Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-10
SENATE SAYS AYE.
xor A VOTE IN OPPOSITION TO
wAR-FUND BIIh
SIXTY-SIX SHORT, SHARP SPEECHES,
All of Them I'm Favor of the Me"-
sure Providing for Nh'ioh"i De-
fe,cc-senate Investigation OF
Maine Disaster.

4
Maine Disaster.
WASHINGTON. March 9.-President
| McKinley's hands have been upheld hy
both branches Of the American Congress.
| with enthusiasm, fervor, and prompt
ness almost unparalleled In the Senate
IN time OF peace, that body to-day passed
the emergency appropriation bill, carry
FMS, gSg0cO of deficiencies, and placing at
the disposal OF the President S0CO,OO1
FOR national Defence The vote by which
the measure was passed was unanimous.
Sixty-six short, sharp, and emphatic
speeches we're delivered in favor Of the
bill. each one being simply a ringing
ave" during the roll-call upon the pas
sage OF the measure. Not only did every
senator present register his vote in favor
OF the bill, but for every absent MEMBER
the authoritative announcement was
made that II he were present he would
vote ave. From the time the bill was
presented to the Senate by Mr.. Hale OF
Maine. until it was passed, not an inhar-
mopious note was sounded. Party lines
were swept aside. In the general cut
burst of patriotic feeling. pairs were
broken, every senator being anxious TO
register his vote on the measure.
II was Just 1913 o'clock when Mr.. HAZE
renorted the bill to the Senate, and asked
that II be placed on its passage. The
members OF the Committee on Appropria-
tfons had effected an arrangement where
nv there would be no debate on the Dill,
and again II was read and the bill piaceu
on it's passage. Twelve minutes AFTER the
hin was reported the Vice-President an
nounced its unanimous passage ne
Great work was accomplished so quickly
that most of the people VINO croWIeu
the galleries scarcely realized that the
measure. so far as Congress was con-
cerned had become law.
Some of the spectators fully grasped
the meaning of the Senate's actioh' anu
when the announcement OF the Vote was
made. a murmur Of applause ran through
the galleries, ,,.o,.ou
The members of the Senate. however
maintained a dignifed silence, the realza-
ton among all of them being Keen thdt
situation which warranted the passage OF
nrompt an outburst of applause. Earnest
ness and determination were evinced on
moth sides of the chamber, but there was
not q note of levity that would detract
from the seriousness of the work per-
formed.
THE MAINE DISASTER.
Mr.. Chandler. of New Hampshire, pre-
scented the following resolution, which
indicates that the disaster to the battle
shin Maine is to have a thorough inYesti-
CATION by the Senate:
"In conducting the inquiry into the
cause of the destruction of the battleship
Maine i'm Habana harbor on February 10,
$685. under resolution of the Senate OF
DIST, the Committee OF Naval
Affairs is hereby authorized to send for
persons and papers, to employ a steno-
grapher. and to make the investigation
by the full committee or by sub-commit-
tees thereof, the expenses of such inves-
tigation to be paid from the contingent
fund of the Senate"
The resolution was referred to the Com
mittee on Contingent Expenses.
At 1855 p. NJ, on motion Of Mr.. Davis,
IF Minnesota, chairman of the Commit
tee on Foreign Relations. the Senate went
nto executive session, and at 1870 adj
iourned.
HOUSE BUSINESS ROUTINE.
The House devoted itself to routine
business to-day. The legislative, eXecu-
i've, and judicial appropriation bill went
through it's last stages in the adoption of
he final conference report, and the re-
nainder of the day was consumed in the |
of the Senate amendments |
O the Indian appropriation bill. The |
ubstitute for the Senate provision re- !
,arding the opening of the Uncompaghre |
reservation was knocked out ,on a point |
" order and the amendment goes back |
o conference.
The desire Of the conferrees TO non |
concur in the Senate free-homestead |
ause encountered bitter opposition. and |
IN arrangement was made whereby four |
iours are to be devoted to debate on a |
proposition submitted by Mr.. Eddy.
Mr.. Sherman, chairman of the Indian |
Committee, declared that the free-home-
tead provision would cost the govern
nent $4,000, 900. He desires to eliminate |
{ from the bill, and has the support OF
he Secretary of the Interior.
'OTTON INDUSTRY-NORTH, SOUTH.
Mr.. Williams Democrat), of Mississippi,
uring the consideration of the Indian
bill, under the latitude al
owed for debate In committee, answered
speech made some time ago by Mr..
)ingley, contrasting the condition Of the
otton industry in the North and in the
outh. on that occasion Mr.. Dingley, he
aid, had spoken Of the possible neces-
ity of a constitutional amendment TO
egulate the hours of labor so as to re-
move the disadvantage under which
lorthern operatives, with their shorter
hours of labor, suffered. The talk of such
IN amendment, Mr.. Williams said, was
lbsurd. and he was forced to the conclu-
ion that the purpose Of Mr.. Dingleys
peech was either TO arouse the southern
operatives to strikes, as a compensation
o the northern manufacturers, or to
'reate hatred in the North against the
lotion operatives of the South.
Mr.. Williams read letters from many
outhern mills explaining the advantages
hey possessed over their northern rivals.
The House non-concurred in the Senate
amendment to the District of Columbia
appropriation bill, and at 4:4O p. NJ. ad-
burned
WAR-FUND BILL A LAW.
WASHINGTON, March 9-The Presi-
lent at $40 o'clock this afternoon signed
he measure appropriating 900 for
he national defence, and IL is now law.