The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1898-03-10
ALASKA BILL PASSED.

6Omooeeod Law Extended ana Railway
Right Of way-Two More Appropriation
Bills Finished and Ready for the Presi.
dents Signature.
WARRINGTON March 5.-After q de-
bate lasting several days the senate
late Friday afternoon passed the bill
extending the homestead laws and pro-
viding for right of way for railroads in
the district of Alaska.
Two more appropriation bills were
sent to the president Friday for his
signature, the pension bill and the
consular and diplomatic bill, both of
which went through the house Friday.
Naval officials are deeply interested
in the reports of the purchase of war
ships by Spain, and make the reports
of these transactions the text for COM
plants of the inability of our navy de-
partment to do likewise. However, as
to the report from London Friday of
the purchase of the Amazonas by Spain
it is said at the department that this
vessel sailed for Brazil several
months ago and has been delivered to
the Brazilian government. Her sister
ship is near completion in the Arm
strong yards. They are useful cruis-
ers, copies of the Barossa, now of the
Brazilian navy, and their strong point
is their great radius of action-S,0OO
miles-which would enable them to
cross the Atlantic and recross without
renewing their coal supply.
The other two ships building for
Brazil in France, which are also re-
ported to be about to pass into Spanish
| possession are presumed to be the
Deadoro and the Floriona, which are
building at La Seinne, Toulon. These
are small, but powerful little battle
ships. Their tonnage is only 8, 162, but
they carry four 1O-inch rifles in turrets,
| in addition to two 6-inch and four 47
inch guns and a good secondary bat
terry. Their coal endurance, however,
| is small and their forte would seem to
be coast defense operations, or cruis-
ing near a base of supplies
The London reports also caused COM
| ment at the state department. In
some quarters the feeling was ex-
| pressed that pending the finding of a
court of inquiry on a case having the
international phases of the Maine ex-
plo sion, the obligations of neutrality
were as strongly imposed on Great
Britain and Brazil as in time of war.
The precedents only apply to con-
dition of war and not to conditions
which may eventually lead to war.
In the Geneva award, however. un-
friendly acts by Great Britain prior
to the breaking out of the rebellion
constituted part of the case on which
heavy damages were awarded against
her. But, as a general rule, foreign
| governments are free to sell warships.
either directly or through their citizen
ship up to the actual date of hostilities.
WASHINGTON, March 5.-The house
committee on banking and currency
has ceased to have meetings, and this
leads most of the members of that
body to conclude that no currency re-
form bill will be reported this session.
1t is claimed that subcommittee is
still at work and they promise to re.
port later measure to the full com
mittee.
A resolution was passed by the sen
ate Friday authorizing the printing OF
$4,000 copies of pamphlet by Commo
dore George w. Melville, on the com
mercial, military and strategic advan
tages to the United States of the Mica
raguan canal and of the Hawaiian
islands.
Mr.. HIT, chairman of the COMMITTEES
on foreign affairs, presented the re
port of the committee on the diplo
matte and consular appropriation bill
1t recommended the adoption of all the
senate amendments, which was agreed
to.
The house of representatives and the
senate adjourned until Monday.
Fridays cabinet meeting occu pieC
about three hours and at it's conclu
sion it was announced that nothing o
an important nature had occurred. NJ
information of any character, it wa
stated, had been received either from
Gen. Lee or the court of inquiry, no
had any intimation reached the gov
ernment as to the character of the in
formation SO far obtained by the cour
or as to when the court would conclud,
it's investigation and make it
report. An hour or more o
the time of the cabinet session
was occupied in the reading of a Ion,
report from the special agent of tn
post Office department on the killing o
Baker, the colored postmaster at LAX
City, S. c. In view of the peculiar cir
cumstances connected with the mur
der and the enormity of the crime i
was decided to increase the govern
ment's reward to $1,000 in each case
Every effort will be made by the fed
eral authorities to bring the guilt.
parties to justice.
WASHINGTON, March 5.-The nav,
department is making preparations t.
replenish the supply of ammunition o
the United States warships on tn,
Asiatic station. To this end Orders
have been sent to the training shil
Mohican, now at Mare island, to carry
the ammunition. The ship was jus
about to leave for long cruise will
the naval apprentices, going as far a!
| the Samoan islands Her first StOl