The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-06

navy. The bill was practically completed
to-day, and will be finally passed on in COM
mittee tomorrow and then presented to the
House. Chairman Cannon, of the appropri-
ations committee, said to-day that he hoped
to begin consideration of the bill on
Wednesday or Thursday and to pass it be-
fore the end Of the week He hardly
thought there would be any general opening
up of war questions just now, although if
the debate ran into such channels he
thought it might as well come now as any
time. $s+
Representative Sulzer. of New York, rank
ing Democratic member of the House COM
mittee on military affairs. to-day intro
duced resolution authorizing and direct
ing the committee on military affairs to in
vestigate the War Department and the con-
duct of the Spanish-American war" The
resolution follows:
Resolved. That the committee on mill
tary affairs be and the same hereby is au-
thorlzed and directed to investigate the
War Department and the conduct of the
recent war between Spain and the United
States. and report all of said proceedings,
with their findings, conclusions and recon-
mendations to the House Of Representatives
with all convenient speed. That the said
powered to send for books, documents,
papers and persons, examine persons under
oath, sit in any part of the United States,
employ stenographer, and that the
sergeant-at-arms Is hereby directed to at
tend said committee and carry out its di-
rections. That the necessary expenses Of
the investigation be paid out Of the con-
tingent fund of the House."
The resolution WAS referred tO the COM
mittee on military affairs
Representative Cousins, of Iowa, has the
honor OF introducing the first bill in the
House at this session. 1t is entitled a bill
declaring standard of value in the
United States, land provides that the stand
ard of value in the United States is hereby
declared to be and is the standard gold dol
lar of twenty-five and eight-tenths grains Of
standard gold, nine-hundredths fine"
Fighting Joe" Wheeler introduced,
through Representative Stalings, a reso-
luton providing that "in recognition of the
patriotic devotion and bounteous benevo-
lence of Miss Helen Miller Gould to the
soldiers of the army of tne United States
during the war with Spain, the thanks of
Congress are hereby rendered her, and Con-
gress hereby authorizes and directs that
a gold medal with appropriate designs be
prepared by the director of the mint, and
that said medal be presented to her by the
President of the United States at sGch
time and in such manner as he may deter
mine."
Mr.. Moody, of Massachusetts, introduced
two bills to amend the war revenue act
by providing that the express and freight
clause, in Schedule A, shall be changed so
that express companies doing an annual
business of less than $1OO,O0O shall pay an
excise tax of per cent. of their earnings,
in lieu of the stamp tax. Express compa-
MES earning more than the amount named
shall continue to be subject TO the stamp
clause.
Representative Meyer, of Louisiana, in
troduced a bill approprlating $l2T0,00 for
the construction of a wide, deep channel
from deep water of the Mississippi river to
deep water Of the Gulf Of Mexico, via South
west pass. The channel, by the terms OF
the bill, is to be 300 feet wide and thirty
five feet deep, and conforms. so Mr.. Meyer
says, to the recommendations of tho Loard
appointed last winter by the War Depart
ment under resolution of Congress.
other bills and resolutions introduced In
the House to-day were the following:
BY Mr.. w. p. Brownlow, of Tennesseei
To provide for the redemptionof any coup on
of any interest-bearing bond of the United
States, which coupon is accidentally de-
stroyed after having been detached
BY Mr.. Sulzer, of New York: To re-
establish the American mercnant marine
and to regulate International trade and
transportation.
BY Mr. Brewer, of Alabama: TO repeal the
act providing ways and means to meet
war expenditures approved June 1s, 1898.
BY Mr.. Bromwell, of Ohio: A resolution
requesting the secretary of state to supply
information concerning alleged outraees
committed upon the person of Bishop Earl
Cranston. and other American citizens, at
Peking, China, and what steps have teen
taken to secure redress.