Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-01-26
CONGRESSIONAL NEWS.

Washington, Jan. lo.-A4nosL Il,
entire session o. me senate WAS ueyu.
eq 10 consldera l4on OF the uenuia.
NlcaraSuau cana! Dill speeches We,
mace ID support OF the measure .,
Aessrs. Clinton toem., Iex.J ana iurn
er (rep.. WASH anu IN opposition L
Al o! Mr. SpOOner (rep., WIS
Ine nrSI vote reached Was Oh Al
amendment onered py Mr. hawun.
,Tep., UtanJ wnien, IL UsleI, prU,Iue,
That the uniIed States should nave ao.
solute control OF the canal Tor MILITARY
or naval purposes, with power to ~.
Late the use OF the waterway during
| the existence OF war. trienus OF Inc
I pending bill rallied against the amend
ment and it was defeated by the de
| cisive yCse Of 80 TO 8. q provision was
inserted in the bill providing that nu
more than $4,000. 900 should be paid "a
| the Maritime Canal company Tor its
| concession and work already done on
! the canal When Adjournment was
taken the substitute measure offered
by Mr.. Gallery tdem., La was before
the senate.
Washington. Jan. l8.--The house
passed the naval personnel bill without
division on its final passage. thus ac-
complishing what the officers of the
navy have striven for for more than a
decade. By its provisions the line and
engineer corps are welded into an
amalgamated line, the staff officers are
given positive rank. but their COM
mand is limited to their own CORDS. and
system Of voluntary and compul-
sorry retirement on three-quarters pay
as of the next higher rank of 40 OFF,
GERS year is established, which is de-
signed to remove the congestion in the
lower ranks. The bill also practically
eQualizes their pay with that of army
officers. Three important amendments
We're adopted; one creates a Judge ad-
yocate's corps, another abolishes prize
money and third provides for the re-
tirement on three quarters pay of en-
listed men and petty officers in the
navy after so years service. But the
most important change In the bill as
reported was the adoption after a hard
fight of a substitute for the organiza-
ton Of a marine corps, by which the
corps is to consist of 5000 enlisted men
and petty officers, with general officers
and staff. This will increase the ma
rine corps by 1900 men and increase
the cost Of its maintenance $500, 900.
Washington, Jan. 19.-In the senate
Mr.. Nelson rep, Mimi introduced a
bill providing that the trade between
the United States and Porto Rico and
also between ports in Porto Rico and
adjacent islands ceded to the United
States shall be carried on in American
vessels. The bill provides for the for
feiture of any merchandise transport
ed in other vessels and imposes a pen
atty OF 5000 for each passenger SO car
ried. The bill authorizes the commits
sioner of navigation to make such reg
ulatiOnS as he may deem eXpedient for
the naturalization of vessels owned in
Porto Rico at the time OF the cess IN
of that island
At the opening OF the session the
chaplain, in his invocation, referred
feelingly to the death OF John Russell |
Young, librarian Of congress. Mr.. !
Perkins (rep., Cali called up the reso-
luton providing for the admission to
the naval academy as students OF Ri
cardo lglesias Of Costa RIGA, and AL
berto Venezuela Montoya OF Colombia |
Mr.. Gear (rep., Ia moved TO amend
the resolution with reference to young
lslesias by adding the name OF Oscar
Diegnan Of Iowa, one Of the Merrimac !
heroes, but later, at the request OF sew !
eral senator's, withdrew the amend !
ment. Both resolutions were adopted. !
Mr.. Bacon (dem., Ca then called up
his anti-eXpansion resolution printed
last week and made a lengthy speech
against the retention of the Philip
pines.
AT the conclusion Of Mr. Bacon's
speech the Nicaragua canal bill was
called up and remained under discus
sion until 6 O'Clock. Amendment after
was voted down and until
almost at the last minute it seemed
likely that vote on the measure
would be reached in the evening; but
just as the final vote was about to be
called for, Mr.. Allison rep, la ex-
plOded bomb under the bill by of
fering an amendment providing that
the secretary Of the treasury should is
sue bonds to raise the money with
which TO construct the canal. The
friends OF the measure then consented
to an adjournment.
President Mckinley sent in new
eXtradition treaty between this coun-
try and Brazil. The treaty is a formal
document providing for the exchange
of persons charged with offenses on the
usual lines.
Washington, Jan. 19.-In the house
the bill to grant the Pacific cable COM
pany subsidy of 100000 a year
for 20 years for the construction
and operation of cable was
called up and a very spirited de-
bate, which consumed the remainder
of the day, followed. The opposition
was headed by Mr.. CoTliss (rep., Mich
who advocated the construction of the
government cable. No conclusion was
reached.
Washington, Jan. 20.-In the senate
Mr.. Turner (dem., Wash.) took the
floor after the routine business and ad-
dressed the senate on the anti-expan-
sion resolution of Mr.. Vest. He de-