The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1898-05-24

for destroyer5 and ~twenty-six knots
for torpedo boats. Not more than
eighteen and twelve months respective
ly will be allowed to complete these
boats and shOrUness Of time Of con-
struction will be an important element
in determining the awards.
The long expected appointments Of
officers to the staffs of the fourteen
new major generals have been made,
50 that the way is now clear for the
entry upon active duty of the officers
who have been obliged for several
weeks to remain in Washington.
MILITARY APPOINTMENTS. CON
FTRMFD.
today confirmed the following army
nominations:
To be assistant adjutant general,
with rank of major-JOhn \ Logan,
Jr., Illinois.
To be assistant %adjutant general,
with rank of captain-Joseph B. For
aker, Jr, Ohio.
To be inspector general, with rank of
majOr-Russell B. Harrison, Indiana.
To be assistant quartermaster. with
rank Of captain-William K. Alexan-
der; Ambrose E. Gonzales, South Car
| DINA.
To be commissary of subsistence with
| dim vi CdpldIll-JOLIi II. EdIle, oOull
Carolina.
SENATE.
Washington, May 19.-While several
important paragraphs in the war reve-
nue. measure were passed over today
for future consideration, excellent
progress was made by the SEN
ate in the consideration of the
bill. Two thirds of the measure have
been read, the committee amendments
generally having been disagreed to.
Senator McLaurin, democrat, of
South Carolina, opened the discussion
Of the bill today with a carefully pre-
pared speech touching all of it's fea-
lures. He was ready, he said, to vote
for any measure that would tend to
bring the war to a successful conclu-
sion. People on the island of Cub
are dying every hour. Their condition
is beyond the power of description.
Every day now means the loss of nun
dreds perhaps thousands of lives in
Cuba, he declared. Liberty on the is
lane is at stake and the war has placed
u own national prestige at stake.
Concerning the proposed issue of bonds
he said that there was an influence at
work in this country more powerful
than the president; more potent than
congress-. 1t was the silent, secret in
1uence Of the money power, which was
e~ndeaVOring to force an issue of bonds.
Once the senate, the forum of the peO-
pie, yields to this clamor. he declared,
and becomes entangled in the meShes
of the money octopus, the people will
suffer indeed. There is an army in
this country" said he, "just as anxious
to raid the United States treasury as
our volunteers are to raid the island
Of Cuba. To the army I refer to, no
volunteers are needed. These jobbers
and spectators form a greater menace
. tn rC than tho war with Snain
Senator McLaurin defended the bill
as reported by the majority of the fl
nance committee n hoped that, with
the possible exception, the stamps,
which he deemed unnecessary, the bill
would pass as reported. He strongly
urged the adoption of the proposition
to issue legal notes. cit is the dealers
in futures declared Senator McLau-
rim, the financial spectators and cor
mOrants; the transportation COM
panieS, the manufacturers of ammuni-
ton who make honey out of the war.
Upon these, the financial burdens of the
war ought to fall and not upon the
families of the men who go to the front
to fight for their country.
At the conclusion of Senator McLau-
rims speech the clerk proceeded with
the reading of the bill. When the
paragraph providing for stamp taxes
upon all transfers of stock was con
sidered Senator Bacon, of Georgia, said
the committee a not carefully COW
cred the agreements to sell stock and
that if it should be established that
agreement to SELL" should not bear
! stamps unless an actual transfer of
stock took place, agreements might be
made and then a settlement effected
between the parties without an &C
tual transfer of stock. The paragraph
was amended SO as to clearly cover
II -~ A~0Hy ~
stock actually was transferred or not.
Senator Daniel, speaking upo the
tobacco schedule, expressed his gratif-
cation that the senate committee had
stricken out the house provision sub
jecting stocks on hand to the addi-
tional tax proposed. He objected seri-
Ously to the retroactive feature of the
house bill as applied to the tobacco
schedule. 1t had aroused a storm of
protest in every commercial center of
the country. He declared the adoption
Of the retroactive feature would result
in the ruin of all dealers and leave the
tobacco trade in the hands of monop-
olists.
The proposition to place a stamp
tax upon proprietary articles and per-
fumeries now in stock aroused a lively
discussion. 1t was regarded as retro
active legislation and as such, was OPP
posed by many senator's. The para
graph has not beer disposed of finally.
At ass o'clock the senate went into
executive session and at 5:35 o'clock
adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The adjournment of the nous until
Monday postpones until next week any
consideration of the Hawaiian resolu-
tons. The impression that the COM
mittee on rules will provide for bring
ing up the resolution next week is
strong. 1t is said hat Speaker Reed
is ready to yield to the demands for
consideration and It is believed the rev.
enue bill by the middle of the coming
! week will be SO we'll on it's way toward
passage in the senate that action upon
the Hawaiian matter in the house will
promise no delay in disposing of the
a.o...o lii TL;r ur;Il .arnoxro the