The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1899-01-26


personnel bill without division on the final
passage, thus accomplishing what the Off
GERS Of the navy have striven for during
more than decade. BY its provisions
the line and the engineer corps are welded
into an amalgamated line. staff officers are
given positive rank. but their command is
limited to their own corps, and system
of voluntary and compulsory retirement
on three-1uarters pay. as of the next
higher rank of forty officers year, is es-
tablished, which is designed TO remove the
congestion in the lower rank Mt forty-five.
The bill also practically equalizes their
pay with that of army officers. The most
important change in the bill as reported
was the adoption, after a hard fight. of n
substitute for the organization of the ma
rine corps. by which the corps is to consist
of 5000 enlisted men and petty officers.
with general officers and staff. This will
increase the marine corps by 300 men
and increase the cost of its maintenance
S1.5OO.OOO. Several unimportant bills
were passed by unanimous consent before
the personnel bill was taken up. Almost
the entire session OF the Senate was de-
voted to consideration of the pending
Nicaragua canal bill. Speeches were
made in support of the measure by Mr..
Chiffon CTex.) and Mr.. Turner CWash)
and in opposition to it by Mr. Spooner
WIS. AT , o'clock consideration of the
bill under the fifteen-minute rule was be-
gun and was continued to the close of the
session.
The Committee on Interstate and For
eign Commerce had the right of way in
a1, 10. Il Il
in passing quite number of bills of minor
Importance, most of which authorized the
construction of lighthouses. fog signals,
etc. Then the bill to grant the Pacific
Gable Company subsidy of 100000
year for twenty years for the construction
and operation of a cable was called up and
a very spirited debate, which consumed
the remainder of the day. followed. The
opposition was headed by Mr.. CorIiss
(Rep.. Mich.), who advocated the con-
struction of Government cable. No
conclusion was reached at the hour of ad-
journment. and as the special order under
which the House was operating expired
with the adjournment, and as objection
was made to fixing another day for its
consideration, it goes over indefinitely
The feature of the session of the Senate
was a speech delivered by Mr.. Bacon
Dem, Ga) in support of his resolutions
declaring that the United States would
not assume sovereignty over the Philip
pine Islands. Following Mr.. Bacon's
speech the Nicaragua canal bill was taken
up and remained under discussion until
o'clock.
The Senate listened further on Thurs
day to n discussion of the policy of expan-
sion. Mr.. Turner Wash, Pop) deIiv-
cred n carefully prepared speech on the
Vest resolution. The speech was for the
most part a constitutional argument in
which Mr.. Turner took issue with Sena-
tor Platt and Senator Foraker upon their
recent utterances. At the conclusion of
Mr.. Turner's argument Mr.. Foraker took
some sharp exceptions to statements made
in the speech, especially those referring
to him personally. The Nicaragua canal
bill was under consideration nearly three
hours. After much debate substitute
presented by Mr.. Morgan (AIa) for the
bond amendment offered by Mr.. Allison
was adopted. 1t provides that bond pay
ments shall not exceed $4,000 900 in any
fiscal year. The amendment as amended
was then adopted, II to 10. The last
hour OF the session was occupied in discus
sion of several amendments offered by
Mr.. Caffery of Louisiana. all of which
We're defeated. The House practically de-
cided the BrownSwanson contested elec-
ton case from the Fifth Virginia dis
trict in favor of the sitting member. Mr.
Swanson, Democrat, by declining to
ha
priation bill was then taken up. The
greatest surprise of the day was the adop-
ton of two amendments striking out of
the bill the appropriation of Sill 900 for
the fast Southern mail and $4,000 for
special mail facilities from Kansas City
to Newton, Kan.
The proceedings in the House were en-
livened on Friday by wordy duel be-
tween Mr.. Grosvenor of Ohio and Mr.
Lewis. Democrat, the member from
Washington. 1t occurred during the de-
bate on private bill to refer to the court
of claims the claim of Cramp Il Sons. the
Philadelphia ship builders. for damages
from the Government for delays incident
to the building of the warships New
York. Massachusetts. Indiana and Cclum-
bia, due to the failure of the Government
to deliver armor plate and other materials
for these ships on time. The postoffice ap-
preparation bill was passed At 4:30 p. IN.
the House recessed until o'clock The
evening session was devoted to private
pension legislation and adjournment was
taken to Monday. The Senate was in ses-
sion for five hours and half. but the ses-
sion was practically barren of results.
Two notable speeches were delivered. one
by Mr.. Nelson (Rep.. Mimi, in oppos-
ton to Mr.. Vests anti-expansion resolu-
ton. and the other by Mr.. White Dem.
Cali. personal explanation of his posi-
ton with respect TO the instructions given
the California Senators by the Legisla-
ture in shat State as to voting on the
pending peace treaty. At the conclusion
of the speeches the Senate resumed con-
sideration of the Nicaragua canal bill. but
it was not completed.