Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-05-19
CONGRESSIONAL.

WASHINGTON, May lathe House Effected
but little legislation. An important meas
ure, providing for the organization Of a
special line of coast defense vessels
and the enlistment of men adequate
to man them was passed. The Sen
ate bill to establish a volunteer sig
nal corps was passed without amend
ment These two emergency war meaS-
ures were the features of the session. A
res olutiOn was passed calling upon the Sec
rotary of War for information relative TO
the construction of a snip canal at Sabine
Pass. Texas, and its probable effect upon
the depth of the harbor at that point
May 11.-After refusing, by vote Of -
to 80, to consider the Senate bill restricting
immigration, the House took mp and de-
voted the session 10 the House resolution
to submit to the states a proposition to
amend the constitution so as to provide
for the election of senators by 4
direct vote The amendment al proposed
in the resolution, as reported to the House,
left II in the discretion of the states to elect
their senators by direct vote or through
their legislatures, but an amendment by
Mr.. Underwood of Alabama. making selec >
ton by popular vote mandatory, was
adopted and the res Tuition was then passed
For more than three hours the Senate
disc ussed what Is known as the railway
arbitration bill-a measure designed to ad-
just by means of voluntary arbitr alton diff
ferences that may arise between railroad
ohisials and their employees The bill was
still under consider alton when the Senate
adjourned.
May 10 -Four war measures were passed
by the Senate One of them provided for
carrying on the additional work in the ad-
jutant generals office, the second authoriE-
sing the enlistment of a volunteer signal
CORY twO-thirds of the members Of which
must be expert electricians or tel
egraphers the third was the 30 called
immune bill" passed by the House
ana the fourth was a measure suS-
pending the existing law so that additional
hospital stewards can be appointed. The
postofice appropriation bin was passed II
carried over S99,0O000O. After anextended
and interesting debate the resolutions sub
hitting to the legislatures of the various
states an amendment to the constitution of
the United States changing the date Of the
beginning of the terms of the President, Vice
President and members of Congress from
the fourth of March to the fourth OF May
was adopted.
The House transacted no business Of i'm
portance.
May "A message from the President
was received by both HOUSES recommend
ing that vote of thanks be extended by
Congress to Commodore Dewey and the
gallant oficers and men of his command
Without a word of debate and without a
dissenting voice, both houses agreed to a
resolution carrying into effect the
recommendation of the President A
bill was presented increasing the number Of
rear admirals in the navy from six to
seven, iN order that the President might
nominate Commodore Dewey to the high
est position in the navy within his gift aid
that too, was passed without dissent In
addition a resolution was unanimously
agreed TO directing the secretary Of the
navy to present to Commodore Dewey q
sword of honor, and to have struck, in COM
memoration of the battle of Manila a
bronze medal for each of the oflcers and
men who p participated in the gallant fight
The resolution appropriates $4,000 to en-
able the secretary to carry its provisions
into effect