The age-herald., 1898-05-11
Volunteer Signal Corps and lm-
 munoArmyto Be Organized.
CONSTITUTION IS AMENDED
Changing Presidential Inauguration Day UotiI May 4--Term of the Present Officers Will Continue Until That
 Day in 1901.

Washington, May 10.-Four war measures were passed by the senate today. One of them provides for carrying on the addi- tional work in the adjutant generals office; the second authorized the enlistment of a volunteer signal corps, two-thirds of mem bers of which must be expert electricians or telegraphers. The third was the called immune bill,' passed by the house, and the fourth was a measure suspending existing laws that additional hospital stew ards can be appointed.
 5 The postoffice appropriation bill carrying appropriations which aggregate more than 100000 was passed after debate which lasted for many days determined effort was made by MT. Butler, of North Caroli- na to cut off the sum appropriated for the fast mail service between Springfield, Mass, and New Orleans, but it was un- successful, all amendments except those offered by the committee being voted down.
 After an Interesting debate the resolution submitting to the legislatures of the vari- ous states an amendment to the constltu- ton changing the date of the beginning of the terms of the president, vice-presi- dent and members of congress from March to May 1, was adopted. Following is the text of the proposed amendment:
 Mckinley viii Hold Until May
 The term of office of the president, vice. president and of the Fifty-sixth congress shall continue until the fourth day of May in the year 1901, at noon; and the fourth day of May at noon shall thereafter be substituted for the fourth of March as the commencement and termination of the official term of the president, viee-presldent, senators aud representatives in consSess.e
 Mir. Carter favofably reported and se- cured the passage of a bill providing Tor volunteer signal corps. The measure au- thorizes the president to organize a volun- teer signal corps for the existing war. The corps shall consist of one colonel, one lieu- tenant colonel, one major as disbursing or- ficer, and. such other. officers and men as may be required, not exceeding one major for each army corps and two captains, two first lieutenants, two second lieutenants, five first sergeants, ten sergeantS, ten cor porals and thirty privates to each organized division of troops. Two-thirds of all offi- cers below the rank of major and a like proportion of the enlisted men shall be skill ed electricians or telegraph operators. ,.
 fir Brigade of Engineers
 Mr. Hawley, of Connecticut, chairman Of the military aHalrS committee, cdiieu up the bill providing for volunteer brig ade of engineers and the enlistment of 10,- GOO mmunes in the southern states. It had been passed by the house with amendments and MT. Hawley moved that the senate concur in the amendments. The motion prevailed. The bill will now go to the president for his signature
 MT. Morrill,. of Vermont, called up the house bill to readmit Mrs. Nellie Grant Sartoris to citizenship in the United States. The bill was passeds It has, already pass ed the house. At :05 p. m the vice. presi- dent announced his signature to the reso- lution of thanks to Commodore Dewey and the officers and men of his command.
 On motion of MT. Quay, of Pennsylvania, the senate then at 5 o'clock went into ex- ecutive session and at 5:45 adjourned.