Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-15
SENATE AND HOUSE.
----------~---- ~ -
rcRMEn noDY PASSES 4 NUMBER
or bills.
MAINE INVESTIGATION.
Committee Authorized TO send for
Persons and Papers-pemand OF In-
scmnity from srsia,in Doiten and
Richeiseu Case.

WASHINGTON, March H--During IL
session OF three hours to-day, the Senat
rasscd a considerable number OF bill
from the calendar. among the numoe
being one authorizing the construction
OF eight new revenue cutters. not exceed
ing 10 aggregate cost sl,0s5,cOo. The ma
tlenal quarantine bill was madesthe regu
lar order Of business. and will be taken
up, probably, on Wednesday.
A resolution offered last Thursday by
AIR. Chandler. Of New Hampshire. autho-
rising the Committee on Naval Az
fairs TO send for persons and papers in
the course Of the Investigation of the
Maine disaster was adopted. Almost I'M
msdiately afterward, Mr.. Allen, OF Ne
braslSa. inquired OF Mr. Chandler. what
the Naval Affairs Committee had done
regarding the investigation OF the Maine
catastrophe, as provided for by his reso-
luton Of several weeks ago. Mr.. Cfhlnd-
Ter in reply, called attention to the sab-
sence OF the chairman Of the Naval COM
mittes. Mir. Hale, and disclaimed ans
desire or intention to speak for the com
nlitee. He said, however that as yet the
committee had taken no action regarding
the investigation, beyond presenting and
securing tho passage of the resolution
authorizing the committee TO proceed as
a court. He expressed the opinion that
the policy OF the committee would be 10
await the action and findings of the naval
court OF inquiry. He called attention 10
the interesting fact that naval courts
have no authority under the law to
compel witnesses TO testify, or TO punish
them II they should refuse. He thought,
therefore, that the Naval Committee In
making its investigation ought 10 be en-
powered to force testimony from WIT
hesses or to make them suffer penalty
for refusal.
rs the Senator advised as to whether
the Naval Affairs Committee will make
an investigation into the Maine disas-
ter?'' inquired Mr.. Allen
Il am not prepared TO speak for the !
committee" replied Mr.. Chandler. Inc
resolution, / take it, places an injunction |
upon the committee TO conduct an In |
vestization. and the resolution agreed to |
a few minutes ago is in line with that |
injunction. This is a subject which
don't think ought to be discussed IN pub
lie / desire to commend the Senator
from Nebraska, for his patriotic restraint
from discussing this mater.
The conference report OF the army APP
bill was presented by Mr.
Quay, Of Pennsylvania, and was agreed
TO.
INDEMNITY FROM SPAIN.
Mr.. Lodge, Of Massachusetts. of the
Relations Committee, called up
the joint resolution for the relief OF Au-
gust Bolten and Gustave Richelieu. The
resolution, as reported from the Foreign
Relations Committee, is as follows:
'"1'hat the President of the United
States be. and he is hereby. empowered
% take such measures as in his Judgment
nay be necessary to obtain an indemnity
rom the Spanish Government for the
wrongs and injuries suffered by August
3olten and Gustave Richelieu. by reason
Il their wrongful arrest and imprison-
nent by Spanish authorities at Santiago
lie Cuba In the year 1885; and to secure
his end he Is authorized and requested
o employ such means and exercise such
over as may be necessary"
The resolution, to which objection was
made a few days ago, was passed without
ebate.
Other bills were passed as follows:
To pay Hattie A. Phillips, widow of
ohm Phillips, 5000 for services rendered
y John Phillips in bearing dispatches
rom the commanding officer at Fort
hill Kearney to Fort Laramie, in De-
ember. 1866. after the massacre of the
United States soldiers under Lieutenant
olonel Fetterman by the Sioux Indians, ]
nd by reason of whose services the gar
son at Fort Phil. Kearney, then sur
Dunded by Sioux Indians, was rescued
nd saved from humiliation.
To increase the pension OF Mrs. Letitla
yler~Semple daughter of President
ohm Tyler's, to $50 a month
The bin authorizing the Secretary of
ie Treasury TO have constructed eight
essels for the revenue-cutter service | [
rovides for them as follows One to take '
he place of the steamer Seward, cost
OF TO exceed 100000; one to take the @
ace of the Mclean, cost not to exceed r
$1,000; one to take the place OF the r
olfax, cost not to exceed $4,000; one to v
Ike the place of the Boutwell,. cost not -
exceed $16O 600; one for service on and Il
the vicinity of the Columbia River bar, Q
acific coast. cost not to exceed $4,000;
he for harbor service at PHILADELPHIA.
replace the steamer Washington, cost
IT to exceed $4,000; one for harbor ser @
ce at Boston to replace the steamer :
amin, cost not to exceed $4,000; one :
r harbor service at New York, to re- :
ace the Chandler, cost not to exceed :
900.
Al $40 p NJ. the Senate, on motion of U
r. Quay, went into executive session II
ID soon afterward adjourned. y
DISTRICT OF CoLUMBIA-DAY. :"
Rev. Edward Everett Hale, Of Boston
iivered the invocation in the House to-
". This being the second Monday OF i'
q month IL was given over under fha W
lie. 20 the consideration Of business re- 81
ing to the District OF Columbia. The II
strict business was concluded at ass p
NJ. A few Senate bills were then n
ssed. and at 8 p. M. the House ad- tC
armed. h
II
TYLER To THE PREsIDENT q