Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1898-07-07

consent for disagreement to the senate
amendments to war claims or ''omni-
bus bill, and for granting the request
Of the senate for a conference The
chair appointed as conferees Messrs.
Aahon, Often rep, Wis.,. and Rich
ardson (dem., TENN. Several bills
affecting the army were passed the
notable ones being those providing
for the pay Of volunteers from the
date Of their enrolment for service,
and providing for an increase in the
ordnance, engineer and quartermaster
departments.
Washington June pa precedent
that will be historical was estab-
lished by the senate. For probably
the first time in history resolutions
were adopted rendering the thanks OF
congress to common seamen, specific
ally in which private soldiers Of the
army and common sailors Of the navy
were eulogized. The resolutions rec
commended by the president were
adopted, rendering the thanks of con-
gress to Naval Constructor Hobson
and the heroes of the Merrimac, to
Hudson for his gallant rescue Of the
Wlnslow and her crew OFF Cardenas,
and retiring on full pay Capt. Hodg-
son for distinguished services at
Manila.
Consideration of the general def
cheney bill was concluded and the
measure passed. An amendment of
great Importance was attached to the
bill, practically by general consent. It
relates to the settlement of claims by
+ the government. against the Pacific
railroads. The amendment appoints
the secretary of the treasury, the sec
rotary of the interior and the attor-
ney general and their successors a
commission with full power to settle
the Indebtedness to the government
growing out of the issue of bonds in
aid of the construction Of the Central
Pacific and Western Pacific bond-aid-
ed railroad, but the commission shall
not agree to accept a less sum in set
| tlement than the full amount of the
principal and all amounts necessary
to reimburse the United States for
money paid out in this connection.
| The commission is empowered to
grant such time of payment by install
ment and such rates of interest, to
be not less than per cent. per an
mum. as may seem eXpedient,
provided final payment and full dis
charge of the Indebtedness shall not
be postponed to exceed ten years.
Twenty thousand dollars are allowed
the secretary for expenses of the com
mission making the settlement An
amendment was also adopted appropri-
ating S145,0O0 for the purchase of land
in Pearl harbor, Hawaiian islands,
and for dredging. The bill as passed
carries about 1927 100000. the largest
sum carried by any appropriation
measure since the civil war. After
the passage of the deficiency bill, con-
sideration Of the Hawaiian annexation
resolutions was resumed, Mr. Caffery
dem, La concluding his speech in
opposition to annexation.
Washington, June 3O.-The house.
after sending the Indian sundry civil
bill back to conference, resumed con-
sideration of the bills from the mill
tary affairs committee. Notable
among the measures passed were those
providing for the enlistment of cooks
in the army; providing for the ap-
pointment of military storekeepers;
providing for the protection of harbor
defenses against wanton and malicious
injury; and giving the secretary OF
war discretion to permit any church
Or religious sect to erect it's house of
worship upon the West Point military
reservation. A protTacted discussion
was precipitated by the bill to increase
the daily army rations by the addition
tri-weekly Of one quarter Of a pound
Of full cream American cheese and two
ounces Of canned corn.