The record-union., 1899-01-18

necticut), Platt (New York;, Pritchard'
Ross, Sheup, Simon, Spooner, Turner
Warren, White, Wolcott-3S.
Sullivan of Mississippi offered an
amendment limiting to $5,0OOO0O the
amount to be paid to the Maritime
Canal Company in the way of compen-
sation for its concession and of relin-
quishment for its work.
Morgan opposed the amendment as
likely to hamper action under thesbin.
The amendment was adopted Wits = (
division, Morgan withdrawing his OBJ
lection to it.
Caffery of Louisiana then offered as
an amendment to the Morgan bill his
bill for the construction of the canal by
the United States, one feature of which
is the direction to the President to Sc
cure the abrogation Of the Clayton
Bulwer treaty.
Then, at 4:50 p. m.. on motion of Car
ter, the Senate went into executive ses-
sion, and at 5:35 p. m. adjourned.
IN THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 1.-THE House
to-day passed the naval personnel bill
without division on the final passage,
thus accomplishing what the officers Of
the navy have striven for during more
than a decade. By its provisions the
line and the engineer corps are welded
into an amalgamated line, staff officers
are given positive rank, but their COM
mand is limited to- their own corps, and
a system of voluntary agreed compul-
sorry retirement on three quarters pay,
as of the next higher rank of forty Of
ficers a year is established, which is
designed to remove the congestion in
the lower rank at 45. The bill practi-
cally equalizes their pay with that Of
army officers.
adopted One creates a judge advo-
cate corps, another abolishes prize
money, and third provides for the re-
tirement on .three-quarters pay of en-
listed men in the navy after thirty
years service.
But the most important change in the
bill as reported was the adoption, after
a hard fight, of a substitute for the or
ganiZation of the marine corps, by
which the corps is to consist of 5000
enlisted men and petty officers, with
general officers and staff. This will in
crease the marine corps by 1900 men,
and increase the cost of it's mainten-
ance 81, 100000
Several unimportant bills were passed
by unanimous consent before the per-
sonnel bill was taken up
Immediately after the reading of the
journal, McCleary R) of Minnesota,
on behalf of the Banking and Currency
Committee, made statement to the
effect that the vote on the currency
been irregularly taken in the commit
tee, and he therefore asked that the
bill be recommitted.
This does not mean that the bill is
to be abandoned?" asked Richardson
Cd of Tennessee.
Il am neither a prophet nor the son
of prophet" responded McCleary.
Mitchell (R.) Of New York explained
that there had been some irregularity in
the vote, and in order to avoid any such
show of unfairness to the opponents OF
the bill, this action had been decided
upon.
There was no objection, and the bill
vas recemmitted.
Mercer (R.) of Nebraska asked unani-
nous consent for the consideration OF
the bill for the aid of the exposition of
Greater America to be held at Omaha.
Neb., but Richardson objected, because
the bill had not been considered by
committee Of the House.
A bill was passed to amend the Act
granting right of way through the In
dian Territory to the Gainesville, Nc
Allister and ST. Louis Railway Com
pany.
The House then went into Committee
OF the Whole, and resumed considera-
ton of the naval personnel bill.
Bailey moved to strike out from Sec
tion the following proviso: ''And pro-
vided further, that nothing contained
in this section shall be construed to
prevent the retirement of officers with
tie rank and pay of Commodore"
The rank of Commodore, he said, was
abolished in the active list by the BILL
" by should it be continued on the re-
tired list?
Loud (R.) of California, in some criti-
cisms of the bill, said that the COM
plaint that naval officers under the
present system did not reach command
rank early enough was due to the fact
that there were not enough ships. Ad-
vancement was as rapid in the navy as
in the merchant service. He made some
sarcastic references to the deep sea
sailors on the committee who lived in
West Virginia and other interior
States
Bailey's amendment was lost-6O to
112
Bailey then offered an amendment to
strike out from Section 8 (the section
providing for compulsory retirementl
the provision for retirement of officers
with the pay and rank of the next
higher grade"
The amendment was lost-72 to 70
whereupon Bailey moved to to strike
out the whole section.
The amendment was defeated-52 10
o.
Southland R.) of Ohio, on behalf Of
the committee, offered an amendment,
which was adopted creating a regular
Judge Advocate Corps. to consist of one
Judge Advocate and two Judges.
Simpson (P.) of Kansas moved to
strike out the provision abolishing the
two years sea course for naval ca
dets. 1t was defeated.
Foss offered a committee substitute
for Section IA. providing that boat
swains, gunners, carpenters and sail
makers shall, after ten. years from date
of the warrant be commissioned chief
bcatswains, chief gunners. etc. to rank
with ensigns, and that they shall on
promotion have the same pay and al
Low ances now allowed Second Lieuten-
arts in the Marine Corps. It was
adopted.
Another amendment abolishing prize