The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-05-11
PRACTICALLY COMPLETED EXCEPT AS
TO ARMOR PLATE.
THIS DISCUSSION TO Be SECRET
The Senate to Take the Matter ap Be-
hind Closed Doors ~todsy-The !'ro-
vision for Commi>-ioning Naval
Cadets after Four Years stricken
Out-Privnte Bill Day in the House.
II Wants TO Know the ingredients of
Oleomargerine.
SENATE.

Washington. May S.-The senate to-
day concluded consideration of the ma
val appropriation bill, with the excep-
ton of that section relating to armor
and armament. This went over until
tomorrow, when il will be considered
in secret Legislative session. During
the morning hour a number of minor
bills were passed, among them one to
reimburse various collectors Of inter-
nal revenue for internal revenue
stamps charged against them but not
accounted for.
The debate on the naval bill was
practically confined to the paragraph
relating to the commissioning Of naval
cadets. The committees amendment
striking out the proposition in the
house bill, which sought to commits
sion the cadets at the expiration of
the f~our-years' term at the naval
academy, abolishing the preliminary
TWO years at sea, was carried after a
warm debate.
When the naval bill was taken up.
the pending question was the commit
tees amendment striking out the par
agraphs in the house bill relating TO
naval cadets and inserting the follow
ing:
Whenever any naval cadet shall
have finished four years of his under
graduate course of six years the sue
ceed1ng appointment may be made
from his congressional district or at
large, in accordance with existing
law"
Senator Foraker, of Ohio, vigorously
opposed the amendment and said il
was an injustice to the cadets to wait
two years after graduation before they
received their commission.
Senator Caffery, of louisiana, strong
ly opposed the amendment, declaring
there was now a shortage of 697 off,
GERS in the navy
Senator Tillman, of South Carolina,
a membe of the naval committee,
supported the amendment. He pointed
out the immense responsibility de-
volving upon naval officers in the care
at sea of great battleships and cruisers
and he did not approve of sending to
sea green horns in charge of prop
erty worth millions of dollars.
In a characteristic speech. Senator
T1llman arraigned the navy Depart
ment for having SO many officers on
shore duty, who, he declared, were de-
ing little blu drawing their salaries.
Senator Hale, in charge of the bill,
declared that the amendment was the
best piece of legislation he had seen in
many a year. 1t would absolutely pre-
vent a"hump" in the naval list and by
a gradual and steady flow increase
the numbe of officers in the navy,
every n of whom would have had
a full s~ix-years' course of preparation
for their life work. The defeat of the
amendment would, he feared, give the
country a land navy"
AT this point, the act amending the
general pension laws, known as the
Grand Army of the Republic pension
bill, was laid before the senate as it
passed the house and the house
amendments were agreed to without
debate.
The debate on the pending naval
cadet amendment was closed by Sem
ator Foraker, in opposition to the
amendment, and Senate Chandler in
favor Of it.
The amendment was agreed to-4O
to IL.
When the amendments were reach
ed relating to armor and armament,
n bill was laid aside for the day.
Senator Hale gay notice that he
would call 1T up Immediately after rou-
tine bushes tomorrow.
On motion of Senator Tillman, the
senate then, at 4:30 p. m, went into
secret session that he might explain
why he desired the armor plate cues
ton considered in secret session.
AT 5 o'clock p. m, the senate ad-
journed.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The house devoted most of today to
h consideration of private bills re-
ported from the committee on claims,
and ten bills were passed. The most
important was a bill to remit the pen
alties imposed by the government on
the Union Iron Works, of San Francis
co, the builders of the monitor Mon
terey, for her failure to make contract
speed.
The house overruled the action of the
ways and means committee in report
ing against a resolution calling upon
the secretary of the treasury for infor-
nation regarding the materials USED
in the manufacture of oleomargerine
which is on file in the internal revenue
office. The majority of the COMMITTEES
contended thai this information could
not be furnished under the revised
statutes, and hat it would betray
trade secrets, but the resolution w
adopted. This is preliminary to tn
re-opening of h fight for h Grou
bill in h committee on agriculture.
Taking up the claims reports, tn
house passed over for this session tn,
old bill for the relief of the Cramp
Shipbuilding Company.
Other bills passed by the house in
cluded the following: To pay the Gen
eral Marine Insurance Company, o
Dresden, $1,434 for coupons Of Unite
States bonds lost on the Cunar
steamer Oregon, sunk at sea Marc
IA. 1886; to pay May A. Swift, wido7
Of the late American minister to ia
pan, 1900; to pay he employees c
{ William NJ. Jacobs, of Lancaster. Pa
whose tobacco factory was seized, IN
, salaries due them.
Subsequently a series Of bills wer
\ passed to reimburse collectors or tn
4 ternal revenue for the value of adhe
a sive stamps charged to them, but los
= in the confusion following the passae
Of the act Of June 18th, 1898
s Al 4:20 o'clock p. m, the house 40
q journed.
BILLS BEFORE CONGRESS.