The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-03-15
TO SEND FOR PERSONS
NAVAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO
CONDUCT INVESTIGATION.
TO ASK AN INDEMNITY OF SPAIN
Two Americans Wrongly Imprisoned in Cuba
A Number Of other Bills Were Passed.
Aliens Resolution Was SheIYed-.A
Chandler Pleasantly.


Washington. d. c., March 14.-During
the session of three hours today the
Senate passed considerable number of
bills from the general calendar, among
the number being one authorizing the
construction of eight new revenue cut
tiers, not exceeding in aggregate cost of
S2,025,000. The national quarantine bill
was made the regular order of business,
and will be taken up probably on We'd
nesday.
4 resolution offered last Thursday
by Mr.. Chandler, (New Iampshirc),
authorizing the Committee on Naval
Affairs to send for persons and papers
in the course of the investigation of
the Maine disaster was adopted.
Almost Immediately aftcrwar, Mr..
Allen, (Nebraska), inquired of Mr.
Chandler what the Naval Affairs Com
lnittce had done regarding the investi-
CATION of the Maine catastrophe as
provided for by his resolution Of several
weeks ago.
Mr. Chandler, in reply. called atten-
tion to the absence of the chairman of
The Naval Committee, Mr.. Hale, and
.disclaimed any desire or intention to
speak for the committee. He said,
however, that as yet the committee mad
taken no action regarding the investi-
gait ion beyond presenting and securing
the passage of the resolution authOrz-
ing the committee to proceed as q court.
ffe 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
to the interesting fact that Naval courts
have no authority under the law to
compel witnesses to testify or to punish
them if they refuse. He thought, there
fore, that the Naval Committee in max
ing its investigation, ought TO be EN-
powered TO force testimony from wit
nesses or suffer a penalty for refusal.
lis the Senator advised as to whether
the Naval Affairs Committee will make
an investigation of the Maine disaster"
inquired Mr.. Allen.
Il am not prepared to speak for the
committee replied Mr.. Chandler. The
resolution, | take it. places an injunction
upon the committee to conduct an IN
vestigation, and the resolution agreed
TO a few minutes ago is in line with that
injunction. This is subject which l
do not think ought to be discussed III
public. | desire to commend the Sena-
tor from Nebraska for his patriotic re-
straint in refraining from discussing
this natter
The conference report on the Army
Appropriation bill was presented by
Mr.. Quay, Pennsylvania), and was
agreed to.
Mr. Lodge, Massachusetts,, of the
Foreign Relations Committee, called up
the ioint resolution for the relief of
August Bolten and Gustave Richelieu.
The resolution as reported from the For
eign Relations Committee is as follows:
"That the President of the United
States be, and he is hereby empowered
to take such measures as in HIS judgment
may be necessary, to obtain the in
demnity from the Spanish government
for the wrongs and injuries suffered by
August Bolten and Gustave Richelieu,
by reason of their wrongful arrest and
Imprisonment by Spanish authorities at
Santiago de Cuba, in the year 1895:
and to secure this end he is authorized
and requested to employ such means or
cAcFcbsc SuCH po"SA 40 hi"' w A'SSNS
sary."
The resolution, to which objection was
made a few days ago, was passed with
OTt debate.
Other bills were passed as follows:
10 pay Hattie Phillips, widow of John
Phillips, $1,000 for services rendered by
John Phillips in bearing dispatches from
the commanding officer at Fort Phil
hcarny TO Fort Laramie, in December,
1866, after the massacre of the United
States soldiers under Lieutenant Colonel
Fetterman by the Sioux Indians ami
by whose services the garrison ut Fort
Phil Kearny, then surrounded by Sioux
Indians, was rescued and saved from
annihilation, to increase the pension of
Mrs. Iletitia Tyler Semple, daughter
of PRESIDENT John Tyler, to $50 n month.
The bill authorizing the Secretary of
tne Treasury to have constructed eight
vessels for the revenue cutter service
proyiding for them us follows
One TO take the place of the steamer
Seward. cost not to exceed $16O000;
one 10 take the place of the MeLanc,
COST not to exceed $160,OOO; one to take
the place of the ColfaX, cost not to eX-
cepd 100000; one to take the place of
the Boutwell,, cost not to exceed Sl6O,-
600. one for service on and in the vicni-
tv of the Columbia river bar Pacific
coast cost not to exceed $25O,OOO; one
for barbor service, at Philadelphia TO re-
nloce fhe steamer Washington, cost not
70 exceed $4,000; one for harbor service
ot Roston to replace the steamer Ham
lin. COST not to exceed $4,000; one for