The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-03-05
GREAT WAR CONGRESS
Continued from page u

Mr.. Warren occupied the floor in the
discussion of the reservoir proposition
for five hours, occasionally being re-
lieved from the strain of speaking by
other senators, who talked briefly on
the same subject. The situation had
every appearance of a determined eff
fort not only to defeat the river and
harbor bill, but also to prevent the
enactment of other great appropria-
ton measures.
Finally. at o'clock, Senator Frye
consented to make one more effort to
induce the house conferees to accept
the senate reservoir amendment. The
report was recommitted to the confer
ence and the senate went into execu-
tive session. AT $3.50 a. M, when the
transaction of legislative business was
resumed, Mr.. Frye reported that the
senate conferees had been unable TO
induce the house conferees to reopen
the agreement already made and the
measure must stand or fall according
to the report made.
Then Mr. Warren yielded. Rather
than imperil the interests of the gov
eminent, and probably defeat some of
the appropriation bills, he was willing
to accept the report as it stood and in
n graceful speech gave up the fight
which he had made against heavy odds.
Without another word of debate the
river and harbor report was agreed to.
NO PACIFIC CABLE.
At $50 Mr.. Allison Qa.) presented a
partial report on the sundry civil bill.
The conferees still disagreed upon sew
- eral items, principal among which were
the public building amendment and the
providing for construction of the Ha-
waiian cable. Mr.. Allison moved that
the senate recede from the amendments
in controversy, including the Pacific
~. y, se- x-ie~
ously discussed by Mr.. Pettigrew, Mr..
Chandler and Mr.. Butler. The last
named denounced the action of the
house in delivering 'ultimatums" to
the senate as cheek concentrated and
gall compounded" and IAN insult to
the senate
The senate then voted on Mr.. Ali
sons motion to recede from the re-
naming amendments in dispute, and
it was carried, only three or four votes
being heard in the negative.
ARMOR PLATE CONTROVERSY.
At $50 a. m. Mr.. Hale presented the
conference report on the naval bill, and
it was submitted TO the senate. Mr..
Hale said that perhaps there was never
an appropriation bill concerning which
the action of the conferees were beset
with more difficulties than this bill He
announced that the house had refused
absolutely to authorize the conStruc-
ton of a government arrnor plate
plant
Mr. Hale then explained that the re-
port of the conference committee fixed
the price of armor plate for the ships
authorized by the bill at $500 ton, no
contract for the hulls to be made un-
Ill contracts had been made for the
armor.
The number of battleships, armored
cruisers and protected cruisers remains
as fixed in the house bill. The secre-
tary Of the navy is authorized to con-
tract for armor for the ships provided
for in the naval appropriation bill Of
1898 at $500 ton.
Mr.. Butler asked: will we conclude
any contrcts for new war vessels I'M
der the pending bill if it becomes a
law2"
MIR. Hale-No; 1 think not I believe
we shall do no more than get out the
plans and specifications for the author
lied ships and decide about turrets
and the like. OF course, the senate con-
ferees had to yield something.
MIR. Tillman-BGt we seem 10 have
yielded every thing and the house moth
ing.
Mr.. HaIe-The senate conferees can
not settle this controversy alone.
Mr.. Tillman-But the senate can. We
can place OF the house the responsible
ity for an extra session. l never was
so strongly tempted to say This bill
shall not pass and become law" but
/ have assurances from gentleman on
this side of the chamber (waving his
hand toward the Republican slde)
that they will help US out at the next
session. and | am willing to accept
those assurances.
The conference report was nnally
agreed to without division. This was
The last of the conference agreements
on the appropriation bills 10 be acted
on by the senate, and It's acceotance
caused a general sigh of relief. A re-
cess until 1890 was ordered.
When the senate reconvened the
chamber had been "sDruced up" and
appeared quite tidy. The galleries We're
crowded.
8lr. Fairbanks moved the considera-
ton of the bill extending the immigra-
ton laws TO the Hawaiian Stands.
Without action a motion by Mr.. Nor
gan to go into executive session was
carried, and the crowded galleries were
coon vacated to permit the last eSecu-
tive session of the congress.
At 11:45 o'clock the doors of the sem
ate were opened and the senate began
its last legislative session OF the pres
ent congress.
Messrs. Hoar and German We're az
pointed q committee to join similar
president that the senate was ready to
adjourn.
4 joint resolution was adopted ac-
cepting from the commonwealth of
Massachusetts the cession of a certain
tract of land in Boston harbor to ex-
tend the limits Of the United States
navy yard at that port.
AR. Hoar reported that the committee
nad waited on the president, and had
been instructed by him that he had dis
posed of the public business which had
been laid before him by the two houses,
and that he had no further commune
cations to make: that the two houses
had reached the end of very labor
ious and important session, md that he
wished their members a safe return to
their homes.
RESOLUTIONS OF THANKS.
Mr.. Coclzreil presented the usual res
olutions of thanks TO the president, and
Mr. Vest that TO Senator Frye. Dresi-
dent Dro tempore, for the very able,
courteous and impartial manner in
which they had presided over the de-
alterations of the senate. Both resolu-
lions were unanimously adopted.
Vice President Hobart then address,
ed the senate as follows:
''Senators--ln a few moments the
Fifty-afth congress will pass into his
tory. 1t has been a congress distin-
Euished beyond most other congresses
Tor remarkable achievements. During
Its 1ife, unlike any ether session in the