Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-24
The MILITARY BILL,
An Intention to Push the Plan for
Army Reorganization.
The INTERSTATE COMMERCE BILL.
Cullom Measure Advocated House Pro-
csedings-New Metal for Minor Coins
-Kssping Tab on the o5O,OOO,0OO
Constitutional Amendment.

AlhWlCy, VI NOhAtSpiNuot osAo y NSsSsN
that 1t was the intention to get
through congress as speedily as posi-
bic the three battalion military bill,
which was introduced at the sugges.
tion Of the department In both houses
Thursday for strengthening the mill
tary arm Of the service and providing
for Its increase to iO4, 900 men, II neces.
sary. This bill, he said, carried a
small appropriation and, therefore,
would pass the house in advance OF
action by the senate. He supposed
that Mr.. Hull, who introduced the
bill In the house and who is chairman
Of the military committee, would get
. report on 1t very soon and secure
action by the house, but he did not
know whether 1t would be treated as
an emergency measure or be acted on
more deliberately. The general desire
was to secure the Legislation as soon
as possible and the senate, he thought,
would act very promptly after the
house had passed the bill.
THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE BILL
WASHINGTON, March 10. The senate
committee on interstate commerce yes
terday resumed Its hearing on the Gull
lom bill, amending the present inter-
state commerce law. Judge M. A.
Knapp, Of the interstate commerce
commission, addressed the committee
in favor Of the proposed bill. He said
that the situation, SO far as the present
law was concerned, had resolved itself
into this, that the original machinery
the present law-crude and ineffect-
I've in some respects, has practically
broken down. The proposed bill Is to
provide new machinery by which the
principles involved In the original law
may be made effective. One provision
Of the proposed bill, Judge Knapp ex-
planned, made II imperative upon rail.
roads to publish their freight and pas
senger tariffs. Another important
amendment 10 the existing law. Judge
Knapp believed, was that which reads:
mo change shall be made In the
schedule Of rates, fares and charges
fled and published as aforesaid, un.
less the carrier files with the commits
sion q statement Of such changes and
posts new schedules as hereinbefore
provided, or plainly indicates such
changes upon those already posted, at
least 90 days before the taking effect
Of such changes"
FRIDAYS SESSION OF THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, March 10. The house
spent yesterday on the post office appro-
priation bill, but only disposed of two
pages Of the bill. Most Of the day was
devoted to debate on the merits of
the pneumatic tube mail service in
New York, Boston and Philadelphia,
and the advisability of continuing the
existing contracts An effort to strike
out the appropriation Of Sss5, 900 was
defeated, but the opponents of the APP
succeeded in securing the
adoption Of an amendment providing
that no additional contracts should be
made. An amendment was adopted
1t q misdemeanor for any per.
son to pad" the mails during the
period when the mails are being
weighed to determine the compensa-
ton to be paid to the railroads for
their transportation.
NEW METAL WANTED FOR MINOR COINS.
WASHINGTON, March 10. The house
on coinage, weights and
has favorably reported to
the house a resolution authorizing the
secretary Of the treasury to make ex-
periments to determine the best mate
rial for minor coinage and to submit
new designs for coins to congress. The
says the copper penny be.
comes dingy, dirty, dull and by corro-
sion poisonous, the fve.cent nickel,
copper, is too soft.
Switzerland, Austria Hungary and
Italy have adopted pure nickel for their
minor coinage with very satisfactory
results, the coins being hard, durable,
velvety to the touch, retain
their color and do not corrode.
KEEPING TAB ON THR $50, 900, 900.
WASHINGTON, March l0-lt is said to
be the purpose Of the president and
his advisers to keep separate and dis
tinct account OF all funds expended
from the $50, 200, 900 emergency appro.
priation made by congress for the ma
tional defense. In accordance with
this intention separate form Of requi-
sition has been prepared and all
amounts allotted from the fund are
made upon the direct order signed by
the president himself 1.-THE president
wants to report to congress just how
every cent Of this money is SPENT"
said member Of the cabinet yester.
day, land for this reason Is adopting
the course above outlined"
A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.
WARRINGTON, March 10. The senate
on privileges and elections
yesterday authorized favorable report
on the amendment to the constitution
Of the United states introduced by Sen.
ator Hoar, changing the time Of year
Tor the expiration Of the terms Of the
president vice president, senators and