The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-05-20
CONGRESSIONAL.

WASHINGTON May 12.-The House effected
but little legislation An important meas
ure, providing for the organization OF
special line of coast defense vessels
and the enlistment OF men adequate
to man them, was passed. The Sen
ate bill to establish a volunteer sig
nal corps was passed without amend
ment These two emergency war meas
ures were the features of the session
res Clution was passed calling upon the Sec
rotary of War for Information relative to
the construction of snip canal at Sabine
Pass. Texas. and Its probable effect upon
the depth of the harbor at that point
May 11.-After refusing by vote of AZ
to 90 to consider the Senate bill restricting
immi or alton, the House took up and de-
voted the session TO the House resolution
to submit to the states proposition to
amend the constitution so as to provide
for the election of senators by
direct vote. The amendment as proposed
In the resolution, as reported to the House.
left 1t in the discretion of the states to elect
their sena tors by direct vote or through
their legislatures, but an amendment by
Mr.. Underwood of Alabama, making selec :
ton by a popular vote mandatory, was
adopted and the res ,lution was then passed
For more than three hours the Senate
disc used what Is known as the railway
arbitration bill-a measure esigned to ad-
Just by means of voluntary arbitr alton diff
ferences that may arise between railroad
Off ials and their employees The bill was
still under consider alton when the Senate
adjourned.
May TO- -Four war measures were passed
by the Senate. One of them provided for
CARVING on the additional work in the ad-
iutant generals Office, the second authoriz-
ing the enlistment of volunteer signal
corn two thirds of the members of which
must be expert electricians or tel
egraphers: the third was the so-called
immune bill" passed by the House
ana the fourth was measure sus-
pending tie existing law so that additional
hospital stewards can be appointed. the
postoffice appropri alton bill was passed 1t
carried over 500 100000. After anextended
and Interesting debate the resolutions sub
hitting to the legislatures of the various
states an amendment to the constitution OF
the United States changing the date of the
beginning of the ter ms of the President, Vice
President and members of Congress from
the fourth of Marc to the fourth OF May
was adopted
The House transacted no business of i'm
portance.
May 9 "A message from the President
was received by both houses recommend
ing that vote of tn anks be extended by
Congress to Conn odore Dewey and the
gallant officers and men of his command
Without word of debate and without
dissenting voice, both houses agreed to a
resolution carrying into effect the
recomme ndation of the President. A
bill was presented increasing the number Of
rear admirals in the navy from six to
seven, il order that the President might
nominate Commodore Dewey to the high
est position in the navy within his gift. and
that too, was passed. without dissent In
addition a resolution was unanimously
agreed TO directing the secretary of the
navy to present to Commodore Dewey
sword of honor, and to have struck, in COM
memoration of the battle of Manila,
bronze medal for each of the officers and
men who participated in the gallant fight
The resolution appropriates $4,000 to en-
able the secretary to carry its provisions
into effect