The herald., 1898-04-29
Record. At 10:3o p. m. the house recessed
| until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.
IN COMMITTEE
Measures Under Consideration Relat-
ing to the War

ing to the war
| WASHINGTON, April 2S.-The Senate
committee on military affairs agreed upon
| a favorable report on the bill removing
the limitations on the supplies which the
ouartermaster's department Of the army
may purchase, and also upon the bill per-
mitting the enlistment OF a brigade of en-
| gineers Both bills were amended, the linn
itation bill so as to authorize the secretary
of war to make purchases of supplies
abroad; the engineer bill was amended so
| as to permit the enlistment of 10 900 yellow
| fever immunes in the army. The provision
| of the engineer bill for the enlistment of
yellow fever immunes was inserted practi-
cally in response to the presidents re-
quest which was made known by Secre-
tary Alger. The president and the secre-
tary both assert that these troops will be
especially useful in campaign in Cuba.
They think there will be comparatively
little difficulty in securing the number re-
quired.
The Naval Bill
WASHINGTON, April 2S.-The con-
ferees of the two houses reached an agree
ment on the naval appropriation bill be-
fore adjourning tonight. All the senate
increases in the way of monitors and tor
pedo boats were adopted. These in
creases included four monitors at 81, $50 900,
and sixteen instead of twelve torpedo boat
destroyers. All the other important ad
ditions made by the senate are retained.
The language in regard to the enlistment
of seamen was changed so as to provide
for 1000 more marines. The conference
will report tomorrow.
Hawaiian Questions
WASHINGTON, April 2S.-The Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations held
meeting today for further consideration of
the question of the annexation of the Ha-
waiian Islands. There is a general desire
On the part of members of the committee
to take up the treaty and secure action
upon it in view of the emergency occa-
stoned by the Spanish war, but the op-
ponents of the treaty refuse to withdraw
their opposition, alleging the insufficiency
of the exigency. The committee had this
phase of the question under consideration
but adjourned without reaching definite
conclusion as to the plan to be pursued.
A War Measure
WASHINGTON, April 2S.-The Commit
tee on Military Affairs has favorably re-
ported an administration bill suspending
important laws governing the quartermas-
ter's department in the army, and Chair
man Hull will urge immediate passage.
Days Successor
WASHINGTON, April 2S-Professor
John B. Moore qualified today as assistan;
secretary of state, and, in the absence of
Secretary Day, received the representa-
tives of the foreign governments having
diplomatic business with the United States.
Hawaiian Minister Hatch called today.
and it is understood was informed that
the administration was likely to change its
policy toward the Hawaiian islands pend
ing action by the senate on the treaty pro-
viding for the annexation of these islands |
to the United States.
Fifty Amendments
WASHINGTON, April 2S.-The Repub-
lean members of the ways and means
committee held meeting today, at which
fifty amendments to the war revenue bill |
were agreed to. These will be offered in |
the house tomorrow. Many of them are
mere verbal amendments, but some are of |
Importance. One of these eX- |
cepts mutual and cooperative life insur>
ance companies from taxation. The tax
on insurance companies is transferred
from the policies to the premiums. In
this the amendment conforms to the law |
IF 1866. The tax on marine, inland and fire |
insurance companies is extended to cover |
employers liability associations, title in
;urance companies, glass and all other
such insurance companies, of which many
classes have grown up in the past few
years.
Railroad telegraphic messages and all
other leased wire messages are exempted
oy an amendment limiting the tax to mes
'ages ION which the companies charges
are to be paid or to be collected" The tax
On chewing gum is reduced from l cent
IN a scent package to one quarter Of
cent. The tax on beer is extended to in
,lude beer stored" The amendment was
leemed necessary to cover beer in storage.
The license of dealer in leaf tobacco is
reduced from $2f to S12 on one whose sales
10 not exceed $4,000 per annum. and from
4S to s24 on dealer whose sales exceed
hat amount.
The most important amendment was one
which levies a tax of 1 cent upon all pay
telephone messages costing below % cents.
The original provision exempted messages
from u distance below thirty miles. Mr..
Tawney of Minnesota estimates that this
which will cover all city and
business, will raise s5000,000.