The herald., 1898-03-15
LEGISLATORS
Not Called On to Pass War
Measures
FUND FOR NEW CUTTERS
WHICH MAY BE UTILIZED FOR
DEFENSE
THE MAINE INVESTIGATION
will Not Be Heard From Until the
Naval Court Reports-een-
eral Calendar Bills
THE MAINE INVESTIGATION
Associated Pres. Special wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON. March A.-During its
session of three hours today the senate
passed considerable number of bills from
the general calendar, among them being
one to authorize the construction Of eight
new revenue cutters not exceeding in cost
the sum of $1.O25,OOO.
The national quarantine bill was made
the regular order of business and will be
taken up probably on Wednesday.
A touching prayer was delivered by the
chaplain at the opening of the senate. in
memory Of William E. Spencer, journal
clerk of the senate, who died last Friday
morning.
A bill extending for one year the time
within which the Pittsburg and Mansfield
Railroad company is authorized to con-
struct bridge across the Monongahela
river was passed.
Almost Immediately afterward Allen Of
Nebraska inquired of Chandler what the
naval affairs committee had done regard
ing the investigation Of the Maine case.
provided for In his resolution several weeks
ago.
Chandler said that as yet the committee
had taken no action regarding the investi-
cation. He could not speak for the COM
mittee, but expressed the opinion that its
policy would be to await the action and
findings of the naval court Of inquiry. He
called attention to the interesting fact
that naval courts have no authority under
the law to compel witnesses to testify or
to punish them II they should refuse. He
thought, therefore, that the naval COM
mittee In making Its investigation. ought
to be empowered to force testimony from
witnesses or innict apenaltys Tor. refusal.
In answer to . question from Allen.
Chandler said: 49,
II am not prepared to speak for the COM
mittee in regard to whether we shall make
an investigation of the Maine disaster.
The resolution, I take 1t. places an injunc-
tion upon the committee to conduct an in
vestigation, and the resolution agreed to
is on line with that injunction. This is a
subject which 1 do not think ought to be
discussed in public. I desire to commend
the senator from Nebraska for his patriotic
restraint in refraining from a discussion
of this natter
The conference report on the army ap-
preparation bin was reported by Quay Of
Pennsylvania and was agreed to.
Proceeding under unanimous consent,
the senate passed the following measures
Amending an act to permit the use Of
the right of way through public lands for
tramways, canals and reservoirs; perma-
nently locating the capital of the territory
Of New Mexico at Santa Fe; granting to
the Kettle River Valley Railway company
right of way through the north half Of
the Colville Indian reservation In WASH
ington, and relating to leases on the Hot
Springs reservation.
At this point Lodge of Massachusetts,.
from the foreign relations committee.
called up the joint resolution for the reIlsf
Of August Bolton and Gustave Richelieu.
The resolution, as reported from the for
eign relations. committee. is as follows:
THAT the president of the United States
be- and hereby is, empowered to take such
measures as in his judgment may be neces-
sary to obtain the indemnity from the
Spanish government for the wrong and
injury suffered by August Bolton and Gus
tave Richelieu by the wrongful imprison.
ment by the Spanish in Santiago de Cuba,
in the year 1895: and to secure this end. he
is authorized and requested to employ such
means or exercise such power as may be
necessary"
The resolution, to which objection was
made few days ago, was passed without
debate.
Other bills were passed as follows: To
refer certain claims for Indian depreda-
tions to the court of claims; to incor-
porate the national Florence Crittenden
mission; to provide for the disposal Of
the abandoned Fort Shaw military reserya-
tion in Montana under the homestead. min
ing and other land laws of the. United
StateR
To pay Hattie A. Phillips, widow of John
Phillips. $4,000 for services rendered by
John Phillips in bearing dispatches from
the commanding officer at Fort Phil Kear-
ney to Fort Laramie in December. 1865
after the massacre Of the United States
soldiers under Lieutenant Colonel Fetter-
man by the Sioux Indians and bv whose
services the garrison at Fort Phil Kear.
ney, then surrounded by Sioux Indians
was rescued and saved from annihilation
Other measures passed are:
To authorize the secretary Of war tc
loan tents to the citizens committee nj
Cincinnati for use during the Thlrty-second
annual encampment Of the @. AR.
To pay the heirs of the late John Roach
saso.16 for labor and material, dockage
and detention, etc., OF the gunboats Chi.
cago, Boston and Atlanta.
To provide for the appointment, Of q
commission under the direction Of the
secretary Of war for the preliminary sur
vey, with plans. specifications and ap-
proximate estimates Of cost thereof for
the construction Of ship canal Of ap-
proved width and depth from the lower
shores OF Lake Michigan to the Wabash
river.
At the suggestion Of Mr.. Foraker Of
Ohio. the bill for the incorporation Of the