The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-27
not under the interior department and
in the method of appointment.
NAVAL PERSONNEL


NAVAL PERSONNEL.
An important measure which has
passed both houses and doubtless will
become a law is known as the Naval
/ Personnel bill. and is entitled "a bill
1 to reorganize and increase the ef-
/ ficiency Of the personnel of the navy
and marine corps" Its main features
! were drawn up by d board of eminent
naval officers and were designed to
! overcome the stagnation in some of
the grades, to expand the personnel, to
/ keep pace with the upbuilding of the
new navy and to reorganiZe the marine
! corps. 1t passed the house and the
| senate in amended form and is passing
! through the final stages of conference.
The Hawaiian bill was presented TO
| both branches of congress, having
| been framed by the Hawaiian commits
| sion appointed by the president with a
resolution anneXing Hawaii. 1t pro-
videS a comprehensive plan of terri
| torial government and fixes the 0ualifi-
| cation Of electors and officers TIE bill
has not. however, passed either branch
of congress, and although regarded as
one of the important pieces of pending
| legislation IL is hardly expected that il
can pass all the stages at this late day
in the session. In view of this several
bills dealing with special phases in
Hawaii have passed one or the other
house. These include bills to extend
the custom and revenue laws TO
Hawaii; extending the navigation laws
TO Hawaii; and extending to the
Hawaiian islands, the contract labor
laws of the United States. None of
these has become a law, as they are
dependent largely on the future of the
general Hawaiian bill.
What is known as the anti-scalping
bill has attracted much interest and
occupied considerable time in both
branches of congress. 1t was the first
piece of general legislation passed by
the house at this session. but its con-
sideration in the senate has been at
tended by numerous delays, it being
displaced recently as the unfinished
business in order to take up the army
reorganization bill.
HANNA'S SUBSIDY BILL.
Another measure of importance to
the commercial and shipping classes is
known as the shipping bill. 1t was in
troduced in the senate by Mr.. Hanna
and in the house by Mr.. Payne and is
pending in both houses. 1t provides q
system Of bounties to American steam
and sailing vessels, dependent on ton
mage and distance covered, and also
makes merchant vessels an auxiliary
force to the navy in time of war. 1t is
on the calendar of both houses, with
it's future in doubt owing to the short
time remaining.
The general legislation of the session
which has advanced to its final stages
and become law, include the following:
An act to amend the laws relating TO
American seamen, for the protection OF
such seamen, and to promote COM
merce; an act concerning Sailing yes
se4s Of over 200 tons; providing for
national exposition of American prod
ucts and manufactures at Philadelphia,
for the encouragement of the export
trade; granting extra pay to officers
and enlisted men of the United States
volunteers; providing additional circuit
judges in the Fifth and Sixth judicial
circuits; amending the act governing
the immediate transportation of duti
able goods without appraisement; ad
justing the clothing account for de-
ceased soldiers in certain cases; allow
ing voting machines in elections for
in congress; removing
the remains of General John A Raw
Inns TO Arlington national cemetery; ad-
hitting to West Point and Annapolis
certain persons designated by the gov
crnments OF Venezuela, Costa RIGA and
Colombia.
The bill establishing a national mill
tary park TO commemorate the cam
paign, siege and defense of Vicksburg
has passed both houses.
The total appropriations of the pres
emit session will approximate 500, 000, 900, |
Of which about $3.50, 100000 will be for |
the military and naval uses or fer sub !
jects connected with the war. This is !
q general estimate, however, based !
upon totals which may undergo much |
change, as very few of the large APP
bills have become law and |
some OF them have not even been con- |
sidered. If the Nicaragua canal amend !
ment is added to the river and harbOr /
bill this will make a. material increase.
Included in the naval bill are provisions |
for three sea-going battleships, three
armored cruisers and six small cruisers,
for which S10.000,000 is appropriated for |
the first years work.
Bas Z on estimates. the total appro- /
priat ions for the congress mot includ /
ing the four appropriation bills left |
over by the former cOngressD would be I
approximately $1,000 000, 900, of which .
amount approximately $500, 900. 900 is for
var expenses or incident to the army
and navy.