The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-04-29
CONGRESS DECLARES WAR
The Resolution Passed
Without Debate.
NO ROLL CALL REQUIRED

lures. Of Both OfHcers Attaehed-Sen-
ate Passes the Naval Appropriation
With Amendments-The Two Houses
Disagree on the Army ReOrganiza.
ton Bill and IL Goes to Conference.
SENATE.
Washington, April 26.-War and war
measures were the only topics discuss
ed in the senate today for more than
four hours of it's session. The body
had scarcely convened when the mes
sage of the president urging congress
to declare the existence of war between
the United States and Spain was laid
before it. Without comment the mes
sage was referred to the foreign re-
lations committee.
Consideration of the naval a%ppropri-
alton bill was resumed, the pending
question being upon an amendment of
Senator Butler, %populist, Of North
North Carolina, to reduce the price of
armCr plate or, as an alternative, to
establish an armor factory. After a
long and bitter debate, in the course of
WIlCI CSudlOI DutISl was dCSuSto ny
Senator Hawley, of Connecticut, of
making what, in the circumstances,
would be regarded as a reasonable ut
t%erance the amendment was defeated.
An amendment of great Importance
was attached to the bill at the last
minute by Senate Hale, chairman of
the naval affairs committee 1t au-
thOrizes h secretary of the navy to
I ; or -oory nnnr oc hn ~
necessary to man the ships of the navy
during the existing war and appropri-
ate IS, $3.50, 900 to enable him to carry the
amendment into effect. An amend
ment was also agreed to providing that
hereafter all first class battleships and
monitors shall be named after the va
rious states. The naval bill was then
passed.
The bill for the better organization
of the line of the army of the United
States, providing for the three battal-
ion formation, was called up by Sen
atOr HaWley. 1t vas read n then
the amendments offered by the commit
tee were agreed to without division.
One of the amendments is al addi-
ton to the proviso of Section 3, author
izing the president to accept the quo
tas Of troops of the various states and
territories. The committees amend
ment requires hat these quotas shall
be in companies, troops and batteries,
each to contain, SO far as practicable,
the number of enlisted men authorized
in his act for each arm of the service"
Another amendment authorizes a
hospital toward for each battalion
Provision is also mad for the increase
of the signal corps in time Of war to
the extent of 10 cOrporals, 100 first-class
privates AND 40 SecOnd-claSS prlvateS,
who are to have the pay and allow
ance of engineer troops of the same
grade.
An amendment to Section 6 gives the
president discretion to employ retired
officers of the army on active duty, eX-
cept in the command of troops. While
SC employed they are to receive the full
pay of their grade.
At 3 O'Clock the senate went into Sc
cret legislative session and passed the
bill Of the house declaring the exist
ence of war between the United States
and Spain.
Vice President Hobart signed the
bill declaring the existence of war be-
tween the United States and Spain at
5 o'clock.
A few minutes later a message vas
received from the house announcing it's
disagreement with the senate amend
mentS to the army reorganization bill
and asking for a conference. The con-
ference was agreed to and the con-
fereeS named.
At 5:35 o'clock D.. m. the senate ad-
journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The house of representatives today
passed the bill declaring the existence
of a state of war between the United
States and the kingdom of Spain in a
which cannot fail to impress
the world. The representatives of
7O,000,0 900 people voted for it without a
word of debate, without a dissenting
vote and without a roll call, but with
a solemn appreciation of the gravity of
their momentous action. 1t required
but one minute and fOrty-one seconds
to accomplish this. The house was con-
sidering an election case when the mes
sage vas received and simply paused
to declare war. There vas no excite
ment, nc cavil. no word or question.
1t was only in the great cheer that
went up from floor and galleries when
Speaker Reed announced it's passage
that the tremendous import of the act
and the suppressed enthusiasm behind
it was shown. After the presidents
message was read, the committee on
foreign affairs framed the resolution.
Acting Chairman Adams wrote the re-
port, and it was passed and on it's way
to the senate in an hour and six min
utes. The speaker signed it at 4:49
o'clock.
The remainder of the day was devOt-
ed to debating the lection case of Wise
VS.. Young. from the Second Virginia
district.
When the army reorganization bill,
with senate amendments, came back
to the house, on motion of Mr.. Hull,
the amendments were non-concurred
in and the bill was sen to conference.
Messrs. Hull, Cox democrat, Of Ten
nessee) and Marsh Republican, Of Illi-
nois) were appointed conferees.
At $40 p. m. the house adjourned.
NJ. l.. YocCm, Cameron, Pa, says Il
was a sufferer for ten years. trying
most a. kinds OF pile remedies. but
without success. DeWitt's Witch
Hazel Salve was recommended to me.
I used one box. 1t has affected a per-
manent cure" As a permane I cure
a. ill., D@VTY.Axs. Uy.&1A H.-1f Sa1x,a