Omaha daily bee., 1899-02-18
PASS NAVAL PERSONNEL BILL
Principal Feature of the Days Doings in
United States Senate.
FORMAL CONDOLENCES SENT TO FRANCE
Seyenty-FOur Private Pension Bills
Disposed OF and the Calendar
is CIenred-New Ruling
in Pensions.
FORMAL CONDOLENCES SENT TO FRANCE

WASHINGTON, Feb. 17.-At its session
today the senate adopted a resolution in
structing the vice president Of the United
States-as president of the senate-to eX-
press to the government and the people Of
France the sympathy of the senate in the
bereavement that has fallen on the French
republic in the death of President Faure.
The naval personnel bill, for which the
Navy department has been contending for
so many years, was passed by the senate
this afternoon. 1t was under discussion for
several hours, but was passed practically
in the form in which it was reported by the
senate committee. It's provisions have here
tofore been fully given.
The remainder of the days session was
devoted to bills on the private pension
neutrality-suspicious. in number-and to
the reading Of the Alaska code bill.
Mr.. Tillman presented to the senate a let
ter from Octavius A. White OF New York
offering to sell three notable paintings of
revolutionary war scenes by Mr.. Whites
father. Mr.. Hansbrough, acting chairman of
the library committee, offered a resolution
accepting the paintings and providing for
suitably hanging them in the senate wing
Of the capitol. The resolution was adopted.
Consideration OF the house personnel bill
was then resumed and the amendments Of
fered by the naval affairs committee were
taken up. TIL committee amendments
striking out sections II, ~, 10 and IA were
agreed TO. Pending further discussion of
the bill Mr.. Frye, chairman of the commit
tee on conference, reported the river and
harbor bill. Mr.. Fairbanks OF Indiana pre-
scented the credentials Of Albert j. Beyer-
idge, elected a senator from Indiana, to sue
coed Mr.. Turpie for the term Of six years
beginning March 4, 1895, After a long dis
cussion the regular amendments were
agreed to and the bill passed. The senate
insisted on its amendments and appointed
Senators Chandler, Fairbanks and Tillman
as conferees,
Notice of the Army Bill.
Mr., Hawley, chairman OF the military af-
fairs committee, gave notice that on Mon
day at the close of routine business he
would move to take up the army reorganiza-
ton bill.
The request of the house for a conference
on the agricultural appropriation bill was
agreed to and Senators Cullom, Quay and
Pettigrew were named as conferees.
Mr.. Carter obtained unanimous consent
for the reading Of the Alaska code bill at
the conclusion Of the consideration OF bills
on the private pension calendar. The con-
slderation of bills on the pension calendar
was then begun under a special order.
among the Dllls passed was one providing
procedure in certain cases. 1t provides that
no pension shall be withheld. modified or
cancelled except for fraud or mistakes in
facts, and provides a scheme of procedure.
The private pension calendar was completed,
seventy -four bills being passed.
Mr., Gallinger called up the bill granting
a pension to Hon. John NJ. Palmer, foImerly
United States senator from Illinois. The
senate passed a bill granting General Pal
mer a pension OF 500 a month, but the
house in passing the bill reduced the PEN
sion TO $50 a month. Mr.. Galllnger said he
understood that General Palmer was in al
most destitute circumstances, aud while he