The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-02-24
Over Reports on Public
Printing Bills.
COMMITTEE DENOUNCED
SENATE.


SENATE.
Washington. February q. FORMAL dis
cassion ~ the Hull-Hawley a-my reor-
ganizauon bill was begun in the sem
ate this afternoon. Senators Harley
and Warren. republicans, suppccted the
measure n Senators Mitchell and
Cockrell. democrats, opposed 81. while
Senate Proctor. republican. addressed
he senate in favor OF some amend
ments which he had proposed 20 the
bill. All the speakers are members OF
the committee on military affairs.
Soon after the senate convened Sana-
tor Pettigrew, of South Dakota, pre-
scented reolutionS OF the legislatures OF
his state urging the nator ~ that
STATE TO support the treaty OF yeacej
Commenting upon the reolutiqn ms.
Senator Petligrev said that he denied
the right OF the legislature ID instruct
him, although NJ was always glad to
hear from the body.
a bill for the relief % certain lynch
burg, Virginia, tobacconists. who had
failed to pay their internal rovenue
taxes in time was passed
h conference report on the legisla-
tive, executive and judicial appropria-
ton bill was agreed Ia.
Senator Allison reported from Tho fl
nance committee a house Joint resolu-
ton, amending the act Of June IL, 1898.
by doing 10 IL a provision that when-
ever any bond or note shall be secured
by a mortgage or deed OF rust, but
one stamp shall he required, hat being
the highest rate required for either
paper. The bill was passed.
Senator Quay, OF Pennsylvania, chair
man OF the public buildings and
grounds committee, presented a batch
OF reports favorable to the erection OF
public buildings in various parts OF the
These reports brought Sena-
tor Allen, OF Nebraska, to his feet with
an inquiry as 10 why certain bills
which a been before the committee
for a. year or more had not been acted
upon He said: This reporting Of pub
lie building bills is like The expert
shutting Of cards. The favored bills
are placed On the calendar in the order
in which the committee desires their
passage. l make this distinct charge:
That there has been no meeting Of the
committee on public buildings a
grounds at which these bills were a
to be reported. II IN need
ing of the committee has been held 3
a secret meeting. l make this
statement simply to call the attention
Of the senate and the country to the
matter and not because / expect any
change in the methods OF the commit
tee"
Lie1| SlltA pTOGGtlEu I'd GnaTKe
that a public building combination ex-
listed and that nom but a few favored
could gain consideration by the combi-
nation.
Il want to say to the senator re-
piled Senator Quay emphaiically. that
his statement that there is any combi-
nation is u~nwarranted and false. 1t is
not true in any sense"
A message was received from the
house transmitting the bill passed by
that body, appropriating $40. 00O. 900 to
be paid to Spain in accordance with the
terms Of the Paris treaty. 1t was re-
ferred To the committee on appropria-
tons.
The postoffice appropriation bill was
laid before the senate and it's consider Z
alton was resumed.
Senator Butler, of North Carolina. re-
sumed his speech OF yesterday.
At 2 O'Clock the debate closed and
the voting began.
Senator Buffers amendment reducing
the amount paid to railways was de-
feated-5 to 10. The bill was then
passed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The house reached the last page Of
the naval bill today and adjourned with
a point of order pending against a pro-
vision fixing the price Of armor plate
at s545 per ton. The provision in the
/. blll went out on a point OF order on
the ground hat it was not limited TO
the armor to be purchased with the ap-
preparation in the bill, whereupon il
was modified to meet this objection
and aginst 1t the point Of order pend
ing an adjournment vas raised.
Much Of the time today was occupied
in debating the amendment offered by
/ Mr.. Mudd, republican, of MARYLAND. an
propriating $4,000 to mple the
three buildings authorized To be erect
ed at the naval academy al Annapolis.
The naval committee. with the excep-
ton or Mr.. Cummings, strenuously op-
posed proceeding with the work OF re-
ha b1ntating the naval academy until
comparative plans a been decided
upon, but the house oyerruled the COM
mittee and adopted the amendment
Two important provisions in the par
agraph providing for the construction
OF new ships went out or points Of or
der. One provided that no more than
two battleships, two armored and two
protected cruisers should be built at
any Die yard and the other provided
that no bid for the construction OF ships
should be entertained from any Rrm or
company which had not at the time Of
bidding an adequate plant.
Mr.. Grosvenor, OF Ohio, upon behalf
or his colleague, Nr. Cromwell, offered
an mendme 10 name one OF the shIps
authorized in the bill THE american
Boy, n 20 apply upon its cost all
contributions which might be received.
me amendment went out on q point OF
oredr.
Mr.. Henderson, republican. Of Iowa.
chairman Of the committee on the Judi
cary, which investigated the right OF
General Wheeler, of Ala oama, and
Aessrs- Robbins, OF Pennsylvania; Col
son, OF Kentucky; Campbell. OF Illinois.
VINO neid commissions In the army and
members who served on various civil
commissions, TO continue TO hold their
seats In the house, formally presented
the report OF the committee, which was
In favor OF the view that the four mem
bers who accepted military Commission
thereby vacated their seats in the
house. The report went upon the cal.
nedar and Messrs. Dearmond. demo
Graf. OF Missouri, and Parker. repubIi.
can. OF New Jersey, were given leave
10 ME a minority report. In which they
VIII contend that the same rule should
govern who accepted civil
Mr.. Henderson did not give notics