Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1898-03-19
THE SENATE PASSES
The EMERGENCY BILL
Action of the House Is Duplicated,
All Members Voting the
Same Way.
BILL WAS PASSED WITHOUT DEBATE
Galleries and Corridors We're Full
ofInterested Spectators--Heso-
luton Giving Naval Board
More Power.

Washington, March 11.-Long before
the senate convened the galleries were
illed with a crowd, gathered in antici-
patton of a debate on the $50,OOO,OOO
emergency appropriation bill, and
crowds spread through the corridors,
anxious to secure admission.
On the floor the attendance was UNI
usually large when the vice presidents
gavel fell, calling the body TO order.
Nearly all the members of the appro-
priations committee, including Chair
man Allison of Iowa, and the foreign
relations committee, including Chair
man Davis of Minnesota, were in their
seats.
At the conclusion of the morning
business, Hale of Maine, of the appro-
priations committee, quietly rose and
reported the emergency bill without
amendment and asked hat it be put
Oh passage. The bill was at once read
and put on passage.
Hale asked that the roll be called,
and the unanimity developed was as
unusual as it was significant. Pairs
were broken on both sides of the
chamber in order that all present
might place themselves on record in
favor of the bill. In less than a half
hour after the senate convened the
rice president was able to announce
he bill ~passed-7G yeas, no nays.
A slight ripple of applause followed
his announcement by the vice presi-
lent from the spectators, but the SEN
lte remained calm and dignified, rep
'esenting the suppressed enthusiasm
which is evident in the face and ges-
ture of a great majority. During roll
call it was authoritatively announced
or every absent member that he would
yote aye, if present.
Chandler of New Hampshire pre-
sented n resolution authorizing the
committee on naval affairs Investigate
ing the wreck OF the battleship Maine
TO send for persons and papers to
make tho Investigation. The senate
then went into executive session, in
which it remained an hour and then
adjourned.
In the meantime the emergency APP
preparation bill had been printed oil
parchment in the government print.
ing Office. AS soon as it was passed
by the senate it was sent by Il mount
ed messenger To the other end of tho
capitol. where il was compared with
the bill as passed by the house. AT
$40 p. m. the speaker took the chair
and announced his signature to tho
bill. The senate, however, had ad'
iourned, preventing the securing OF
the signature of the vice president to-
day, so il will not go TO the president
till tomorrow.
The vice president signed the ma.
tional defense bill ut 3 o'clock and il
was hurried to the white house by
special messenger.
The House.
Washington, March "a bill passed
the house extending the time within
which the Rock Island road may con
Struct a branch through the Indian
Territory. Lacey, rep, OF Iowa, asked
unanimous consent of the house to dis
agree to the senate amendments to the
bill granting a general right of way
through Alaska TO railroads II tram
ways. Some debate followed.
The committee on rivers and har-
bors voted not TO report the river and
harbor appropriation bill at today's
session.
Senate Committee on Civi Service
Washington, March 11.-Senator
Prichard, chairman of the committee
on civil service, today presented a re-
port Of that committee on the recent
investigation Of the classified service
embodying the conclusions OF the com
mittee. These are divided under two
heads:
First. That the executive has power
to make such notifications as may be
found advisable, and therefore no leg
i~slation is needed.
Second. The committee is agreed
that the classification has been too eX.
t~ensive, and that certain places that
have been classified should be eXclud-
ed from the classification, SO that APP
pointments may be mad to them
without examination, but at the pleas.
ure of the head of the department or
bureau.
The committee therefore is of the
opinion that the president should
make certain notifications in the eX.
listing civil service rules and should
restore to the heads of departments
and the heads of bureaus the appoint
ment of certain classes of officials. Tho
committee, however, recognizes its
province in this is partly advisory;
since it has no legislation to propose.