Evening star., 1898-12-21
Recess Taken Until After the Roli-
days.
SHORT SESSIONS IN BOTH HOUSES
investigation Of Status of Mem.
bers Ordered.
ON PRIVATE PENSION BILLS

At the opening of today's session of the
Senate Mr.. Cullom 0lI) reported favor
ably from the committee on foreign rela-
tiors the bill to provide d government for
the Hawaiian Islands
On behalf of Mr.. Carter CMontl who
was absent. MIR. Chandler offered a resp
luton providing for the distribution of the
appropriation bills among the several
standing committees of the Senate, and 20
amending the existing rules of the Senate
as to make such distribution possible.
The resolution, together with the neces-
sary formal notice of an intention to at
tempt to amend the rules, was referred
TO the committee on rules.
MIR. Morgan (Ala.) secured the adoption
of a resolution requesting the President, If
not incompatible with the public interests,
to inform the Senate whether authentic
information is in possession of this govern
ment to the dissolution of the Uni ed
States of Central America.
The private pension calendar was thea
taken up and nine private pension ills
were passed. The passage of the bills re-
quired longer time man usual as the
reports in each case Were read, on demand
of MIR. Vest and Mr. Cockrell (Mo)
Several joint and concurrent resolutions
were adopted, providing for the improve
ment of certain harbors and directing the
Inmates of cost made of various river and
harbOr improvements.
Commission to Visit the West Indies.
Mr. Daniel VaD then called from the
calendar the resolution of Mr.. Proctor tFtD
providing for committee of senators 70
visit Cuba and Porto Rico. with a view TO
ascertaining the conditions on those is
lands and reporting their observations to
the Senate as a guide for its action
Mr.. Hale (MeD called for the reading of
the resolution. and then, on Mr.. Daniel :
motion to proceed to the consideration of
the resolution, demanded the ayes and
noes.
The vote on Mr. Daniels motion disclosed
the absence of a quorum, it being ayes, g.
4 call of the Senate was demanded Mr..
Hale withdrawing a motion TO adjourn
after giving notice that he would ask the
Senate TO go into executive session II a
quorum should be secured.
The call disclosed the presence Of forty
seven senator's. and OH motion of Mr.. Hale,
the Senate at % pm. went into executive
session. and at 1:40 pm. adjourned until
January i, lS3.
Work in Executive Session.
The President sent to the Senate today a
large number of recess nominations of
postmasters and army appointments. f.
". johnson of California. TO be register OF
land office at Marysvilie. Cal.
Richard lie Bert of Colorado, consul at
Ghent, Belgium.
Justor Armijo. postmaster at AIbu-
querque. y. NJ.
Besides the nomination of Ambassador
Hitchcock to be Secretary of the Interior
the Senate confirmed the following today:
f. +. Mckinley, receiver of public mon
eys at Guthrie, .. T.
Collectors of customs-S. 2, Anthony, St.
Marks. Fla; W. II. Lucas. St. Johns Fla;
J. W. Howell. Fernandina, Fla: J. p Wal
worth, Pearleyver. Miss.
b X. Watson of Ohio, commissioner to
revise and codify the criminal and penal
laws Of the United States: Richard Weight
man. District of Columbia. Rock Creek
Park commissioner District of Coiumbia),
and a number of postma sters