The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-15

Washington, March 14-During its
session of three hours today, the senate
passed a considerable number of bills
/ from the general calendar. among them
being one to authorize the construction
of eight new revenue cutters. not ex-
ceeding in cost the sum of 81. 025. 900.
The national quarantine bill was made
the regular order of business and will
be taken up probably on Wednesday.
A beautiful tender and touching
prayer was delivered by the chaplain Of
the senate at the opening of the senate
today, in memory of William t. Spen-
Ger, journal clerk of the senate, who
died last Friday morning.
MAINE CATASTROPHE.
Almost Immediately afterward Mr.
Allen (Neb.) inquired of Mr.. Chandler
what the naval affairs committee had
done regarding the investigation of the
Maine catastrophe as provided here by
his resolution of several weeks ago.
Mr.. Chandler said that as yet the
committee had taken no action regard
ing the investigation. He could not
speak for the committee, but expressed
the opinion that its policy would be to
await the action and findings of the
naval court of inquiry. He called at
tentiOn to the interesting fact that ma
val courts have no authority under the
law to compel witnesses. to testify or to
punish them, if they should refuse. He
thought, therefore that the naval COM
mittee in making its investigation ought
to be empowered to force testimony
from witnesses and enact a penalty for
refusal
rs the senator advised as to whether
the naval affairs committee will make
an investigation of the Maine disas-
ter?" inquired Mr.. Allen.
Il am not prepared TO speak for the
committee" replied Mr.. Chandler. THE
resolution, 1 take it, places an injunc-
ton upon the committee to conduct an
investigation and the resolution agreed
to a few minutes ago is in line with
that injunction. This is a subject
which I do not think ought to be dis
cussed in public. 1 desire to commend
the senator from Nebraska for his pa
triOtic restraint in refraining to dis
cuss this matter"
The conference report on the army
appropriation bill was reported by Mr..
Quay (Rep- Pa.) and was agreed 20.
SPANISH PRISONERS.
At this point Mr. Lodge DIass.) of
the foreign relations committee, called
up the joint resolution for the relief of
August Bolton and GuStave Richelieu
The resolution as reported from the
foreign relations committee is as fol-
lows:
That the president of the United
States be and hereby is empowered to
take such measure as in his Judgment
may he necessary to obtain the indem-
nifty from the Spanish government for
the wrong and injury suffered by Au-
gust Bolton and Gustave Richelieu by
the wrongful imprisonment by the
Spanish in Santiago de Cuba, in the
and required to employ such
means or exercise such power as may
be necessary"
The resolution to which objection was
made few days ago was passed with
out debate.
INTERNATIONAL BANK
At the suggestion of Mr.. Foraker (O.)
the bill for the Incorporation of the
American Bank was call
ed up. The bill provides that the bank
shall have a capital of S5,O0O.0OO. which
may be increased to $20.000.000. and
that its main offices shall be in Wash
ngton and New York. with branches
in Mexico. the West Indies and in Cen
trail and South America
Objection was made to the considera-
ton of the bill. but it was read for in
formation until Mr.. COckrell, of Mis-
souri,, objected even to that.
DEVOID OF INTEREST.
The proceedings in the house today
we're utterly devoid of public interest.
The time was devoted to District of Co
umbia business.
The senate bill was passed which
granted a right of way through the n
liam territory to the DennisOn, Bon
nam & New Orleans railroad, also a
senate bill granting a right of way
through the Winnebago Indian reser-
fatiOn to the Northwestern road; also
% authorize the Monroe company to
construct bridge across the Red River
1t Grand EcOre.