Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-03-17
EIGHT NEW CUTTERS
SENATE AUTHORIZES CONSTRUC-
TON OF REVENUE VESSELS.
TO COST OVER A MILLION
Committee on Naval Affairs EmpoW-
cred to Compel Witnesses to Testi-
fly in Its Investigation Of Maine
Disaster-Senate Disposes of a
Considerable Number of Bills.

Washington, March 15.-During its
session of three hours the senate
passed a considerable number OF bills
from the general calendar, among the
number being one authorizing the
construction Of eight new revenue cut
tiers not exceeding in the aggregate
a cost of $1,025, 900. The national
quarantine bill was made the regular
order of business and will be taken
up tomorrow. The resolution intro
dUced by Mr. Chandler authorizing
the committee on naval affairs to
send for persons and papers in it's in
vestigation Of the Maine disaster was
adopted. The conference report on
the army appropriation bill was
agreed to.
Mr.. Allen pop, Neb.) inquired of
Mr. Chandler what the naval affairs
committee had done regarding the
investigation of the Maine catas-
trophe, as provided by his resolution.
Mr.. Chandler said that as yet the
committee had taken no action re-
garding the investigation. He could
not speak for the committee, but eX-
pressed the opinion that it's policy
would be to await the action and find
ings of the naval court of inquiry.
He called attention to the fact that
naval courts have no authority under
the law to compel witnesses to testify.
He thought, therefore, that the naval
committee in making it's investiga-
ton ought to be empowered to force
testimony from witnesses. "Is the
senator advised as to whether the
naval affairs committee will make an
investigation of the Maine disaster?"
inquired Mr.. Allen. Il am not pre-
pared to speak for the committee"
replied Mr.. Chandler. The resolu-
ton places an injunction upon the
committee to conduct an investigation
and the resolution just agreed to is in
line with that injunction. This sub
ject, [ do not think ought to be dis
cussed in public. l desire to COM
mend the senator from Nebraska for
his patriotic rstraint in refraining
from discussing the matter"
Mr.. Lodge (rep., Mass.), of the for
eign relations committee, called up the
joint resolution for the relief of August
Bolten and Gustave Richelieu. The
resolution was as follows: THAT the
president be, and is hereby, empowered
to take such measures as in his judg-
ment may be necessary to obtain an
indemnity from the Spanish govern
ment for the wrongs and injuries suf-
fered by August Bolten and Gustave
Richelieu by reason of their wrongful
arrest and Imprisonment by the Span
ish authorities at Santiago de Cuba in
the year 1895; and to secure this end
he is authorized and requested to en-
pl0y such means or exercise such power
as may be necessary" The resolution
was passed without debate.
The following measures were passed.
Amending the act permitting the use
of right-of-way through public lands
for tram-rOads, canals and reservoirs;
permanently locating the capital of the
territory of New Mexico at Santa Fe;
to provide for the disposal Of the aban-
dOned Fort Shaw military reservation
in Montana under the homestead laws
to pay widow of John Phillips $4,000
for services rendered BY John Phillips
in bearing dispatches from the COM
handing officer at Fort Phil. Kearney
to Fort Laramie in December, 1866, af-
ter the massacre Of the United States
soldiers under Lieutenant Colonel Fet-
terman by the Sioux Indians; to au-
thorize the secretary Of war to loan
tents for use during the encampment
of the G. A. r. at Cincinnati; to
pay the heirs of the late John Roach
$3.50, ISL for labor and material, dock
age and detention, ETC., of the gunboats
Chicago, Boston and Atlanta; to pro-
vide for the appointment of a commits
sion under the direction of the secre-
taly of war for a preliminary survey
for the construction of ship canal from
the lower shores of Lake Michigan to
the Wabash river; to increase the pen
81 N Of Mrs. Letitia ~ or Semple.
daughttr Of President Tyler, to $50 a
month
Mr.. Hoar rep. Mas called up the
resolution reported by him from the
judiciary committee providing for the
submission to the legislatures of the
various states of the proposed amend
ment to the constitution Of the United
relative to succession to the presidency.
He desired simply, he said, briefly to
impress the senators with the desirable
ity Of passing the resolution at an
early date in order to remedy the man
1fest defect in the constitution.
The bill for the Incorporation of an in
ternatiOnal American bank was called
up, but objection was made to its con-
sideration.
HOUSE.
Washington, March 15.-The house
devoted the day to consideration of
District of Columbia business.