Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-04-28
CONGRESSIONAL.

April 23.-The House passed the army re-
organization bill Some fear was expressed
on the Democratic side that the biIbEnight
increase the regular army In time 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 a unanimous vote. The bill
reorgsnizes the army into the three
battalion formation and auth rlzes the
twenty-five reglm snts of the infantry
arm of the service to be recruited up to
total of 81, 500 enlisted men. It authorizes
the recruitment of the ten regiments OF
the cavalry arm of the service to a total
OF $4,000 enlisted men. the seven regiments
OF the artillery arm of the service to 10,457
men and the engineer battalion of Eve com.
pInies up to 752 enlisted men, Including
two non-cOmmisslOned oficers, which
makes total for these four arms of the
service when at a maximum strength OF
6l,OlO.
In the Senate funeral services were held
over tn. remains of the late Senator Wal
thall OF Mississippi
April % 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-CIrmack contested election case
was disposed of, the sittilg mem ier, Mr..
Carmack, being given tn, seat by vote of
l36-l1s. Several Republicans voted with
the Democrats, and many declined to vote.
The Democrats were very bitter in their de-
nunciatlons of Nj, Patterson, who belonged
to the gold wing of III, party
During the brief open session of the Sem
ate the form al announcement IA 1aofh
of Senator Walthall of Mississippi. was
made Asecret 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.
April 81. - Three important measures
were passed by the Senate, all of which
relate largely to the national defense. The
sundry civil bill which has been pending
for two weeks, and which carries a large
amount of money intended to be used
in the Strengthening of the country's
coast defenses, was finally passed.
The naval appropriation bill was i'm
mediately taken up and practically COM
pleted, although pending the discussion
OF an amendmen. concerning the prise of
armor plate the bill was displaced in order
that the measure temporarily increasing
the military establishment of the United
States In time of war might BE- considered
After long discussion the bill, as amended
by the committee was passed. A Joint res
olution was adopted giving the President
power to prevent the expectation of coal or
other war material Mr.. Morrill, OF YER
mont secured the passage of a bill to re-
store to citizenship of the United States
Mrs. Nellie Grant Sartoris, daughter of the
late President Grant.
In the House consideration of the con =
tested election case of Patterson VS. Carr
mack. from the Tenth Tennessee district,
was interrupted to allow the passage with
out division of the Joint resolution to au-
,thorize the President in his discretion to
prohibit the expectation of coal and other
war material. The measure /; considered
of vital Importance to prevent the ship.
ment Of coal t. Cuban, Porto Rican and
other ports where 1t could be used
by Spain. Tie SPEAKER signed 1t Just
before tho House adjourned Two
resolutions of inquiry reported by the
foreign affairs committee were adopted.
Ole called upon the President If not
incompatible with the pubic interest to
transmit all correspondence between Con-
sui General Lee and the state department
between May 1. 1885, to the present time.
The second requested him to inform the
House what steps, If any, had been taken to
pLOAONh bhN AlNNo anu plOpCAN y VI hhC oOO
Americans left by Consul Brlce at Matan-
zas. The bill to restore Mrs Nellie Grant
Sartoris to American citizenship was
passed. The contested election case went
over unfinished.
April 20.-The House passed as an emerg-
ency war measure the bill empowering the
President to call out the volunteer forces
andp- DIVIDING for their organization. Blth
the President and Secretary Alger urged
the IMPERATIVE necessity OF the passing of
the b II, and Chairman Hull of the military
committee drove 1t through under whip and
spur. The bill was dra ted at the war de-
partment The bill is permanent in
its character. The principal change made
in the bill as introduced was the appoint
ment of all regimental officers, which is to
be made by the governors OF the state, in
stead of by the President, as was proposed
originally by the war department This
action conforms to the practice of the
civil war. The bill was passed without d.
vision.
During the five hours of discussion in the
Senate, of its recent action on the Cuban
res buttons, in the course of which Sevearl
extended speeches were made by senators
who voted against the conference report
upon the resolutions, only one point was de-
veloped. That was made by Mr. Foraker
In the course of brief statement concern
ing the recognition of the Cuban republics
independence. He said: II think quickly,
speedily, possibly now, on the very
day the ultimatum has been sent to
Spain, pursuant to the resolutions that
passed here, and this movement has
practically recognized the republic Of
Cuba, and think possibly 1t is true we will
all know by to morrow that that govern
ment is to. day being oficially dealt with by
the representatives or this government, as
it should be-" This utterance, coming from
a member OF the foreign relations commit
tee, created a profound sensation among
Senators Being pressed for the source Of
his information, Mr. Foraker replied that
It was positive, but not ofiicial