Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1898-05-19
WORK OF CONGRESS

achieved IN the Dattle OF MaHii" p"''
A message from the president was re-
ceived recommending that a vote Oh
thanks be extended by congress 10
Commodore Dewey and the gallant OF
fcers and men of his command. With
out a word Of debate and without a as
senting voice the senate agreed 10 the
resolution carrying into effect the &c
ommendatiOn of the president. Inc
senate went further ever than that. "A
bill was presented increasing the num-
Der of rear admirals in the navy from
six to seven in order that the president
might nominate Commodore Dewey 10
the highest possible post In the navy
within his gift, and that, too, was
passed without a dissenting vote. In
addition a joint resolution was unani-
mously agreed to directing the secre-
tary of the navy to present TO Commo-
dore Dewey
A sword of Honor,
and have struck, in commemoratlon OF
the battle Of Manila, a medal OF bronze
for each of the officers and men VINO
participated in the gallant tight. Inc
resolution appropriates $4,000 TO en-
able the secretary the secretary TO ear
nv its provisions into effect. The bill
offered last Friday authorizing the
postmaster general to establish post
offices at military posts and camps in
order TO facilitate the delivery of mail
TO soldiers. and was reported favorably
by the postoffice and post roads com
mittee and unanimously passed. Inc
postotfice appropriation bill was under
discussion during almost the entire
session. the subject of discussion being
the proposition to reduce the compensa-
ton of railroads 20 per cent for carry
ing the mails. The amendment was
defeated by the decisive vote OF 40 TO 5.
1t was unanimously agreed to vote on
the bill at 2 o'clock to-day.
House Acts Quickly.
TIE greater part of the day In the
house was consumed by war measures.
The recommendation of the president
that a vote of thanks be rendered Com
modore Dewey and his associate Of
fcers and men was followed quickly
with a unanimous vote and with equal
concert the house passed the bill Gre
ating an additional rear admiralship
for the hero of Manila. The bill pro-
viding for the organization of a volun-
teer engineer brigade and enlistment
Of 10000 volunteer troops immune 10
tropical diseases was passed after two
hours debate. The principal ground of
opposition presented was found in the
features giving to the president the APP
pointment Of all officers. The senate
bill authorizing the army to distribute
food among the suffering Cubans and
to arm the Cuban people was passed.
Washington, May IL. - -Four war
measures were passed by the senate.
One of them provided for carrying on
the additional work in the adjutant
generals office; the second authorizes
the enlistment of u volunteer signal
corps, two thirds of the members OF
which must be expert electricians or
called immune bill" passed by the
house, and the fourth was a measure
suspending the existing law so that ad-
ditional hospital stewards can be ap
pointed.
The ~postofiice appropriation bill. car
rying appropriations which aggregate
more than 500, 600, 200, was passed af-
ter a debate which has lasted for sew
eral days. A determined effort was
made by Mr.. Butler of North Carolina
to cut off the sum appropriated for the
fast mail service between New York
and Washington to Atlanta and New
Orleans and to provide for two COM
mittees TO investigate postal affairs,
but ii was unsuccessful, all amend
ments except those offered by the COM
mittee on appropriations being voted
down.
After an extended and interesting
debate the resolutions submitted to tEl
legislatures Of the various states, an
amendment to the constitution Of the
United States changing the date of
the beginning Of the terms of the pres
.dent. vice president and members OF
cogress from March A to May 4 was
adopted. Following is the text of the
proposed amendment:
"The term Of office of the president
and vice president and OF the Fifty
sixth congress shall continue until trj
fourth day Of May In the year 1901, at
noon; n the fourth day of May, at
noon, snail thereafter be substituted
for the fourth day Of March as til
commencement and termination OF the
official term Of the president, vice pres
ident, senators and representatives in
congress-"
short Session OF the House.
The house was I'm session only fifty
minutes, the early adjournment being
due to no urgent measures Of impor-
lance being before the house, and to a
general indisposition to take up minor
matters.
Washington, May 12.-After refusing
(by a vote of As TO 9OJ to consider the
senate bill restricting immigration,
the house took up and devoted the SEES
sion to the house resolution to submit
10 the states n proposition to amend
b e constitution SO as to provide for
the election of senators by q direct
vote. The amendment as proposed in
the resolution as reported TO the house,
left il in tie discretion Of the states to
eject their senators by direct vote or
through their legislatures, but an
amendment by MIR. Underwood OF Ala
bama making selection by popular vote
mandatory, was adopted and the reso-
luton was then passed. Mr.. Loud
coIIaA nm tho naStnatoo ------.-