Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-03-04

defeated-iS to II. Mr.. Warren then re-
sumed his speech.
without concluding his speech. Mr..
Warren yielded the floor TO Mr.. Stewart.
who spoke IN favor OF the reservoir pro-
position. He was followed by Mr.. Will
son. OF Washington, who also briefly ad-
dressed the Senate in favor Of the irri-
cation proposition.
At the instance OF Mr.. Allison. of Iowa,
another conference on the District or
Columbia appropriation bill was acceded
to by the Senate.
FRESH IRRIGATION PLAN.
Att O'Clock Mr.. Morgan offered Joint
resolution, which he believed would de-
termine the pending controversy over the
irrigation proposition.
The resolution provided that all public
lands. classed as arid or semi-arid, in
the several States, be granted TO the
States In which the lands are, end the
net proceeds Of those lands, when sold or
leased. be applied by the Senate TO the
purposes OF irrigation.
Mr.. Tillman objected 20 consideration
Of the resolution. lie announced that he
did not propose 10 allow another thing
TO be done. so long as he could object.
until the pending report on the river and
harbor bill was disposed Of.
At 40 \. NJ. Mr.. Warren yielded 10
Mr.. Pettgrew who spoke In support OF
the irrigation amendment.
QUESTION OF'QUORUM
At l:35 4. VI. Mr.. Mantle interrupted
Mr.. Warren who had resumed his speech
and noted The absence OF quorum. The
call Of the roll showed the presence Of
sixty-two senators. Mr.. Mantle then re-
newed his motion 20 recommit the report
10 the conferrees, but It was defeated.
The Senate at 2 o'clock. recommltted the
river and harbor bill to the Conference
Committee
CASES OF sCHLEY AND SAMPSON.
At 215 A. NJ. the Senate went into exc
cutiye session.
In executive session, the naval nomina-
tons were taken up, and the discussion
was upon the cases OF Admiral Schley
and Sampson. II was urged that the list
sent I'm to-day. under the navy personnel
bill would place the men in tho order
they ought to be, and that the first nomi-
nations. in which Sampson was given the
preference. should he dropped.
CONFERENCES PROCEEDING.
At ESQ A. NJ conferences are being held
on the deficiency, the naval. and the
river and harbor bills, while the sundry
civil and District OF Columbia bills are
still unsettled.
RIVER AND HARBOR BILL REPORT
ED BACK.
The conferrees on the river and harbor
bill were unable to make any change in
the bill. and 1t Will be reported back 20
the Senate as it was first agreed upon.
PERSONNEL NOMINATIONS CON-
FIRMED.
The Senate decided 10 take up the naval
nominations sent in to-day under the
provisions OF the personnel bill. and they
were confirmed without opposition. These
nominations number nearly five hundred,
and are based on the standing OF tho OFF,
GERS in the old register. No account was
taken OF the effect OF action or nom
action on the part OF the Senate, on the
many available nominations now pending
before that body.
Thus. I'm the list OF rear-admirals sub
mitted-eighteen in number-Schley stands
two numbers IN advance OF Sampson. This
is precisely his relative position on the
existing register. though were the Senate
to confirm tho nominations OF the two
officers to be rear-admirals. 3 they were
specially submitted by the President.
Sampson would stand two numbers ahead
of Schey. Still, both officers would suffer
materially were the Senate TO disregard
the Presidents recommendation for their
advancement on account Of services rem
dered at Santiago, for instead OF stand
ing almost al the head OF the list OF rear
admirsls, they would number 10 and u,
respectively. in that grade, making It i'm
possible that either should ever be able
TO obtain the grade Of full admiral under
any OF the ordinary conditions that gov
ern promotions.
ARMOR AND SHIPS.
At 3 o'clock the conferrees agreed 70
report another disagreement on the ar
mor-pate and the battleship amendments
of the Senate 10 the naval bill. They
agreed upon all the other provisions.
These two items will be submitted 10 a
vote of tho Senate.
HOUSE RECESS TO 4 A. NJ.
At 3 o'clock the House took another
recess to o'clock A NJ
SENATE FINISHES RIVERS AND
HARBORS.
At $50 the Senate adopted the confer
ence report on the river and harbor bill.
1t now goes 20 the House.
A DAY OF CONFUSION.
Excitement. confusion, heavy strain,
and hard work have characterized this,
the last. legislative Gay OF the F1fty-ffth
Congress. i'm the Senate. At times the
confusion was so great in this usually
staid and decorous body as 10 render the
transaction Of business almost impossi-
bic. Business that ordinarily would have
the undivided attention Of every Senator
on the floor. was transacted amid so
much noise that it was next TO impossi-
bic 10 follow the proceedings. Toward
midnight order was evolved out OF the
seeming chaos, and the prospect was lair
that Congress would adjourn at noon to-
roorrow with its absolutely necessary
work completed.