The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-02-27

substantially as presented was passed.
In the Senate the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs divided equally on the BILL
General Hawley, the chairman, and four
others reporting a bill similar to that
presented in the House, While five other
Senator'S made a minority report, op-
posing the proposed increase and sug-
gesting a plan of temporary cont1nu-
ance of the military establishment at
81, 900 men, with an additional force OF
80 900 men to be used in outlying in
sular possessions. The latest phase or
the subject is presented in compro-
mise presented by the party leaders in
the Senate after conferring with the
executive authorities. The compromise
proposes only a slight permanent in
crease in the regular army, as given by
detail. and authorizes the President un-
til July l, 1899 to maintain the army
at 65. 900 men, and to raise a force OF
not more than $4,000 volunteer infantry
organized as thirty regiments. This
plan is now pending before the Senate
These several propositions have aroused
wide differences, and it will not be until
the last days of the session, II at all,
that the final form Of the measure can
be determined.
The Nicaragua canal question also
has taken a prominent place In the
work of this session. AT the outset
Morgan had the subject made the un-
finished business of the Senate. and
with this right of way it was kept con-
stantly before the Senate, when not IN
executive session, until finally passed.
The essential feature of the Morgan
bill provides that the United states
shall participate in the construction or
the canal, subscribing for $685. 900 shares
at S1O0 each, out of total Of 1.OOO.00O
and that the work of the Maritime
Canal Company of Nicaragua. In exc
cutting the work, shall be practically
under the direction of the United
| States When this bill reached the
House Committee on Commerce all after
the enacting clause was struck out and
what is known as the Hepburn plan.
| drafted by Representative Hepburn OF
Iowa, chairman of the House Commit
| tee on Interstate and Foreign Com
merce, substituted. The essential feat
ure of the Hepburn substitute Is max
| ing the canal exclusively a Govern
ment undertaking. 1t authorizes the
President to acquire by purchase from
Nicaragua and Costa Rica, the terri
tory necessary "to excavate and con-
struct, control and defend canal.
ETC. Such sum as is necessary for pur-
chasing the right of way is appropri-
ated. When the route is thus secured
the President is authorized to have the
Secretary of War excavate and con-
struct the canal from point near
Greytown, via Lake Nicaragua, to a
point near Brito, on the Pacific. The
sum of SIZE, ,000. 900 is appropriated for
the completion of the work authorized.
AS it was feared the lateness of the
session might prevent consideration of
either the Morgan bill or the Hepburn
plan in the House various plans were
adopted to secure action by way of one
of the general appropriation bills The
first movement of this kind was when
Hepburn offered his plan as an amend
ment to the sundry civil bill. After
animated discussion the amendment
was ruled out of order. and on an ap-
peal from this decision the chairman,
Hopkins, was sustained. The next
move was made in the Senate, when,
at the instance of Morgan, the Commit
tee on Commerce presented an amended
form of the Hepburn plan as an amend
ment to the river and harbor bill. The
canal amendment reported from the
Senate Commerce Committee as an
amendment to the river and harbor bill
was agreed to by the Senate and the
bill passed. 1t is now before the House
Committee on Rivers and Harbors,
with the outcome in doubt on the canal
item and the bill as whole.
The bill providing for taking the
twelfth census was first passed by the
Senate and provided comprehensive
plan for executing this important work.
When the measure reached the House
a substitute was presented. The House
measure differs from that of the SEN
ate mainly in making the census bu-
reau an Independent organization not
under the Interior Department and in
the method of appointments.
An important measure which has
passed both houses and doubtless will
become law is known as the naval
personnel bill, and is entitled a bill
to reorganize and increase the eff
cheney of the personnel of the navy. and
the marine corps. It's main features
were drawn up by a board of emf
nent naval officers and were designed
to overcome the stagnation in some Of
the grades, to expand the personnel TO
keep pace with the up-building of the
new navy and to reorganize the marine
corps 1t passed the House and the
Senate in amended form and is pass
ing through the final stages of confer
ence.
The Hawaiian bill was presented to
both branches of Congress, having been
framed by the Hawaiian commission
appointed by the President. with. a
view to carrying out the Congressional
resolution annexing. Hawaii. 1t pro-