The Elbert County tribune., 1899-03-09
CONGRESSIONAL NOTES
AND WASHINGTON GOSSIP.

rector of the census.
Mr.. sbafroths bill appropriatinH Siu.-
900 for public building at Lcadsine
has passed the Scnntc and House.
The SENATE bill carrying S1.0oo.ooo
dollars for a new building Tor the De
pnrfmenf OF Justice has passed the
House.
Half n million dollars each was ap-
propriafed by the House for the ran
American Exposition Mt Buffalo and the
Ohio Centennial at Toledo.
President Mckinley sent a message
70 the House TO the effect that the
Fifty-hfth Congress lad performed It's
duties mnnfully-
The Senate has confirmed the fol-
lowing nominations: Rear Admiral
Dewey, TO be admiral of the navy;
Brigadier General Elwell =. Otis, 10 BE-
major general by brcvet.
The Presidents personal attendants
are William Sinclair. a negro: Charles
Locfier, a German. and Christof Evon
Tbarn, n Swiss. Sinclair is the stew
ard. Loefier the doorkeepcr and Tharn
the usher of the executive offices.
The project for the construction of a
canal across the isthmus Mt Nicaragua
vision was attached to the river and
hnrbor appropriation providing for a
complete inquiry into the mntter.
Senator Hanna has invited President
Mckinley to go with him next week to
his place nt Thomasville. Georgin, for
n rest and the President has promised
TO go if public business Is by that time
In such condition as to permit his alb
sence.
The President has nominated Assist
ant Naval Constructor Richmond Il.
IIobson TO be odvanced ten numbers,
from No. of the list Of assistant naval
constructors, to be No. s on the list OF
naval constructors. for extraordinary
berolsm.
The best estimates available place
the aggregate appropriations of til,
present session OF Congress at S6I5,-
ss5, ,4S0. The total appropriations for
the last year were $500, 231.61J. max
Ing the grand total for the Congress
81 .5G9, ,117.10i.
In the general deficiency bill was in
corporated by the Senate an item up-
proprinfiag three million dollars ms an
emergency fund to be expended by the
President at his discretion. The
amendment was accepted without de-
bate or explanation.
Representative Shafroth was at the
Navy Department recently with a re-
quest that one of the three battleships
recently authorized by Congress he
named after the state of Colorado. Sec
rotary Long said that the request would
receive careful attention.
Among the Important projects which
failed to receive favorable attention In
the closing days OF Congress were
those providing n Pacific cable. for the
government nrmor plant. for an anti
scalplng law, for an cight-hour law
and for n government for Hawaii.
The government has abandoned all
attempts to raise the Spanish cruisers
on Santiago and the Maine In the hnr-
Dor of Havana, but the Merritt Wreck
Ing Company of New York. on its own
account and at its own risk, is trying
to recover the Cristobal Colon. and II
II succeeds VIII be paid from the treas
ury.
II is not probable that the Senate
win confirm many of the 524 brevets
thnt have been conferred upon officers
of the army who took part In the Santi-
ago campaign, because the members
of the military committee think they
have been too freely distributed, and In
the list are many men who were never
under fire
1t Is said of the naval personnel bill:
There Is no doubt II Is the most iiE-
poriant legislation affecting the navy
that was ever enacted. 1t makes the
man fit the ship, the personnel fit the
material, and the navy authorities of
Great Britain, who have been puzzled
over the same problem. have taken 1t
up and are now discussing the practic-
ability OF adapting 1t TO their own SER
vice.
The amendment which Senator Hans
brough offered to the army reorganiza-
tIon bill, and which became part of
that measure, prohibiting officers or
soldiers from selling Intoxicating
drinks, in any post or exchange, was
more far-reachlng than first appeared.
II goes further and prohibits any other
person from selling such liquors in any
encnmpment or any place used for mill
tary purposes. This will exclude
liquors from all military reservations.
As soon as the army bill is passed
steps will be taken to enlist $4,000 or
10000 natives In Cuba and Porto Rico
for the regular army. They will not be
organized into regiments by them
selves. but will he amalgamated with
experienced American soldiers and dis
trlbuted among the existing regiments.
IT is believed that by this plan they
can be more easily disciplined and
made more useful, and at the same time
by contact will teach the Yankee sol
diers the Spanish language.
Admiral Dewey win rank Major
General Otis, and when the army and
navy combine operations In the Phil
ths.t ,Irt
will have to be obeyed. 1t Is believed,
however. that there is not any danger
OF friction between Admiral Dewey
and General Otis. as the former thor
oughly understands the rights of the
military and will undoubtedly, when
the two services act together, fully
consult the military commander as to
the course TO be pursued.
An attempt was made in the House
Thursday to consider the resolutions
reported by the judiciary committee. de-
claring that General Wheeler and the
three other members who accepted
commissions In the army had thereby
vacated their seats, but the House, by
an overwhelming vote. refused TO con-
slider them. The political division upon
this vote was significant. The vote
stood a ayes cast by 21 Republicans.
AZ Democrats and 13 Populists. and 146
nays. easel by 101 Republicans, Al
Democrats and Populisr.
During Friday the President approx
ed the following bills: For taking the
twelfth census; Buffalo exposition bill; /;
to reimburse governors OF states and
territories FOR expenses incurred in the
Spanish war: providing for new
building for the department Of Justice
in Washington: making appropriations
for the Notifications and other works
OF defense; to enable the city OF Albu-
querque. New Mexico. 10 create GER