The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1898-05-06
CONGRESSIONAL.

April 2s.-The general debate on the war
Expense bill In the house closed tonight
after eight and half hours of spec Climax
ing The debate lacked both spirit and
interest There was little discussion
of the internal revenue features OF
the bill. The Democrats continued
their assaults on the bond feature
and their advocacy of the income
tax The latter was ridiculcd as a
substitute proposition by the Republicans
The authority to borrow money was de-
Tended by them as absolutely necessary.
Before tae debate upon the war revenue
bill was resumed. an urgency war measure
was passed by unani nous consent to repeal
the limitations upon the purchase of quar-
termasters supplies during the existing
war with Spain.
Again the Senate was in the attitude OF
waiting for business to reach it A few
bills of unimportant character were pass
ed, but no business of general interest was
transacted.
April 27.-The general debate upon the
measure framed by the ways and means
committee to meet the extraordinary ex.
penditures of the war with Spain opened in
the House. Both sides, speaking through
their respective leaders, Messrs. Din gey
and Bailey, concurred IN the necessity
which existed for immediate raising Of
hundreds of millions to prosecute the war;
but the opposing doctrines which
they held clashed at the first onset
revenue should be raised. The
section providing for $500, 100000 of bonds
became tn. target of the Democratic and
Populistic opposition, and Mr.. Bailey in an
hours speech argued for an income tai
which would raise HOO, 00) 900 year; the
coinage of the silver seigniorage, and the
issue of S5S, 000.00) of legal tender notes.
nc o1tern n five rYnnOcIfiOn Mr. n n o1ar
declared that it was almost incredible that
anyone could seriously propose in such
crisis that the )vernmentS should rely for
funds upon the proceeds of another lawsuit
over proposition which the supreme court
had already decided against the govern
lnent
The Senate was in session but an hour and
a half, during which time no important
business was transacted
April &c During the two hours session
of the Senate, the conference report on the
army reorganization bill was agreed to,
and the measure engrossed and signed.
The remainder of the session was devoted
to seventy-four private pension bills, and
numerous measures from the general cal
endar, among them one to enable the Of
hcers, warrant officers petty officers and
marines OF the United States navy who may
distinguish themselves in action to receive
Il Hlcudt VI HOuOI, IOSGllCS anu llDuOuS-
In the House the war revenue bill was re-
ported
April 25.--President Mckinley sentto Con-
gress recommending that bill be passed
declaring that state of war exists between
Spain and the United States. The House re-
sponded i'm mediately passing unanimously,
without debate, a bill in accordance
with the Presidents recommendation as
soon as it could be prepared by
the committee on foreign affairs. The Sem
ate acted unanimously also, but not until
there had been a debate of an hour and
half over an amendment proposed by Sena-
tor Turpie recognizing the belligerency of
the insurgents. This amendment was voted
down and then the war bill was passed
The Senate passed The naval appropri ration
bill, carrying nearly S90Oo0UU for man.
ming warships.
April 23.-The House passed tn, army re-
organization bill Some fear was expressed
on the De- ocratic side that the bill might
increase the regular army in Tina of
peace, but an amendment prepared by Mr.
Bailey which removed all doubt on this
score was accepted by Mr.. Hull and the
bill passed by unanimous vote The bill
reorganizes the army into the three
battalion formation and auth orizes the
twenty-five regim entS of the infantry
arm of the service to be recruited up to a
total of 81, 800 enlisted men. 1t authorizes
the recruitment of the ten regiments of
the cavalry arm of the service to a total
of 10 000 enlisted men. the seven egiments
of the artillery arm of theservice to 10,457
men and the engineer battalion of five COM
panies up to 752 enlisted men, including
two non-commissioned officers, which
makes total for these four arms of the
service, when at a maximum strength of
61,0l0.
In the Senate funeral services were held
over the remains of the late Senator Wal
thall of Mississippi
April 22-The House rushed through
without debate the conference report on
the bill authorizing the President to call
out the volunteers and agreeing by unani-
nous consent, to meet at 10 o'clock to-mor-
row to take up the consideration of the
army reorganization bill The Pat
terson-Clrmack contested election case
was disposed Of the sitting member, Mr.
Carmack, being given tn. seat(.y vote of
136-119 Several Republicans voted with
the Democrats, and many declined to vote.
The Democrats were very bitter in their de-
nunciations of Mr.. Patterson, who belonged
to the gold wing of the party.
During the brief open session of the Sen
ate the formal announcement of the death
of Senator Walthall of Mississippi was
made. A secret session of two hours was
held, during which the conference report
on the volunteer bill was agreed to, but no
business was done in open session.