The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1898-05-04
CONGRESS-.
Senate.

the armor for the three battleships now |
In course of construction the govern |
ment shall not pay to exceed s4OO ton, |
the nickel; and that subse-
quent contracts for armor shall not call |
for q greater price than 5000 per ton.
In case the price cannot be obtained |
the secretary of the navy Is authorized |
at once TO purchase or establish gov |
ernment armor factory, for which N,- |
500. 900 Is appropriated and, In addition, |
81, 100000 is appropriated for the manu-
facture of the armor. The amendment
was then tabled.
During the two-hours session of the |
Senate Tuesday the conference report |
on the army reorganization bill was
agreed to and the measure engrossed
and signed. Bills were passed to enable
the officers and marines of the United
States navy who may distinguish them.
selves in action to receive medals OF
honor, rosettes and ribbons, and to
place on the retired list of the army as
sergeants four survivors OF the Frank
lin Arctic expedition.
The conferees of the two houses on
the army bill agreed to the Senate
amendment requiring that the quotas
of militia of the various States and
Territories shall be in companies.
troops and batteries in order to be ac-
cepted by the President, and also that
Senate amendment increasing the Sig
nal corps to the extent of 10 corporals
and 140 privates. The conference re-
fused to accept the amendment au-
thorizing the active employment of re-
tired army officers In time of war, and
II was eliminated.
The senate foreign relations commit
tee held its regular weekly meeting
Wednesday. Senator Morgan urged upon
the committee the Importance of again
taking up the question of annexing the
Hawaiian islands. He said the islands
were essential to the United States In
view of the war with Spain and that
no time should be lost In perfecting the
treaty. other members of the commit
tee expressed the opinion that II was
impracticable to proceed with the
question at present
The senate committee on foreign rela-
tions held a meeting Thursday for fur
ther consideration of the question OF
the annexation of the Hawaiian islands.
There is a general desire on the part of
members of the committee to take up
the treaty and secure action upon 1t in
view of the emergency occasloned by
the Spanish war. but the opponents of
the treaty refuse TO withdraw their op-
position. alleging the insufficiency of
the exigency. The committee had this
phase of the question under considera-
tion. but adjourned without reaching
be pursued.
At Fridays session OF the Senate, the
report of the conferees on the naval
appropriation bill was presented and
agreed to. The measure, as perfected.
carries little more than 1000. 00o. No
other business of general Importance
was transacted, and the Senate ad-
journed till Monday.
House.
In the House and Senate Monday, a
message was received from the Pres-
dent recommending a declaration of
war against Spain. Such measure
that hostilities had begun on April 81.
The House disagreed with the Senate
on the army reorganization bill and
asked the Senate for conference.
The war revenue bill, was reported to
the House Tuesday and by an arrange
ment made the debate will begin and
continue at night sessions until Friday
At o'clock on that day the vote win
be taken. The Senate amendments to
the naval appropriation bill were nom
concurred in and conference request
ed. The speaker appointed Boutelle.
Hilborn, and Cummings conferees. The
contested election case of Wise VS..
Young from the second Virginia dis
trict was decided in favor of the con-
testant, DIR. Wise, Republican, by
party vote.
The opening Of the three days. de-
bate on the war revenue measure at
tracted crowds to the house galleries
Wednesday, and the attendance on the
floor was also large. Rev. Hez Sven,
who delivered the invocation, asked
the divine aid and direction for our ar
my and navy.
The general debate in the house on
the war revenue bill closed Thursday
night after eight and a half hours of
speech-making. There was little dis
cussion 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 ridicuied as a substitute
proposition by the Republicans. The
authority to borrow money was defend
ed by them as absolutely necessary.
Before the debate upon the war re-
venue bill was resumed In the house
an urgency war measure was passed
by unanimous consent. to repeal the
limitations upon the purchase of quar-
termasters' supplies during the exist
ing war with Spain.
The house Friday passed the war rev.
enue bill with only the amendments
tgreed upon by the Republican men,
berrs Of the ways and means committee
added.
The motion TO recommit was defeat
ed 134 to 173. The vote was then taken
on the final passage Of the bill, and II
was passed 1S1 to 131.
Mr.. Boutelle, Chairman of the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs. presented the
conference report on the naval bill Mr.
Cannon made the point of order that
the conferees had exceeded their juris-
diction in that they had added over
$1,000 above the differences between
the two Houses, and had also, added
provisions which were not in confer
ence. With the point of order pending,
he moved an adjournment, which was
carried.
The house committee on military af-
fairs agreed Friday to report favorably
an amendment to the volunteer bill
providing for an increase of 10, 900 men
with special qualifications to the vol
unteer force instead of the 1900 pro-
vided In the volunteer bill as enacted.
This change amends the last proviso
OF section 6 of the bill. and authorizes
the secretary of war to organize COM
panies. troops. battalions or regiments
possessing special qualifications from
the nation at large. not exceeding 16. :
OO0 under rules and regulations of the
war department. The Increase will al
low 5000 to be used for the cowboy or