The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-03-03
CONGRESS RUSHING BILLS
Passing the Appropria-
ton Acts.
CONFERENCE REPORTS

On Several Of Them Agreed to-The
River and Harbor Bill an Exception.
House Adopts senate Army Reorgan-
ization hill and the Act to Make
Dewey an Admiral The French
SpolfauonClaims Amendment Agreed
60 by Both Houses.
SENATE
Washington, March 1.-The senate is
rapidly clearing its decks for final ad-
journmenL The naval appropriation
bin, which ordinarily consumes the
time Of the senate for several days, was
passed his afternoon after less than
five hours OF debate. In that time.
however, it was amended radically in
one respect. The price to be paid by
the government for armor, plate was
fixed by the house al $500 a ton. In
addition, the secretary OF the navy was
authorized, in the event Of the refusal
of the armor plate companies 10 sup
ply armor at $500 a ton, TO proceed TO
the construction of an armor factory
10 cost 81, SOC, 900, and placing in the
secretary's control 81, 600, 900 with which
TO operate the government plant. The
fight for these amendments was led by
Senator Tfllman, of South Carolina,
who made a enthusiastically sensa-
tionai speech in support of the propo-
| sitions.
Other amendments were agreed TO,
as follows: Authorizing the secretary
| of the navy to contract for two sub
marine boats of the Holland type at a
| cost not TO exceed S135, 900 each. Sena-
! tor Hanna'S amendment authorizing
| the secretary Of the navy to purchase
| from the Gothmann Torpedo Gun Com
| pany of Chicago, the gun equipment
for one OF more of the harbor defense
monitors, subject TO the usual 'inspec-
ton of the bureau of ordnance, at a
cost not exceeding $500 900.
| In explanation of the amendment,
| Senate Hanna said the invention to
be utilized under the amendment was
| the first that had ever been conceived
| for the safe explosion of wet gun cot
ton. He said the fuse had been de-
| clared by the ordnance bureau of the
navy and army to be absolutely perfect
and safe. He thought the invention
| would revolutionize he contest now in
| progress between high explosives and
| the best known armament.
The senate adopted resolutions of re-
greet at the death of Lord Herschell
and concluded the days session by
pronouncing eulogies upon the late
Representative Dingley.
One of the acts today was he pas
sage of the bill carrying 500, 900, 900 with
which to pay Spain for REIMBURSEMENT
of the Philippines in accordance with
the treaty of Paris.
senator Allen, of Nebraska, called
4 m tho resolution Of Sanotnr Vast ~
relation to the acquisition of foreign
territory by the United States and de-
Hvered upon it his valedictory.
After agreeing to meet at 1870 tomor-
row morning the ena entered upon
, the special order of eulogies to the late
Representative Dingley and at 7:15 p.
M, as a further mark of respect, ad-
/ journed.
! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Immediately after the reading of the
journal the senate amendments to the
sundry civil bill were
in and the bill vas sent to conference.
Mr.. Mahon, chairman of the commit
tee on wal claims, presented the con-
ference report upon the bill to pay GER
tain judgments of the court of claims,
under the Bowman and Tucker acts.
| AS it passed the house the bill carried
1884, 900. The senate placed upon ii
| what is known as the omnibus claims
bill increasing it to 9 1890, 900. Over
$4,000 600 of the increase were Bowman
| and Tucker acts claims, 81, 055, GOO were
French spoliation claims and $4S2. 900
We're miscellaneous claims. The con-
ference report reduced the total car
ried by the bill to 3 100, 900.
! Mr.. Loud attacked the conference re-
| port and the claims it carried as to
the French spoliation claims.
Mr.. Richardson, one of the conferees.
1 defended tho annfnrnnnn rara@ nh
house conferees accepted the French
spoliation claims. All the state claims
a been rejected n the conferees, he
said, presented a clean cut bill which
dealt justly with both sections.
After further debate, the conference
report was adopted as was also the
conference report upon the naval per-
sonnet bill.
Mr.. Burton, chairman of the river and
harbor committee, then secured rec
| ognition and under of the
rules moved to non concur in the SEN
ate amendments to the river and har-
Dor bill and request a conference. In
reply to a question. Mr.. Burton said
that the action of his committee was
unanimous. The friends of the canal
amendment were satisfied with his
motion. No debate was demanded and
he motion carried without division.
The conference report upon the CEN
, sus bill was adopted.
| The conference report of the bill to
reimburse the governors Of states for
money expended in organizing troops
for service in the late Spanish war was
adopted.
Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the appro-
priations committee, moved to pass the
general deficiency appropriation bill
under suspension Of the rules. The bill
was adopted.
Mr.. Hull then moved the passage Of
the senate army reorganization bill un-
der suspension of the rules.
! The most prominent republican
leaders on the DOR supported the bill.
Nh. cannon and Mr.. Hull saying MEM
bers u hoose between il and an
extra session.
, When the question came to a vote.
Mr.. Henry, democrat, of Texas, de-
manded the ayes and noes amid cries
Of no" mo-" from both sides. ONLY
eleven members supported the demand
and on division the bill was passed
203' TO 80.
Upon the motion OF Mr.. BouteIle. of
Maine, the senate bin was passed 10
create the grade of admiral for the ben
Il or ~ D21- --s--