The Somerset reporter., 1898-02-24
AT WASHINGTON.

In the Senate, Friday, Mr.. Hale intro
duced joint resolution for an appropria-
ton of S200, 900 to recover the bodies OF
men lost In the Maine and to raise the
vessel. Mr.. Hale explained the matter
and the resolution was passed.
Mr.. Mason, Ill.,, proposed a substitute
an investigation of the disaster by
Congress and made sensational speech
A long and rather sensational debate
followed on the matter of investigation
The House promptly and unanimously
voted the $500, 900 asked for by the sec
| rotary of the navy to recover the bodies
lost In the Maine disaster and to raise
the wreck, IL that is deemed advisable.
The rest OF the session, which lasted
six hours, was devoted to continuance
of the debate on the bankruptcy bill.
The naval court of inquiry appointed
to investigate the Maine disaster began
its work at Havana, Monday. This news
came to the navy department from Ad-
miral Sicard at Key West,
Officials of the war department are
annoyed at the circulation OF rumors
that seem to connect an activity now
observable at the sea coast defences with
the Maine incident. The attention OF
Acting Secretary Meikleohn was this
morning called TO several such stories,
coming from widely separated parts of
the country. He promptly declared that
this movement had no connection with
the Maine affair. There had been In
creases of the garrison of the sea board
posts. But this had been going or for
six months and only marked step In
the development of the scheme of coast
defense planned by the fertilization board
some time ago.
After four days Of consideration, the
House, Saturday, passed the Bankruptcy
bill reported by the House committee on
judiciary as substitute for the Nelson
bill passed by the Senate at the extra
session last summer. The bill is known
as the Henderson bill, aud contains both
voluntary and involuntary features. 1t
is considered less drastic than the meas
ure passed by the last House by vote
of 157 to 81.
As soon as the reading of the historic
farewell address Of Washington was con-
cluded by Mr.. Lodge of Massachusetts
in the Senate, Tuesday, Mr.. Hawley Of
Connecticut, chairman of the military
affairs committee, called up the bill pro-
viding for the enlistment of two addi-
tional regiments of artillery for service
in manning the heavy coast defence bat
teries which Congress has provided dur
ing the past two years. There was no
factious opposition to the measure. 1t
was passed by vote of 81 to 4.
Mr.. Morgan Of Alabama secured the
adoption of resolution nstructing the
committee on naval affairs to inquire and
report to the Senate whether warship
to be named the George Washington and
to be equal to the most powerful In the
world, could be constructed and COM
missioned within II months.
Washington's birthday was devoted to
debate in the House. johnson of Tenne-
see made AN extended speech against
Hawaii annexation.
In the Senate, Monday.
A resolution offered by Mr.. Allen of
Nebraska, directing the committee on
naval affairs to make an investigation of
the disaster to the battleship Maine was
adopted without debate.
The Joint resolution providing for the
recovery of the bodies of the officers and
men from the wreck of the battleship
and for the recovery of valuable property
on the ship, which was passed by the
House of Representatives, last week, was