Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-11
Daily Renncbec Journal.
55th CONGRESS.
Senate Passes Four important
War Measures, Tuesday.
Also Bill to Change Presidential
Election Day to May a.
House Committee Carefully Considering the
Annexation OF Hawaii
ETH .flY II

gg'TI KY II
WASHINGTON. May 1o.-Four war
measures were passed by the Senate,
TODAY, one of them provides for carry
ing on the additional work in the ad-
infant generals office. The second au-
thorized the enlistment of a volunteer
signal corps. two-third of the members
of which must be expert electricians OF
talegraphcrs. The third was the So
called Immune bill' passed by the
House. The fourth was measure sus
pending the existing law so that addi-
,ional hospital stewards can be APP
pointed.
The post office appropriation bill.
carving appropriations which Will ag
yrerate more than $99, 100000 was
PASSED after debate which has lasted
for esevral days. A determined effort
was made by Butler, Pop, y. c.. to cut
off the sum appropriated for the fast
mail service between New York, and
WASHINGTON to Atlanta and New Or
leans and to provide for TWO commit
tees to investigate postal affairs. But
if was unsuccessful, all amendments
EXCEPT those offered by the committee
on appropriations being voted down
After an extended and interesting de-
bate the resolution submitting to the
legislatures of the various states an
amendment to the constittion ofu the
United States changing the date of the
beginning of the terms OF the Presi-
dent Vice President and members OF
Congress from the 4th of March TO the
4th OF May. was adopted. Following
is the text of the proposed amendment:
The terms of office Of the President
and Vice President and Of the 56th
Congress shall continue until the 9Th
day Of May in the year 1901 at noon;
and the 4th day Of May at noon shall
thereafter be substituted for the 4rh OF
March as the commencement and
termination of the official term OF the
President, Vice President. senators anG
representatives in Congress"
Soon after the opening Of today.
session cf the Senate Hale, entered .
motion to reconsider the vote by Which
the Senate. yesterday, passed the bill
increasing ;he number OF rear admiral.
from six to seven. The motion created
some surprise. hut il is The opinion Of
the committee On naval affairs that The
President has ample authority t.
nominate Commodore Dewey as real
admiral without the pill passed, yesttr-
day.
SeWeIl, n. j., reported from Inc COM
mittce on military Affairs Il bill pro
viding for the Increased volume o.
wcrk in The office of the adjutant gen
eral of the army. The bill provides fol
one assistant adjutant general with ia,
rank of Colonel and one With rank O
major. The bill was passed.
From the military affairs committec
Carter, Mcnt., favorably reported ant
secured the passage OF a bill providing
for d volunteer signal corps. The
measure authorizes the President tc
organize a volunteer signal corps fiji
the existing var. The crops shall con
sist of one celonel. one -heutenan'
colonel. one major as disbuitsing Officer
and such other officers and men as may
be. required. not exceeding one majol
for each army corps. and two captains
two first lieutenants, two second lieu.
tenants, five first-class sergeants, Il
sefgeants, 10 corporals and 80 private.
to each organized division of troops
TWo-thirds of all officers below TIL
rank of major and Ike proportion d
the enlisted men shall be skilled elec-
tfieians or telegraph operators.
White, Cal, Introduced the following
resolution:
That the committee on foreign re-
iations are instructed to Forthwith in
Nestigate the cases Of Harry X. Sprine
ana Charles W. Nelson. citizens of TIL,
t1lted States and residents of the state
on california, who are under arrest il
the republic of Columbia ana 10 inquire
whether said Spring ard Nelson have
been detained unreasonably without
trial or have been otherwise unlawfullE
restrained Of their liberties and Wheth-
er the diplomatic officers and agents Of
the United States in said republic. Of
Columbia have made appropriate eX-
ertlons to procure the release OF trial
of said accused; and to report by reso-
luton or otherwise
The resolution went over under thu
rules.
HaWley. Conn, chairman of the mill
tary affairs committee called up the
blll providing for volunteer brigade
OF engineers and the enlistment OF 1909
'immunes' in the Southern states. j
mad been passed by the House with two
amendments and fIaWley moved that
the Senate concur in the amendments.
The motion prevailed
Morrill, VI. called up the House bill,
to re-admit Mrs. Nellie Grant Sartoris
to citizenship in the United States,
The bill was passed.
At los p. NJ. the vice President an
hounced his signature to the resolution