Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-05-11
THE 55'TH CONGRESS.
FOUR WAR MEASURES PASSED BY
THE SENATE.
INAUGURATION DAY, MAY 4TH
Dewey Rear-Admiralship BiIi-Mo-
ton to Reconsider It-Post-Ohice
Authorization by Butler to
Southern Fast Mail Provision.

WASHINGTON, May l0.-The House
was to-day in session only fifty minutes
the early adjournment being due to no
urgent measures being before the House,
and a general indisposition TO take UP
minor matters. The consideration OF DIS
trict of Columbia business occupied most
OF the short session.
-Four war measures were passed by the
Senate to-day. One OF them provides
for carrying on the additional work IN
the Adjutant- Generals office; the second
authorizes the enlistment Of a volunteer
signal corps, two-thirds- of the members
OF which must be expert electricians OF
telegraphers; the third was the so-called
immune BILL" passed by the House OF
Representatives, and the fourth was
measure suspending existing law so That
additional hospital stewards can be APP
pointed.
The post-office appropriation bill, carry
ing appropriations which aggregate more
than 100000, was passed. a deter
mined effort was made by Mr.. Butler
(PopulisO, of North Carolina, TO cut OIL
the sum of Sill, 23s, appropriated for the
fast-mail service between New York ana
Washington, Atlanta and New Orleans
and to provide for two committees TO
investigate postal affairs, but IL was I'M
successful, all amendments except those
offered by the Committee on Approprla-
tons being voted down.
CHANGE OF INAUGURATION-DAH.
After an extended and interesting de-
bate. the resolutions submitted TO the
legislatures of various States, changing
the date of the beginning Of the terms or
the President, the Nice-President, ana
members of Congress from the attn or
March to the Attn of May was adopted.
Following is the text of the proposed
amendment:
"The term of office Of the President
and Vice-President, and OF the fllty-
sixth Congress shall continue until the
LIST day of May.in the year 1901, at noon;
and the 4th day of May at noon, SHAH
thereafter be substituted for the attn day
of March as the commencement and ter
mination Of the official term of the Presl-
dent. Vice-President, Senators, and KEEP
resentatiyes in Congress-
Soon after the opening of to-days
session of the Senate, Mr. Hale, OF Name
entered a motion TO reconsider the vote
by which the Senate yesterday passed the
bill increasing the number OF rear auili-
rails from six 70 seven. The motion Gre
ated some surprise, but it is the opinion of
the Committee on Naval Affairs that the
President has ample authority to nomi-
nate Commodore Dewey as rear adinirai
without the bill passed yesterday.
MRS. sARToRIs.
Mr.. Morrill,. Of Vermont, called up the
House bin TO readmit Mrs. Nellie Grant
Sartoris to citizenship in the United
States. The bill was passed. 1t had al
ready passed the House.
Later I'm the day. Mr.. Hawley, OF Con-
necticut. moved that the Senate MONACO
ouiesce I'm the House amendments to the
bill providing assistance 10 the lhnapi-
tants of Cuba and arms and ammunition
for the Cuban insurgents. The motion
was carried. and Messrs. Hawley, Carter
and CockreH were named as conferrees'
on motion of Mr.. Quay, or Pehnsyl-
vania, the Senate then, at O'Clock,
went into executive session, and at $50
adjourned.