The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-05-10

Representatives Of the United States of
American, in Congress. assembled. that
| in pursuance Of the recommendation of
the President, made in accordance with
| the provisions of section HOS of the Re-
vised Statutes. the thanks Of Congress and
of the American people are hereby ten
dered to Commodore Dewey, U. S. N,
commander in China of the Asiatic sta
ton, for highly distinguished conduct in
conflict with the enemy as displayed by
him in the destruction of the Spanish
| fleet and batteries in the harbor of Ma.
| Mia, Philippine islands, May l, 1888:
| Section 2-Ihat tine thanks Of Congress
and American people are hereby extend
ed through Commodore Dewey to the off,
GERS and men under his command for the
gallantry and skill exhibited by them on
that occasion.
Section 3-Be it further resolved that
the President of the United States be re-
quested to cause this resolution to be
Communicated to Commodore: Dewey
| and through him to the officers and men
| under his command.
at seems to me- said Mr.. Quay of
Pennsylvania, "that in view of the Won
derful nature of the victory of Comma
dore Dewey the resolution might we'll go
farther. I suggest that provision be
added for the presentation of a sword to
Commodore Dewey and medals to his
officers and men"
''That is very good suggestion" said
Mr.. Hale, "but the matter of the sword
and medals can be taken care of in an
other resolution.
The resolution was then passed by an
aye and nay vote, &c Senators voting in
| favor Of it and not one against it.
Mr.. Hale then introduced a bill provid-
| ing that the number of rear admirals of
| the United States navy be Increased from
| six to seven, the purpose of the measure
being to enable the President to nomi-
nate Commodore Dewey as rear admiral.
The bill passed without dissenting
vote
Mr.. Quay,s suggestion that sword be
presented to Admiral Dewey had been
anticipated as Mr.. Lodge of Massachu-
setts offered the following resolution:
THAT the secretary OF the navy be and
he is hereby authorized to present sword
of honor to Commodore George Dewey
and to cause to be struck bronze medals
commemorative the battle OF Manila Bay,
and to distribute such medals to the OIL
GERS and men Of the ships of the Asiatic
squadron Of the United States under COM
mand of Commodore George Dewey on
May /, 1898, and to enable the secretary to
carry ont this resolution. tho sum of
$4,000 Is hereby appropriated. The
resolution was agreed to without debate.
| Mr.. Chandler Of New Hampshire, from
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reported the bin introduced on last Fri
day authorizing the postmaster general to
establish post offices in military posts
and camps. The bill was passed unani-
mously
A house bill, declaring the federal Jail
at Fort Smith. Ark, a national prison,
| in cases where the term Of imprisonment
does not exceed one year. was passed.
| A resolution offered by Mr.. Cannon of
Utah last Friday, for an investigation
OF trusts. was referred to the COMMITTEES
| on manufactures.
Consideration of the post Office appro-
priation bill was then resumed, Mr..
Faulkner Of West Virginia, continuing
his speech upon the pending amendment,
providing for reduction of 20 per cent
in the amounts paid the railroads for
transportation of mails.
Messrs. Foraker. Morgan and Shoup,
who were unavoidably detained from the
Senate when the vote was taken upon
the resolution rendering vote of thanks
to Commodore Dewey. announced to the
Senate that they desired to be recorded
as in favor of the resolution and that it
would have afforded them great pleasure
to vote for it.
AT $40 p M, a message was received
from the House announcing the passage
of the House resolution extending the
thanks OF Congress to Commodore,
"a IoeoluGiou iueutical WlUu Un2G passed
by the Senate and House bill increas-
ing the number of rear admirals from six
to seven, the latter being identical with
the bill passed by the Senate.
At 306 p. M, Mr.. Hale called up the
resolution of thanks and the bill which
had been reported from the House. Both
the resolutions and the bill were placed
upon their passage and agreed to.
Mr.. Faulkner concluded after speaking
ahOuk twO h0urS i'm QDnOSition tn no
Pettigrew amendment.
Mr. Butler of North Carolina, then de.
livered an extended speech in favor of the
amendment.
Mr.. Turpie of Indiana, chairman of the
Democratic caucus, announced an order
making Mr.. Pasco, Democrat of Florida,
ber of the military affairs commit
tee, to I'LL a vacancy occasioned by the
death Of Mr.. Walthall of Mississippi.
Speeches in support of the pending
amendment to tho post Office appropri-
alton bill were made by Mr.. Allen, Pepu-
list of Nebraska, and Mr.. Pettigrew, Sill
yer Republican. MT. Quay, in charge of
the bill moved at the conclusion of the
debate to lay the amendment on the table.
The motion was agreed to. ayes 40, nays
Mr.. Butler offered an amendment pro-
viding that the government should own
the railway mail cars and that 1T should
pay to the railroad companies only such
sum as the railroads receive for SINH
lar service. Speaking upon the amend
| ment, Mr.. Butler declared that the rail-
roads were now maintaining 'scrowd
| of lobbyists in and around the Senate
and even the Presidents room had been
used as lobbying place by the railroad
| attorneys.
The amendment was defeated without
division.
| A committee amendment was offered by
Mr.. Quay appropriating $4,000 for the
establishment of post offices in military
posts and camps during the present war
The amendment was adopted.
An amendment offered by ME- Butler,
providing for the punishment of railroad
| companies in case of their refusal to car
ry mails on their fastest trains is directed
to do so by the postmaster general, was
agreed to.
| Mr.. Butler then offered an amendment
eliminating from that section OF the bill
which provides for an investigation of
the question as to whether excessive prices
are being paid railroads for carrying the
mails the clause which extends the inves-
tigation to all sources of revenue and ex-
penditures Of the postal service.
Pending action upon the amendment,
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