Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-05-12
i Was Placed on the Presidential
Succession Bill and Defeated.
REPORT on FOR7IFICAlI0yS BILL
Adopted In Both Houses-The "Free Zone
Of MEXICO Resolution Introduced In
the House for the Annexation
Of Hawaiian Islands.

=
ure providing for the issuance OF treas
urv notes instead OF bonds Hisamend'
meut was a substitute for the loan and
bonds section Of the revenue bill and
provided for the issuance Of $500, OOO,'
GOV Of treasury notes, which would be
ample, probably. for the conduct OF
the existing war. The amendment
was referred to the finance COMMITTEES.
The conference report on the fortifi'
cations bill was agreed TO-
A house bill authorizing the supreme
lodge Of the Knights Of Pythias TO
erect and maintain sanitarium on
the government reservation at Hot
Springs, Ark, was passed. Further
conference was ordered on the bill ex.
tending the homestead laws TO Alaska
Senator Gear, Of Iowa, chairman OF
the Pacific railroads committee, called
MP and obtained consideration for a
bill authorizing a commission, consist
ing OF the secretary OF the treasury,
the secretary OF the interior and the
attorney general, to effect an adjust
ment between the United States and
the Sioux City & Pacific Railroad COM
pany In relation 10 certain bonds Is
sued by the United States in MD OF
the construction of the railroad. An
amendment to the bill offered by Sem
stor Harris, Of Kansas, provides that
the commission may not accept less in
settlement Of the governments claim
than the principal Of the bonds issued
In aid OF the construction Of the rail.
road. Senator Morgan, Of Alabama,
delivered IN extended speech upon the
measure, in the course Of which he In.
Dictated the great Importance Of the
measure as precedent.
At the conclusion OF Senator Nor.
gan's speech, Senator Cockrell, OF Mis-.
souri,, secured the passage of the fol.
lowing resolution:
That the secretary OF the treasury Is hereby
directed to make report showing tho coinage
value OF silver bullion In the treasury and the
amount OF the seigniorage and the amount OF
the existing treasury notes issued in Its pur-
chase mud the amount OF standard silver dol
lars coined under the act Of July "A 1870, and
the amount Of the seigniorage and the amount
OF treasury notes redeemed In such dollars and
retired.
Senator Harris and Senator Petit.
grew, Of South Dakota continued the
debate on the railroad bill, but at two
o'clock it was displaced by special
order, which was the joint resolution
proposing an amendment TO the con-
stitution Of the United States provid-
ing for the succession in case Of the
death Of the president.elect before the
Inauguration. The proposed amend.
ment was favorably reported from the
judiciary committee.
Senator Mills, OF Texas, offered the
following amendment in the form Of a
new section:
Section 2 Direct taxes shall not be appor-
tioned among the several states which may be
included within this union according to their
respective numbers, but congress shall have
power 10 lay md collect direct taxes as other
taxes, duties, imposts and excuses are levied
and collected
Senator Mills explained that his
amendment was offered In order that
the points raised by the supreme court
against the income tax proposition
might be met.
Senator Foraker, Of Ohio, announced
that he was in favor Of both the reso.
luton and the pending amendment.
He was in favor, he said, Of on income
tax. He would vote, however, under
the circumstances, to lay the proposed
amendment on the table, The yeas
and nays we're called on the motion to
lay the proposed amendment on the
table, and 1t was carried, 80 to 20, all
the republicans voting against the
amendment, IA all the democrats ex.
cept Senator Gallery, Of Louisiana, to.
gether with the populists and silver
republicans, voting In favor Of It,
After some further debate upon the
resolution pending, In the course Of
which IT was said that 1t was not In.
tended to cover cases Of contested
presidential elections, the resolution
was agreed to, the necessary two
thirds voting for II. The joint resolu-
ton adopted reads as follows:
In oil cases not provided for by article Sec
ond, clause fifth, Of the constitution, where
there Is no person entitled to discharge the
duties Of the office Of tho president, the ssme
ohall devolve upon the vice president The
congress may, by law provide for the case
where there Is no person entitled to hold the
ONCE Of president or vice president declaring
what officer shall act as president and such
Oficer shall net accordingly until the disability
shall be removed or president shall DO
elected.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, May 5.-The house yes.
terdsy adopted the conference report
upon the Notifications bill. The re-
mainder OF the session was consumed
with the consideration Of the Alaskan
land bill and . resolution for the re.
peal OF On act prohibiting the passage
Of importations In bond through the
territory OF the United States into the
s.free zone" Of Mexico. The latter
was passed, but the Alaskan measure
went over.
Mr.. Newlands. Of Nevada. intro.
duced joint resolution for the annex
alton Of Hawaii. II provides for the
confirmation Of the cession by the
Hawaiian republic of all rights Of
sovereignty over the islands and their