Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-04-28
Congress Announces That War Ex-
lists Between America and Spain. q
The Measure Paased BY the ssRsts-fhs
House Disagreed 70 the senate
Amendment TO the Army n.
organisation BILL


The body had scarcely convened when
the message Of the president urging
congress to declare the existence Of
war between the United and Spain
was laid before It, Without comment
the message was referred TO the for.
eign relations committee.
Mr. Allen, Of Nebraska, introduced
the following joint resolution, which
he asked to have referred to the com.
mittee on foreign relations:
That state Of war now exists and since the
18th day Of February. 1908 existed between the
United States Of America and the kingdom OF
Spain.
Consideration Of the naval appro-
priation bill was then resumed, the
pending question being upon the
amendment offered by Mr.. Butler. Of
North Carolina, to regulate the price
Of armor. Mr.. Hale then moved to lay
the amendment upon the table and it
was 30 ordered by vote Of S6 to 49,
Mr.. Hale offered an amendment au.
thorizing the secretary Of the navy to
enlist at any time after the passage Of
the act as many seamen, landsmen and
boys as he may deem necessary to man
the ships Of the navy or for use OF the
navy as temporary force, and appro-
priating 81, $50, 900 for that purpose.
Mr.. Hale agreed to an amendment of.
fered by Mr.. Cockrell, Of Missouri,
that the time limit should be during
the existence Of war. The amendment
was agreed to, the amendment sppro-
priation being made Immediately avail.
able.
An amendment was also agreed TO
providing that, hereafter, all first. class
battleships and monitors shall be
named after the various states. The
bill as amended was passed.
The amendment for better organiza-
ton Of the line Of the army, providing
for the three battalion formation, was
called up by Mr.. Hawley. The amend
ments offered by the committee were
agreed to without division, and the
bill was placed upon Its passage and
passed within 30 minutes OF Its intro.
duction.
At 1855 p. M, the message clerk OF
the house Of representatives informed
the senate that the house had passed
an act declaring state Of war exist.
ing between the United States and
Spain. The message was at once read
70 the senate and the senate went into
Legislative session to consider the res
olution declaring the existence Of war.
At 4;37 p. m, the senate resumed
business in open session. At 1855 p
M, the message clerk Of the house an
nounced that the speaker had signed
the bill declaring the existence Of war
between the United States and Spain
and requested the signature of the vice
president Within two minutes Vice
President Hobart had signed the act
and precisely at five o'clock announced
his signature.
A few minutes later another message
was received from the house announc.
ing It's disagreement with the senate
amendment to the army reorganiza-
tion bill, and asking for conference.
The conference was agreed to, and
Messrs. Hawley, Proctor and Cockrell
were named as the senate conferees.
Several minor bills were passed and at
5:35 p. m. the senate adjourned.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, April 26.--The house
of representatives yesterday passed
the bill declaring the existence Of
state of war between the United States
and the kingdom Of Spain in manner
which cannot fail to impress the world.
1t required but one minute and Al Sec
onds to accomplish this. The house
was considering an election case and
simply paused to declare war. The
bill Is as follows:
A bill declaring that war exists between the
United States Of America and the kingdom Of
Spain
BE 1t enacted, First that war be and the
same is hereby declared to exist and that war
has existed since the 2lst day Of April. A. D.
1893 including said day. between the United
States Of America and the kingdom Of Spain.
Second, that the president Of the United
States be and he Is hereby directed and en-
powered to use the entire land and naval forces
Of the United States and to call into actual
service Of the United States the militia Of the
several states to such extent as may be neoes-
sarv TO carry this act into effect
After the presidents message was
read the committee on foreign affairs
framed the resolution, Acting Chair.
man Adams wrote the report, and 1t
was passed and on its way to the sem
ate in an hour and six minutes. The
speaker signed 1t at 4;9A The re-
mainder Of the day was devoted to the
election case Of Wise VS. Young from
the Second Virginia district. The
house declined to agree to the senate
amendments to the army reorganisa.
ton bill, and It was sent TO conference.
There was no demonstration at the
conclusion OF the reading and M de-
mand for the reading Of the diplomatic
correspondence that accompanied the
message. The speaker simply ordered
1t referred under the rules to the COM
mittee on foreign affairs and printed
for the information of the house. The
house then proceeded with the consid.
Grafton Of District Of Columbia bust.
ness
Gov stephens Wants Further ORDERS
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