Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1899-02-25
THE HULL BILL OR NOTHING.
Court of lnquiry-Nicaragua Canal
Legislation President Mckinley
In Boston.
(From our Regular Correspondent

fFrorn our Regular correspondent
WASHINGTON, Feb. 2o.-President
Mckinley will take no part in the
contest which is now on in the SEN
ate, and which will determine wheth-
er an extra session of Congress will
have to be called. There will be no
necessity for an extra session, unless
the Democrats filibuster to prevent a
vote being taken on the Hull army
bill. IF they are willing to take that
responsibility, they can do so. An
attempt is being made to bring about
a compromise that will let the Demo
Gratis who are opposing the Hull bill
down easy, but Republicans are not
concerned in it, and Senator Hawley,
chairman Of the military com mittee,
who has charge OF the Hull bill, says
he will accept no compromise; that it
shall be the Hull bill or nothing.
The Military Court of Inquiry, which
was somewhat delayed in getting to
gether, by last weeks snow blockade,
devoted its first session to mapping
out a programme and arranging the
list of witnesses-a lengthy one-who
will be called, but this week it will
begin to take testimony and the sit
tings will be public. The Court may
sit for several weeks. and may visit
other places, as its instructions are to
go to the root OF the whole business
and settle for good whether Gen. Miles
made his charges that bad meat was
issued to the army on good evidence
or whether he was imposed upon by
those who sought to use him and his
high Office to create a scandal. The
court will not seek to vindicate any.
body, or to incriminate anybody; only
to get at the truth. and to give it to
the President and the people. Gen.
Miles declined to be sworn when he
appeared befor the War Investigating
Commission, but he will be sworn by
this court.
Hon. Ethan Allen Hitchcock has
relieved Mr.. Bliss and assumed the
duties of the Secretary of the Interior.
Secretary Hitchcock is no stranger in
Washington, and there is no doubt of
his making a success of administering
the affairs of that great department of
the Government.
Senators are determined that they
shall not be charged with the respon-
sibility for the failure of Nicaragua
Canal legislation at this session. The
House having, by a majority vote,
sustained the ruling of its presiding
officer, that the Canal bill was out OF
order as an amendment to the Sundry
Civil bill, and it being certain that no
time can be secured in the House for
considering the Hepburn Canal bill,
which was made a substitute tor the
Morgan bill, and reported to the
House, the Senators propose giving
the House another chance to act upon
legislation, that cannot be blocked by
points of order, by putting the Hep
burn Canal bill in the River and Har-
Dor bill. The bill so amended has
already been reported to the Senate,
and there is no doubt that it will pass
that body.
The Navy Reorganization bill will
become a law in a few days. 1t is now
in conference, having been slightly
amended before passing the Senate,
but it will go to the President shortly.
Senator Frye has offered an amend
ment to the Sundry Civil bill, author