The sun., 1900-12-07
THEWORK OF CONGRESS-
The House Busy Working on the Army
Measure.
SOME AMENDMENTS MADE.
In the Senate air. Carter Gives Mo-
tice That He Will Call Up the
Montana Contest ResoIu-
tion ON Tuesday.
ME AMENDMENTS MADE.


come up under special order made at
the last session, was postponed, and the /
house proceeded with the consideration
Of the army reorganization bill.
The Hepburn amendment to provide
that vacancies in the quartermaster's de-
partment could be filed from civil life
or from volunteer officers commissioned
since April 10, 1898, which was pending
when the house adjourned, was voted
down without division.
Mr.. Hay (Va.) offered an amendment,
which was adopted, authorizing the pres
ident to appoint 80 volunteer surgeons
with the rank of major and $50 assistant
surgeons with the rank of captain for
terms of two years unless previously dis
charged. Mr.. Otcy (Na) offered an
to empower the surgeon gen
eral of the army TO employ not to exceed
30 dental surgeons, three of whom should
be chief dental surgeons.
Mr. Otey made humorous speech. in
support of the amendment, appealing to
every member to vote in the interest Of
3, 100000 teeth. Irrespective of party
or the result of the late election" said
he, 'votc to rid the old soldier of the
toothache."
The amendment was adopted.
Mr.. Bingham PENN offered an amend
ment to provide for Il corps of veterinary
surgeons, one chief veterinarian with the
rank of colonel, one assistant chief with
the rank of major, four veterinarians
with the rank of first lieutenants, ten as
sistantS with the rank of second lieuten-
ants, 20 assistants with the rank of sec
ond leutenants of cavalry. Mr.. Bing
ham explained that the proposed amend
ment was identical with the provision in
the senate bill The establishment of a
veterinary corps, he said, had the APP
proval of Lieutenant General Miles, Gen
erals Brooke, Merritt Wilson and other
high army officers. AS the army would
be reorganized under this bill there would
be upward of $4,000 animals to be cared
for, and the economy of such corps was
beyond eavil.
Mr.. Hull opposed the proposed amend
ment on the ground that the acceptance
OF a section of the senate bill would
handicap the house in conference. Be
sides, he favored assimilated rank for the
veterinary surgeons.
Mr.. Hay (Va.), minority member of
the committee, also opposed the amend
ment.
MIR. Mondcll (Wy.) opposed the propo-
sition to commission ''horse doctors" as
officers of the United States army.
The Senate.
Soon after the senate convened a bill
was passed amending the law providing
for the construction of bridge across
the Mississippi river at Dubuque, Ia, so
that the draw should be 1T5 feet instead
of 200 feet.
Mr.. Proctor (Nt.) was relieved, at his
own request, from service ON the District
of Columbia committee, and his col
league, Mr. Dillingham;, was appointed to
fill the vacancy thus made.
Mr.. Hoar presented a resolution of the
Massachusetts legislature in favor of tho
purchase by the United States govern.
ment Of Temple farm and Moore House
at Yorktown, Va.
Mr.. Martin (Na.) expressed gratifica-
tion that the project had met with favor
in Massachusetts and said Il bill would
be presented at an early day intended to
carry out the purpose of the resolution.
Mr.. Clay (Ga) presented the creden-
tials of Hon. A. o. Bacon, his colleague,
reelected to the senate for term of six
years, beginning March 4, 1901. They
| were filed.
Mr.. Carter (Mon.) gave notice that on
Tuesday next he would call up the pend
ing resolution relating to the contested
| Montana seat in the senate claimed by
both w. A. Clark and Martin Maginnis.
| The senate then on motion of Mr..
Lodge (Mass.) went into executive ses-
| sion.
| After the senate went into executive
session the Hay-Pauncefote treaty was
Immediately taken up. Mr.. Morgan (Ala.)
| 4bn oil m
favor of the ratification of the treaty as
necessary to secure the construction OF
the Nicaraguan canal.
War Tax Reduction.
The ways and means committee met in
special session to consider the bill re-
| ducing the war revenue taxes to the eX-
tent of about $40,000,000, as previously
famed by the Republican members OF
| the committee and introduced by Chair.
man Payne.
When the meeting closed, Mr.. Payne
| with the concurrence of Mr.. Richardson
authorized the proceedings to be given
out in detail Mr. Richardson's motion
on the beer tax was the first test OF
strength. 1t provides for fiat rate of 81
per barrel instead of 50. This was lost
6 to Son strict party vote.
Mr.. Swanson (Fa.) then moved to re-
commit the bill to subcommittee, with
instructions to prepare measure max
ing $60000,000 reduction. Lost by the
same vote.
Mr. Swanson next moved to eliminate
all special taxes on tobacco dealers I'M
posed by the war revenue act. The mo
tion was defeated by the same vote.
Mr. Underwood tAla.) presented a sub
stitute bill of considerable length and
making number of reductions beyont
those in the majority bill. On this vote
two of the Democrats, Mcclellan IN. Y.
and Newlands New, did not vote, the
result being the defeat of the substitute
4 to 8.
Mr.. Underwood moved to restore the
tax on telephone messages, and Mr.. New
lands offered an amendment restoring il
10 telegraph messages. Both propositions
were lost-6 to 8.
Mr.. Cooper (Tex.) offered an amend
ment striking out the exemption of re
ligious and charitable institutions in Tx
tax on inheritances. This was lost on {
viva voce vote.
On motion of Mr. Hopkins (Ilis) tn,
final section was changed, making the ac
take effect Immediately on its passage
On Mr.. Dalzell's final motion to repor
the bill TO the house the Democrats die
i Al 4.