The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-02-04
COAST DEFENSES
DISCUSSED In THE HOUSE UNDER
THE FORIIFiCATIONs BILL

THE FORIIFiCATIONS BILL
The Bib as Reported Carries Nearly Tel
Million Dollars Less shan the Esifmares
The BILL Critics. din the Senate sena
tor rettigrew is Cut ofY from Debatinl
His Anti.Annexa,ion Resolution by NJ
Executive se.sion-To Establish Bu,<ar
Of Irrigation
Washington. February I'm the
senate today. Senator Hawley, Of Con.
necticut, secured the adoption OF a res
olutioa directing the secretary Of the
interior to furnish the senate the total
per capita cost OF educating Indian
total cost of transporting pupils to and
from the schools, in Guiding the number
transported; approximately what pro-
portion of the children educated in the
schools return to the blanket and
camp condition and what can be done
to prevent such retrogression and con-
tinue the children in the lines of prog
ress on which they have entered.
AT 1926 o'clock p. m the vice-presi-
dent laid before the senate the resolu-
ton OF Senator Pettigrew, declaring it
to be opposed ito the policy of the Unit
ed States to acquire territory, to de-
fend which a navy would be required,
which was laid over yesterday.
Senator Hale, of Maine, moved that
tine senate go into executive session.
Dnfti ooy-ly1 n t,oit 1,a
could as we'll offer his remarks in ex-
ecutive session as in open session and
eff the friends of the Hawaiian treaty
are so tender about the matter" he
was willing to go into executive ses-
sion.
Senator Hale's motion prevailed and
ait 12:4O O'Clock p. m, the senate went
into executive session.
The executive session was concluded
at 4:20 O'Clock p. m. The senate then
proceeded to the consideration of open
session business.
Senator Davis presented the joint
resolution adopted by the house, pro-
viding for representation at the inter
national fisheries exposition at Bergen,
Norway The appropria ton carried by
the resolution is $4,000. 1t was passed.
Senator Cullom, of the appropriation
committee, called UP the agricultural
appropriation bill. AS it passed the
house, the measure carried 1850, 902.
AS reported to the senate, the bill car
ried $3,512,2O2.
Senator Warren offered an amend
ment to establish division OF irriga-
tion and reclamation of arid lands at
a cost of $1,000, and providing for in
vestigations of the method of building
and operating irrigation canals and of
all methods of storing and distributing
water in the reclamation OF arid lands,
at a cost not exceeding 1000. No ac-
tion was taken on the amendment
After the reading Of the bill. the
senate at $50 o'clock p. m. adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIV
the District of Columbia appropriation
bill, mostly in political discussion, pass
ed the measure today and then took UP
the bill ito provide Qualifications and
coast defenses of the country.
Mr. Hemenway, republican, of In
diana, in charge of the bill, explained
it's provisions. The estimates of the
war department for Notifications and
other works of defense, armament, ETC.,
were $13,37S, 81, while the amount car
ried by the bill was but 81, LA, ,912. The
appropriations were for continuing the
policy inaugurated by the Fiftieth con-
gress, since which time $39, 1884, ,253 had
been spent. In discussing the harbor
defense works erected under this poll
cy, Mr.. Hemenway stated that the de-
fense of New York harbor was COM
plete. He quoted the chief or ordinance
as having said to him that not enough
war vessels could now enter the harbor
in the face Of the present defense sys-
tenn to materially damage the city.
1t was arranged that the general de-
bate should close tomorrow at O'Clock.
Mr.. Ferguson, Of New Mexico, got
the floor ahSa under the latitude allowed
for debate, argued the injustice Of de-
nying statehood to New Mexico.
Mr.. Underwood, democrat, Of Ala
bama, criticised the Notifications bill,
because it did not provide for the in
auguration Of defense works at the
harbors along the coast of the gulf of
Mexico. Mobile rnarSor would be the
first harbor entered by the Spanish
fleet we should become involved in
war with Spain.
At O'Clock p. m. the house adjourn
ed