The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-27
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These and many lesser army measures were

VI LHOSG was the war revenue dCtS NS1lbiA
to raise $150,0O0,O0O, and in ;his connection
Congress authorized a bond issue of $2Oo00o,-
900, known as the war loan" After news
of the Dewey victory was received, resp
lutions of thanks to the victor were passed,
and Congress authorized the presentation
of sword to him and medals 10 his officers.
Although the second session was absorbed
with the war; there was time for much i'm
portant general legislation. The annexation
of Hawaii was accomplished by resolu-
tion, the treaty of annexation not having been
ratified in the Senate. A general bankruptcy
law was enacted providing for both volun-
tary and involuntary bankruptcy. Other
general measures enacted were; Prohibiting
the killing of seals in ne North Pacific and
importation of seals ~ is into this country;
appropriating $47S,ly TO settle the Bering
sea arbitration; relieving suffering miners
in Yukon; establishment of industrial COM
mission.
The total appropriation of the second, or
war. session footed almost $9OO,0OO,OoO of
which upward of $SJO,OOO,00O was for purely
war purposes.
The present, or third session of the Fifty
fifth Congress, dealt with those tar-reachihs
results growing out of the war. Most i'm
DOfLdQI OIL InGSe Was lilt Cb4iSlNSA ~ N-N
peace treaty in the Senate. The treaty was
transmitted to the Senate by the PresluelI
on the 4th of January. 1t was then referred
to the committee on foreign relations, and
after being held for just week by the COM
mittee was reported back to the Senate on
the nth of January. The Senate had the
treaty under consideration for less than
month, the vote on ratification being taken
intense
interest in the progress of the question from
the beginning of the discussion until the
close. and this interest was intensified by the
doubt felt as to the result of the vote When
the Senate went into executive session on
the 9Th of February, half an hour before
the time set for the final vote, the friends
Of the treaty were certain of only So of the
Sc votes necessary to insure the adoption OF
the resolution Of ratification. Soon after
wards they secured promises from Senators
Jones of Nevada, and McEnery of Louis
aana. and when the vote was taken the re-
suit stood 81 ayes to q noes, or one vote
moro than was necessary under the require
ment of a two-thirds majority.
THE $500 10000 INDEMNITY.
While the treaty was exclusively before
the Senate the House had some indirect par
ticipation with subjects covered by the
treaty AS the branch originating all rev.
enue measures, it provided an appropria-
ton of 800 600 to pay Spain according 10
the terms of the treaty This was first pro-
posed as an amendment to the sundry CIVIL
bill but was ruled out on technical grounds.
Later it passed as an independent measure
Efforts were made to add to it a declaration
of the policy of the government as to the
Philippines, but this was defeated by the
overwhelming vote of 213 to 81 The resolu-
ton of Senator McEnery, declaring the
policy toward the Philippines, came to the
House and was referred to the committee
on foreign affairs, but no final action is
probable.
Another important measure resulting from
tbe war Is tllat known as the Hull bill, or
the Hull -Hawley bill, for the increase ana
reorganization of the regular army. Fol
lowing the new conditions arising two plans
of army increase were presented to Con-
gress. The House military committee first
took up the subject, and after elaborate
hearings presented, through Chairman Hull
q. bill having the approval Of the War De-
partment 1t increased the army to ap-
proximately 100000 men. When considered
in the House the grade of lieutenant general
was stricken out, discretion was given the
President to reduce the size of companies,
so that the total force would be about 6O,OO0
men, and some other amendments were
made, but the bill substantially as presented
was passed. In the Senate the committee
on military affairs divided equally on the
bill, General Hawley, the chairman, and
four others reporting bill similar to that
passed in the House, while five other sena-
tors made a minority report, opposing the
proposed increase and suggesting plan or
temporary continuance of the military es-
tablishment at $1,000 with an additional
force of $1,000, to be used in outlying in
sular possessions. These several PROPOSE
tions have aroused wide differences, and 1t
will not be until the last days Of the session.
if at ALI that the final form of the measure
can be determined. The latest phase Of the
subject is presented in a compromise planned
BY the party leaders in the Senate, after
comforting with the executive authorities
The compromise proposes only a slight per-
manent increase of the regular army, as
given in detail, and authorizes the President
until July /, 1901, to maintain the regular
army at 5000 and to raise a force of not
more than $4,000 volunteer infantry. organ
lied as thirty regiments This plan is now
pending before the Senate.
NICARAGUA CANAL.
The Nicaragua canal question also has
taken a prominent place in the work of
this session. At the outset Mr.. Morgan had
the subject made the unfinished business Of
the Senate, and with this right Of way it
was kept constantly before the Senate, when
not in executive session, until finally passed.
The essential feature of the Morgan bill
is in providing that the United States shall
participate in the construction of the canal
subscribing for $4,000 shares at $100 EACH
out of total of 1000 900, and that the work
of the Maritime Canal Company, of Nicara-
qua, in executing the work shall be prac-
tically under the direction of the United
States. When this bill reached the House
committee on commerce, all after the enact
ing clause, was struck out. and what is
known as the Hepburn plan, drafted by
Representative Hepburn, Iowa, chairman
of the House committee on interstate and
foreign commerce, substituted. The essen
tial feature of the Hepburn substitute is in
making the canal exclusively a government
undertaking. IT authorizes the President to
acquire by purchase from Nicaragua and
Costa Rica the territory necessary Ito ex-
cavate. construct control and defend
canal" etc. Such sum as is necessary for
purchasing the right Of way Is appropriated
When the route is thus secured the Presi-
dent is authorized to have the Secretary Of
War excavate and construct the canal from
a point near Greytown, via Lake Nicaragua,
to a point near Brito on the Pacific. The
sum Of Sl15O0OOO0 is appropriated for the