The Monticellonian., 1898-05-20
WORK OF CONGRESS-.
Condensed Summary of the Proceedings of Senate and House from Day to
 DRy-Important Bills.

A MESSAGE from the president was received Tn the senate on the 9th recommending that congress pass vote of thanks to Commodore Dewey for his glorious victory at Manila Without dissenting voice the vote of thanks and bill creating an additional rear admiral for the promotion Of Commodore Dewey to that grade were passed. A joint resolution was also agreed to authorizing the secretary Of the navy to present sword of honor to Adm. Dewey and medals to the officers and men engaged in the battle and appropriatng tl0,00) therefor A bill providing for mail facilities in the army and the calling for 000) immune volunteers and the organization of a volunteer engineer brigade were also passed After receiving the presidents message the house passed the resolution of thanks to Commodore Dewey on q rising vote; also the bill increasing the rear admirals and the joint resolution for a sword of honor for Adm Dewey and medals for his officers and men The bill authorizing the army to feed Cubans and arm people in Cuba was also passed MT. Cookery tMo.) intro- dueed joint resolution proposing a recess of congress on June until July i9. MT Curtis tKan), from the committee on Indian affairs, favorably reported the bill to ratify an agree ment with the Comanche, Kiowa and Apache Indians in Oklahoma and to open their reser- vation to settlement Mir. Johnson Qnd) in- troduced resolution for the appointment of commissioners to meet other commissioners of the European powers and China and Japan to formulate plan for the independence of the Hawaiian islands and the prevention of any power taking possession of them
 THE senate on the 10th passed war bills for carrying on additional work in the adjutant generals office, authorizing the enlistment of a volunteer signal corps to be composed of ex pert electricians and telegraphers. authorizing the enlistment of 'immunes" and authorizing the appointment of additional hospital stewards The post office bill, carrying appro- IDf ff0pg ffr,fr +hnr, was passed after debate lasting for several days The resolution submitting to the legis- latures of the states an amendment to the con stitution of 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 .... The house held only d short session in which District of Columbia business was considered and a bill passed for the appoint ment Of three commissioners to revise the patent laws and make them conform to recent international agreements.
 THE railway arbitration bitl-a measure to adjust differences between railroad officials and their employes-was discussed for more than three hours on the 1ith by the senate without being finished. The nomination Of Commodore Dewey to be rear admiral was confirmed. The house took up the resolution 10 submit to the states a proposition to amend the constitution so as to provide for the elec-
  After an amendment by Mir. Underwood tAla) |, making election by popular vote mandatory, instead of at the discretion Of the states the resolution was passed Mir Loud tGaL) called up the post office bill and, upon his motion, the house refused to accept the senate amendments and q conference commit tee was appointed A bill was passed for the disposal of abandoned imports turned over to custom officials. After setting apart May 2l for eulogies upon the late Senator George tNiss.) the house then adjourned.
 The senate on the l2th passed the railway arbitration bill A bill was offered by Senator Stewart (Nev) removing all disabilities i'm posed by the fourteenth amendment to the constitution upon persons on account of hay ins engaged in rebellion against the United States It was passed without debate A bill was also passed authorizing the establishment of life-saving station at Charleyoix. Mich. The war revenue bill was then reported and the senate afterwards went into executive session for the confirmation of military nominations. .z.. The house passed q measure for the organ ization of special line of coast defense vessels and the enlistment of men to man them. The senate bill to establish volunteer signal corps was passed without amendment A resolution was also passed calling upon the secretary of war for information about the construction Of a ship canal at Sabine Pass. Tex The house voted to non-concur in the senate amendment 10 the bill providing for feeding and arming the Cuban people and a conference committee was appointed.
 SENATOR CULLoM Gll) presented to the senate on the 18th petition signed by 2t pack ing firms of Chicago asking for retaliatory leg station against France on account Of the rates Of duty on importations of lard and sausage re- gently imposed by that government Little busi- ness of importance was transacted. d.... The house considered private bills Mir Cummings (N. Y) introduced bill authorizing the secre- tary Of war to organize q regiment of sharp shooters possessing special military qualihca- tions, each company to consist of 100 expert marksmen from different states. to be between the age of 21 and 40 years, the command to be known as the American Independent Sharp shooters At the night session bill was passed allowing Gen. CassiuS NJ. Clay. of Ken lucky. pension of $50 month instead of S6 he is now drawing as veteran of the Mexican