offered by Mr..
census office shall be examined and GER
tided by the civil service commission.
Mr.. Cookrell so modified his amendment
as to provide that the chief clerk and the
chief statisticians shall be appointed by
the secretary OF the interior on the re-
commentator of the director OF the GEN.
sus subject to such examination as the
rotary of the interior prescribe. All other
employees authorized by this act shall be
appointed under existing laws and regu-
lations.
| Mr.. Hale of Maine, former chairman of
the census committee, maintained that
the proposition presented was purely one
of business. The whole question, he
said, had been gone over thoroughly in
1890. and all concerned had come to the
conclusion that it would be much better
to leave the census employees outside OF
the civil service.
| In the course of a reply by Mr.. Cockrell,
he was told by Mr.. Gear that many en-
ployes of the government were now prao-
tically on O civil pension list. In the
treasury department all employees over 20
years were given a salary OF sSoo and
required to do little II any work;
| IF that is true" said Mr. CocKrell,
sit is piece of NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. that
ought not to be tolerated. you ought
to remove your secretary OF the treasury
for under the law he has no right to
make any such arrangement.
The amendment of MIR. Cockreil was
rejected IS to 81.
An amendment offered by MT. Onllton
OF Texas, providing that nothing IN the
| Dill should be considered as establishing
permanent census bureau was agreed
| to.
Mr.. Turpie of Indiana, having previous
~ secured the adoption OF an amend
ment providing that not more than TWO
third OF the supervisors and enumeratorS
| should be appointed from one polltical
party, MIR, PaSco of Florida offered an