The herald., 1898-06-30
A VERY BUSY DAY
BOTH HOUSES OF CONGRESS
HARD AT WORK
DfFICIfNCYBILLPASSfS
THE SENATE TACKs ON SEVERAL
IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS
A RELIGIOUS PRIVILEGE QUERY
Pacific Railroad Settlement, Nicaragua
Canal and Annexation Come
in for Legislation



WASHINGTON, June ga precedent
that will be historic was established by
the senate at It's session today. For prob
ably the first time in the history Of the
senate resolution was adopted rendering
the thanks of congress to common seamen,
specifically naming them in the resolution.
The resolution elected several patriotic
speeches, in which the private soldiers of
the army and The common sailors of the
navy were glowingly eulogized. The reso-
lutions recommended by the president were
adopted rendering the thanks Of congress
to Naval Constructor Hobson and the
other heroes of the MerSmac and to Lieut..
frank H. Newcomb, commander of the
revenue cutter Hudson for his gallant
rescue of the Winslow and her crew off
Cardenas, and retiring on full pay Captain
Hodgson of the Mccullough for disting-
uished services at Manila.
Consideration of the general deficiency
bill was concluded and the measure was
passed.
An amendment of great Importance was
attached to the bill, practically by general
consent. 1t relates to the settlement of the
claims by the government against the
Pacific railroads. 1t was offered by Nor
gan of Alabama who made strong appeal
to the senate for It's adoption. Before It
was agreed to White of California proposed
some amendments to it making 1t even
more binding upon the roads than it was
in its original form. The amendment in
full follows:
The Pacific Railroad Clause
That the secretary of the treasury. the
secretary of the interior and the attorney
general and their successors in office are
hereby appointed a commission with fun
power to settle the indebtedness to the
government growing out of the issue Of
bonds in aid of the construction of the Cen
trail Pacific and Western Pacific bond
aided railroads upon such terms and In
such manner as may be agreed upon by
them or by a majority Of them and the
owners of said railroads
Provided, that any and all settlements
thus made shall be submitted in writing TO
the president for his approval or disap-
prevail and unless approved by him shall
not be binding.
That said commission shall not agree to
accept less sum In settlement of the
amount due the United States than the
full amount of the principal and all
amounts necessary to reimburse the United
States for moneys paid for interest or
otherwise, and also providing that said
commission is hereby empowered to grant
such time or times of payment by INSTALL
ment and at such rates of interest, to be
not less than three per centum per annun,
payable semi-annually and with such Sc
curity as to said commission may seem ex-
pedient; provided, however, that in any
settlement that may be made the final pay
ment and full discharge of said indebted
ness shall not be postponed to exceed ten
years and the whole amount, principal and
interest, shall be paid in equal semi-annual
installments within periods so limited, and
in any settlement made 1t shall be provided
that II default shall be made in any pay
ment of either principal or interest or any
part thereof, then the whole sum and all
installments, principa! and interest, shall
Immediately become due and payable, not
withstanding any other stipulation of said
settlement.
That there is hereby appropriated out of
any money in the treasury not otherwise
appropriated, the sum of 10000 to defray
the expenses of said commission in maxi
ing the said settlement.
Perkins of California said that he had oh
tained from the navy department an ac-
curate list Of the names of the Merrimac
volunteers.
The resolutions were then so amended as
to include the names of the crew who ac-
companied Lieutenant Hobson and adopted.
The Pearl Habor Question
Consideration of the general deficiency
bill was then resumed.
The following amendment. suggested by
Hale. gave rise to considerable debate:
For purchase by condemnation or other
wise of not less than 500 acres of land at moi
exceeding $50 per acre in Pearl harbor.
Hawaiian Islands. for a coaling and repair
station, $4,000, and for dredging the bar in
said harbor. to secure channel of not less
than thirty feet in depth, 5000; in all,
$145,O0O."
Spooner suggested that the amendment
was loosely drawn. He contended that the
Hawaiian Islands had not yet become part
of the United States, and that the land
cound not under existing circumstances be
condemned. At this suggestion the amend
ment was SO changed to make condemna-
tion conditional upon It's being practicable
The discussion then took the form of a
consideration of the title Of the United
States to Pearl harbor, in which Hale.
0poohSAt <AiACht ASttSAt i|hhusdN anu OtueTS
participated.
The amendment was agreed to.
Other Amendments
Carter Of Montana offered an amendment
providing 100000 for the payment of the in
spectors, superintendents and others en-
ployed in various forestreservations and it
was adopted.
Pettigrew secured the adoption OF an
amendment locating one of the proposed
United States jails in Indian territory at
Waggoner instead of Muskogee.
Mantle of Montana secured the adoption
of,an amendment providing that the terms
OF the United States courts for the district
OF Montana shall be held at Butte, begin
ming on the first Tuesday of February and
the first Tuesday of September of each
year.
Nicaragua Canal
Morgan offered an amendment providing
for commission to settle the indebtedness
Of the government growing out Of its as
sistahce in the construction Of Pacific rail-
ways and providing further that the funds