Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-03-18
PASSED AND SIGNED.
Cannon's National Defense Bill Is Now
Law.

Law.
Washington, March 1l.-President
McKiunley's hands have been upheld
by both branches of the American con-
gress. With enthusiasm, fervor and
promptness almost unparalleled in the
senate in time of peace, that body to-
day passed the emergency appropriation
bill, carrying $l63, coo for deficiencies
and placing at the disposal of the pres
ldent $50, 100000 for national defense.
The vice-president and speaker of the
house signed the bill this afternoon,
and it was Immediately sent to the
president, who affixed his signature at
$3.50 O'Clock P. NJ. The bill is now
law.
The vote by which the measure was
passed in the senate was unanimous
seventy-six short, sharp and emphatic
speeches were delivered in favor of the
bill, each one being simply ringing
AYE" during the roll-call upon the
passage of the measure. Not only did
every senator present register his vote
in favor of the bill, but for every absent
member, the authoritative announce.
ment was made that if present he
would vote aye. From the time the
bill was presented to the senate by
Hale, until it was passed, not an in
harmonious note was sounded. Party
lines were swept aside. In the gen.
eral outburst of patriotic feeling, pairs
were broken, every senator being anx-
ious to register his vote on the measure.
Il was just 1918 when Hale reported
the bill to the senate and asked that it
be placed on its passage. The members
of the committee on appropriations had
previously effected an arrangement
whereby there would be no debate on
the bill, and after it was read, Vice
President Hobart placed it Immediately
on its passage. The business was ac-
complished so quickly that most of
the people who crowded the galleries
scs rcely realized that the measure, so
far as congress was concerned, had be-
come law. Some of the spectators
fully grasped the meaning of the sem
ate's action, and when the announce
ment of the vote was made, murmur
of applause ran through the galleries.
The members Of the senate, however,
maintained a dignified silence, the
realization among all of them being
keen that situation which warranted
the passage of so unusual a measure
was too grave to prompt an outburst
of applause. Earnest determnatio
was evinced on both sides of the cham
ber, but there was not a note of levity
that would detract from the seriousness
OF the work performed.
The house devoted itself to routine
business today. The executive, legis-
lative and judicial appropriation bill
went through its last stages in the
adoption of the final conference report,
and the remainder of the day was con-
sumed in the consideration of the SEN
ate amendments to the Indian appro-
priatlon bill. The substitute for the
senate provision regarding the opening
OF the Uncompaghre reservation was
knocked out on point of order, and
the amendment goes back to confer
ence.
The desire of the conferees to nom
concur in the senate free homestead
clause encountered bitter opposition,
and an arrangement was made whereby
four hours are to be devoted to debate
on a proposition to concur submitted
by Eddy.
Sherman, chairman of the Indian
committee, declared that the free
homestead provision would cost the
government $55, 100000. He desired
to eliminate it from the bill, and has
the support OF the secretary of the in
terror.