The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-06-30

Other Naval Officers Thanked by Congress
Deficiency Bill Regarding Pacific
| Railroads.
Washington, June 29-For probably
the nrst time in the history of tao SEN
ate resolution was today adopted tender
Ing the thanks of Congress to common
seamen, specifically naming them in the
resolution. The resolution ebcited sew.
eral patriotic speeches in which the pri-
waite soldiers and the navy's common sail
ors were eulogized. The resolutions
recommended by the President were
| adopted, rendering the thanks O
Congress to naval constructor Hobson
and the other heroes of the Merrimac
and to Lieut.. Newcomb, commander of
the revenue cutter Hudson, for his gal
liant rescue of the Winslow and her crew
off Cardenas and retiring on full pay
Capt. Hodsdon of the McCulloch for dis
tinguished services at Manila.
Consideration of the general deficiency
bill was concluded and the measure
passed.
An amendment of great Importance was
attached to the bill, practically by gen.
eral consent. 1t relates to the settlement
of the claims of the government against
the Pacific railroads 1t was offered by
MIR. Morgan of Alabama who made
strong appeal for its adoption. Before it
was agreed to, Mr.. White of California
proposed some amendments to it. making
it even more binding upon the roads than
it was in its original form. The amend
ment in full follows:
''That the secretary of the treasury, the
secretary of the interior and the attorney
general and their successors in office be-
and they are hereby, appointed COM
mission with full power to settle the
Indebtedness to the government growing
out of the issue of bonds in aid of the
construction of the Central Pacific and
Western Pacific bond aided railroads, up
on such terms and in such manner as
| may be agreed upon by them, or by
majority of them, and the owners of said
| railroads, provided, that any and all set
| Elements thus made shall be submitted
in writing to the President for his ap-
prevail or disapproVal and unless approved
by him shall not be binding.
That said commission shall not agree
to accept a less sum in settlement of
the amount due the United States than
the full amount of the principal and all
amounts necessary to reimburse the Unit
ed States for moneys paid for interest or
otherwise. And, also, provided. that
said commissioners are hereby empowered
to grant such time or times of payment
by instalment and at such rates of inter-
est, to be not less than per cent per
anuum, payable semi-annualy and with
such security as to said commission may
seem expedient; provided, however,
that in any settlement that may be made,
the final payment and full discharge of
said indebtedness shall not be postponed
to not exceed ten years and the whole
paid in equal instalments within the
period SO limited and in any settlement
made it shall be provided that if default
shall be made in any payment of either
principal or interest or any part thereof,
then the whole sum and all install
ments, principal and interest, shall i'm
med lately become due and payable, lot
withstanding any other stipulation of
said settlement.
THAT there is hereby appropriated, out
of any money in the treasury not other
wise appropriated, the sum of $4,000 to
defray the expense of said commission
in making the said settlement"
The bill as passed carries about S227,-
600, 900, the largest sum carried by any
appropriation measure since the civil
war.
After the passage of the deficiency bill
consideration of the Hawaiian anneAa-
ton resolution Was resumed, MIR. Gallery,
Democrat of Louisiana, concluding his
speech in opposition to annexation.