The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-12-09
Senator Morgan Gives Notice of an Impor-
tant Amendment to the Bill.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSION
of the Ncaraguan
and the Company Securing the New Conees
sion.The Appointment Of Senate on Com
ed.-Th Passes the
Anti Railroad Ticket

Davis. Frye. and others We're engaged
Senator Vest was among those who
attacked the practice OF appointing
senators 20 the place Of commissioners.
All senators making speeches espe-
cially disciaimed any intention Of per
sOnally attacking any senator occupy
ing the position of commissioner.
After two and half hours Of dis
cussiOn the question was referred II
the judiciary committee with inStruC-
tions to investigate and report upon
the nomination of the commissioners
HOUSE OF PRESENTATIVES.
The house today passed the anti
ticket scalping bill by note Of 1919 20
101. This section is the elimination
of a ten years struggle on the part OF
the railroads to put an end To the bust
nes of ticket scalping. The Interstate
commerce commission first called at
tentiOn to the subject in its report of
1883, and it has been before congress
ever since in one form or another. Dur
ing the last session extensive hearings
We're given both to the representatives
Of the railroads and the scalpers and
Mr. Sherman. of New York. secured Ia
pledges for the measure. 1t was how
ever, deemed inadviSable t. bring the
measure forward until the present ses-
sion. The debate today lasted four
hours and was spirited upon both
sides. None of the amendments offer
ed were adopted and the bill passed
a. reported by the committee.
The bill requires carriers subject to the
Interstate commerce act to provide
each agent authorized to sell tickets
with certificate and made it unlaw-
full for an officer of such carrier to sup
ply tickets to any but authorized
agents. 1t makes a violation Of these
provisions a misdemeanor and pro
Vides for the redemption of unused or
partially used tickets and also provides
penalties for forging or altering tickets.
Mr.. Sherman said this legislation
had been repeatedly recommended by
the interstate commerce commission
that it had the support of newspapers
and commercial bodies and that over
5000 petitions in its favor had been
presented to the house during the pres
ent congress. The business communi-
ties had come to look upon the ticket
brokerage business as illegal. The
amount of fraud practiced if known,
would startle any one unfamiliar with
the facts. He displayed a great mass
of fraudulent tickets which he said
would give a faint idea OF the frauds
practiced upon the railroads and the
innocent travelling public.
NO FINANCIAL LEGISLATION
Washington. December The house
committee on banking and currency
was to have held it's first meeting to-
day, but no quorum appeared. Chair
man Walker says it is not likely that
the committee will have any further
hearings on financial affairs or will
take further action in shaping cur
rency legislation A currency and
banking bill framed by a special com
mittee headed by Representative Nc
Cleary, Of Minnesota, is now on the
| house calendar, but some difference Of
opinion exists within the committee as
| to the regularity with which this bill
| was reported and steps have been
| taken to have it Withdrawn from the
| calendar.
| BILL TO INCREASE THE ARMY.
Representative Hull, chairman OF the
| house committee on military affairs,
| today introduced a bill increasing the
| regular army to approximately 100 600
| men. The bill was framed at the war
| department and has the approval Of
! the secretary Of war. 1t is not the bill
| framed by General Miles, as this meas
! ure has not the high rank proposed by
! the Miles bill and some Of the ap-
! pOintmentS are open to officers Of the
! volunteer or from civil life. It pro-
! Vides for a lieutenant general and
what is considered a sufficient increase
! of major and brigadier generals to
( artillery arm is organized, separating
them into coast and field artillery but
! promotion TO be by seniority Of the
! whole army.
The bill provides for the three bat
! TALON formation. The staff corps are
increased about 40 per cent and with
! the exception Of the adjutant general
| inspector general, and ordnance are
! open TO appointments from the volun-
teer or civil life The most notice
able change is in that Of the mcGica
department in which provision is mad
for a hospital corps Of 1000 privates
| with necessary nOn-cOmmissioneI Of
| hcerS, with a largely increased mum
Der Of surgeons and assistant surgeons
| All officers and men serving in tbs
| sUb-trOpical countries are 10 have az
! increase Of % per cent. in pay. Tn
! der the immediate control Of the pres
| ident. inhabitants OF the new countries
may be enlisted in the organization!
there serving.
| The bill gives a total OF fourteen reg
iments of artillery. twelve Of cavalry
| and thirty infantry.