The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-27

0O0, and in this connection conu,aes o.,
JhoriZed a bond issue of 5000. 600 600
known as the war loan" After news
of the Dewey victory was received res
olutions Of thanks to the victor were
passed and congress authorized the
presentation of a sword to him and
medals TO his officers.
Although the second session was alb
sorbed with the war, there was time
Tor much important general legislation.
The annexation of Hawaii was accom-
plished by a resolution, the treaty of
annexation not having been ratified in
the senate. A general bankruutcv law
was enacted, providing for both yoIun-
tary and involuntary bankruptcy,
Other general measures enacted were:
Prohibiting the killing of seals in the
North Pacific and Importation of seal
skins into this country; appropriating
S4I3,15l TO settle the Boring sea arbi-
tration; relieving suffering miners in
Yukon; establishment of an industrial
commission.
The total appropriation of the second,
or war, session footed up almost $780,
10000. of which upward of $3.50. DOC. OCO
was for purely war purposes.
THIRD SESSION.
The present, or third, session of the
fifty-fifth congress dealt with those far
reaching results growing out of the
the consideration of the peace treaty in
the senate. The treaty was transmit
ted to the senate by the president on
the 4th of January. 1t was then re-
ferred to the committee on foreign re-
lations, and after being held for just
a week by the committee was reported
back to the senate on the 18th of Jan
uary. The senate had the treaty under
consideration for less than a month,
the vote on ratification being taken on
the 9Th of February. There was 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 OF the 9Th of February, half an
hour before the time set for the final
vote, the friends of the treaty were GER
tain of only fifty-five of the fifty-siX
votes necessary TO insure the adoption
of the resolution of ratification. Soon
afterward they secured promises from
Senators Jones of Nevada and McEneTy
of Louisiana, and when the vote was
taken the result stood 81 ayes TO q
nays, or one vote more than was neces-
sary under the requirement of a two
thirds majority.
INDEMNITY APPROPRIATION.
While the treaty was exclusively be-
fore the senate the house had some in
direct participation with subjects COW
cred by the treaty. AS the branch
originating all revenue measures, it
provided an appropriation of 500, O00,0OO
TO pay Spain, according 70 the terms
of the treaty. This was first proposed
as an amendment to the sundry civil
bill. but was ruled out on technical
grounds. Later it passed as an indie
pendent measure. Efforts were made to
add to il a, declaration of the policy of
the government as to the Philippines,
but this was defeated, by the over
whelming vote of 213 to "a. The resoau-
ton of Senator AcEneTy, declaring the
policy toward the Philippines, came TO
the house and was referred to the COM
mittee on foreign affairs, but no final
action is probable.
ARMY REORGANIZATION.
Another important measure resulting
from the war is that known as the Hull
bill. or the Hull-Hawley bill, for the
increase and reorganization of the reg
ular army. Following the new condi-
tions arising, two plans of army in
crease We're presented to congress. The
house military committee first took up
the subject, and after elaborate hear |
ings presented, through Chairman Hull, |
a bill having the approval of the war
department. 1t increased the army to |
approximately 100000 men. When con- |
stdered in the house the grade Of lieu |
tenant general was struck out, discre-
tion was given the president to reduce
the size of companies so that the total !
force would be about $4,000 men, and /
some other amendments were made, |
but the bill substantially as presented 1
was. passed. In the senate the commit |
tee on military affairs divided equally |
on the BILL General Hawley, the chair |
and others Tpr0Qrflnc- hill I
similar to that presented in the house,
while five other senators made a. mi |
noritE report, opposing the proposed |
increase and suggesting a plan OF tenn
pOraTy continuance of the military es-
Establishment at g., 600 men, WitlD.an ad-
ditional force of $1,000 to be used in
outlying insular possessions. These
several propositions have aroused wide
differences, and it will not be until the
last days Of the session. if at all, when
the final form of the measure can be de-
ternined.
The latest phase of the subject is
presented in a compromise planned by
the party leaders in the senate, after
comforting with the executive author
tiles. The compromise proposes only q
slight permanent increase of the regu-
ular army. as given in detail, and au-
thorizes the president until July l. 1901.
to maintain the regular army at Go 900
So 00 volunteer infantry, organized 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 il was kept con-
stantly 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 con-
of the canal, subscribing for
925. Gee shares at S10G each, out of 4 to-
tai of LOCO, coo, and that the work of !
the Maritime Canal company of Nj
caragua, in executing the work, shall ;
be practically under the direction of
the United States.
When this bill reached the house COM
Inittee on commerce. all after the en-
acting clause was struck out and what ]
is known as the Hepburn plan, drafted
by Representative Hepburn Of Iowa, !
chairman. of the house committee on
interstate ana foreign commerce, sub ,
The essential feature Of the
substitute is in making the
canal exclusively a government under
taking. 1t authorizes the president to
acquire by purchase from Nicaragua ,
and Costa Rica the territory necessary {
to excavate, construct, control and de-
fend a canal" etc. I
Such sum as Is necessary for pur- Z
chasing the right OF way is appropri-
ated. When the route is thus secured, {
the president is authorized TO have the