Abilene weekly reflector., 1898-07-07
Congress Remembers Common Sea.
men as Well as Their Officers.
GENERAL DEFICIENCY BILL PASSED..
A Commission for Settling the Pacific In
debtedness to the G0verDment-A
Number Of Military Bills Are
Passed by the House.

gress to common seamen, specifically
naming them in the resolution. The
resolution elected several patriotic
speeches, in which the private soldiers
of the army and the common sailors
of the navy were glowingly eulogized
The resolutions recommended by the
president were adopted, rendering the
thanks of congress to Naval Con.
structor Hobson and the other heroes
of the Merrimac, and to Lieut.. Frank
II. Newcomb, commander Of the rev.
enue cutter Hudson, for his gallant
rescue of the Winslow and her crew
off Cardenas, and retiring on full pay
Capt. Iogsdon, Of the McCulloch, for
distinguished services at Manila.
Consideration of the general def
cheney bin was concluded and the
measure was passed. An amendment
of great Importance was attached to
the bill, practically by general consent.
1t relates to the settlement OF the
claims of the government against the
Pacific railroads. 1t was offered by
Senator Morgan, Of Alabama, who
made strong appeal in the senate for
its adoption. Before it was agreed to,
Senator White, of California, proposed
some amendments to it, making it
even more binding upon the roads
than it was in the original form. The
amendment in full follows:
That the secretary Of the treasury, the secre.
tary OF the interior and the attorney general
and their successors In office be- and they are
hereby appointed commission with full
power to settle the indebtedness to the govern
ment growing out Of the issue Of bonds in aid
OF the construction Of the Central Pacific and
Western Pacific b0nd-aided railroads, upon
such terms and in such manner as may be
agreed upon by them, or by a majority Of them,
and the owners Of said railroads: Provided,
that any and all settlements thus made shall
be submitted in writing to the president for his
approval or his disapproval and, unless ap-
PiONNu W uiHi Shhii NV w oihNihb'
That said commission shall not agree to &C.
cept less sum In settlement OF the amount
due the United States than the full amount OF
the principal and all amounts necessary to re-
imburse the United States for moneys paid for
interest or otherwise And also providing that
said commission is hereby empowered to
grant such time or times Of payment by In
stalment and at such rates OF interest," to be
not less than three per centum per annum,
payable semi-annually, and with such security
as to said commission may seem expedient,
provided, however that in any settlement that
may be made the final payment and full
discharge Of said Indebtedness shall not
be postponed to exceed ten years, and the
whole amount, principal and interest, shall be
paid in equal semi-annual nstalIments within
periods so limited and in any settlement made
1t shall be provided that II default Shall be
made In any payment OF either principal or in
terest. or any part thereof, then the whole
sum and all installments, principal and inter-
est, shall Immediately become due and paya-
BILE, Notwithstanding any other stipulation of
said settlement
That there is hereby appropriated out Of any
money in the treasury not otherwise appropri-
ated the sum OF t20, 900 to defray the expenses
of said commission in making the said settle
ment
The deficiency bill, as passed, car
ries about Sa27, 900, the largest sum
carried by any appropriation measure
since the civil war.
After the passage of the deficiency
bill, consideration of the Hawaiian an
nexation resolutions was resumed,
Senator Catfery, of Louisiana, con-
Guiding his speech in opposition to an
nexation. The senate then went into
executive session.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, June 3O.--The house
yesterday disposed of number of
measures. After sending the Indian
and sundry civil bills back for confer
ence, consideration of bills from the
military affairs committee, under the
rule adopted the day before, proceeded.
Notable among the measures passed
were those providing for the enlist
ment of cooks in the army; providing
for the appointment of military store
keeper for the army; providing for the
protection of harbor defenses and forti-
fcations against wanton and malicious
injury, and giving the secretary of
war discretion to permit any church
or religious sect to erect its house of
worship upon the West Point military
reservation. The last named bill pre-
cipitated considerable discussion, it
being framed at the instance OF Catho-
lie effort, but giving equal privileges
to all churches. Mr.. Hull elaborated
the arguments in support of the bill
and Mr.. Bromwell, of Ohio, opposed it
as being framed solely for the Catho-
lies and he antagonized launching
upon policy that would end in fight
between the churches for control OF
the worship at West Point The bill
was finally passed--l3S to 25.
A protracted discussion was precip-
itated by the bill to increase the daily
army ration by the addition triweekly
of one.quarter of pound of full cream
American cheese and two ounces of
canned corn. The bill was attacked
as presented. not in response to the
demand of the army, butof the cheese
makers.