The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-05-11
-FOUR MORE WAR BILLS
The Senate Gets . Gait On and
Does Some Work.
BUTLER CHEWS THE RAG
But He Doesn't Secure ANY Amend
ments to the Postofnce Appropri-
alton Bill - Carter's Volunteer
Signal Corps Bill IL Passed.

day. One OF them PROVIDES Tor carry
ing on the additional work In h ad-
jutant generals Office. the second au-
thorixes the enlistment OF q ~volunteeS
signal corps. two-thirds Of the menu
bers Of which must be expert cleo
tricians or telegraphers; the third is the
so-called immune" bill passed by the
house. and the fourth is a measure sus-
pending existing laws SO hat additional
hospital stewards al be appointed. The
postoffice appropriation bill. carrying
! appropriations which aggregate more
than $99. 900. 900. was passed after a de.
bate which has lasted for several days.
A determined effort was made by MFR.
Butler, pop, N. c., to cut of the SUM
appropriated for the fast mail service
between New York and Washington to
Atlanta and New Orleans. and to pro-
vide for two committees to investigate
postal affairs. but il was unsuccessful,
all amendments except those offered by
the committee on appropriations, being
voted down. After an extended and in
teresting debate the resolution submit
ting to the legislatures Of the various
, states an amendment to the constitution
of the United States changing the date
of the beginning of the terms OF the
president. vice president and members
of from the 4th of March to
the 4th Of May was adopted.
Soon after the opening of to-day's ses-
sion OF the senate Mr.. Hale of Maind
entered a motion to reconsider the vote
by which the senate yesterday passed
the bill increasing the number of rear
admirals from six to seven. The mov
ton created some surprise. but II Is the
opinion of the committee on v ar
fairs that the president has ample
power to nominate Commodore Dewey
: as read admiral without the bill passed
yesterday.
Mr.. Sewell of New Jersey reported
from the committee on military affairs
a bill providing for the increased vol
ume of work In the ONCE of the adtu-
tant general Of the army. The bill pro-
vides for one assistant adtutant general
with the rank Of colonel and one with
the rank of major. The bill was passed.
From the military affairs committee
Mr.. Carter OF Montana favorably re-
ported and secured the passage of a bill
providing for a volunteer signal corps.
The measure authorizes the president
to organize a int signal corps for
the existing war. The corps shall con-
sist of one colonel. one lieutenant
colonel, one major. as disbursing OFFICER.
and such other officers and men as may
be required, not exceeding n major
for each army corps and two captains.
two first lieutenants, two second lieu
tenants, five first sergeants. 10 ser
geants. 10 corporals and 30 privates to
zach organized division of troops. Two
thirds of all officers below the rank of
major and a like proportion Of the en-
listed men shall be skilled electricians
or telegraph operators.
Mr.. White OF California introduced a
resolution instructing the committee or
foreign relations to forthwith investi-
gate the cases of Harry X. Spring n
Charles w. Nelson, citizens of the Unit
ed States and residents of the state OF
California, who are under arrest In the
Republic of Colombia, and to inquirs
whether they have been detained unrea-
sonably without trial. n whether the
diplomatic officers and agents of the
United States in Colombia have made
appropriate exertions to procure their
release OF trial, and to repor by reso-
luton or otherwise.
The resolution went over under tho
rules. Mr.. Hawley of Connecticut
chairman OF the military affairs COM
mittee, called up the bill calling for a
volunteer brigade of engineers and the
enlistment of 10, 900 'immunes" In h
Southern states. 1t had been passed by
the house with two amendments and
Mr.. Hawley moved that the senate con-
cur In the amendments. The motion
pTeNdlleO. Inc Jill VIII III" 81 ~
president for his signature.
Mr.. Morrill, Of Vermont called up the
house bill to readmit Mrs. Nellie Grant
Sartoris to citizenship to the united
States. The bill was passed. 1t has
already passed the house.
At 1:05 p. m. the vice president an
nounced his signature to the resolution
of thanks to Commodore Dewey and
the officers and men of his command.
The consideration of the postoffice
appropriation bill was resumed. Mr..
Butler. whose amendment was pending
when the senate adjourned last even
ing, offered a new amendment. Ovid
ing his proposition. His substitute
amendment provided for the appoint
ment of two joint committees one 10
investigate the cost Of transporting the
mails over the railroads and the other
TO investigate the receipts n expen-
ditures of the postofice department
After an hours discussion. h debat
being participated in by Butler who
Mr.. Chandler. Mr.. Pasco and Mr.
Quay. the voting began at . o'clock
The first vote was on Mr.. Buffers
amendment, providing for two inves-
tigating committees. The amendment
was defeated. 40.
MFR. Chandler offered the amendment
proposed last evening by Mr.. Butler
limiting the investigation provided foi
IN the bill to the cost OF transporting
the mails. 1t was defeated withou
division. Mr.. Butler offered another
amendment. striking out the para
graph OF the bill making II discretion
; ary with the postmaster genera
; whether he shall expend H7s.27s to Sc
J cure a special fast mail service be
tween New York and Washington e
Atlanta and New Orleans. The amend
: ment was defeated. 11-J. The bill wa
: then passed without division.
; A Joint resolution proposed al
: amendment to the constitution OF tn
, United States, substituting the las
; Thursday in April for the 9Th of Mare
, as the inauguration day of the presi
dent and vice president and the begin
ming OF terms of members of con
gress. senator's and Representatives
e was considered.
$ The author OF the resolution. Nj
Hoar. made q brief explanation Of tn