The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-04-24
PORTO RICO OFFICIALS.
A RESOLUTION EXTENDING TIME FOR
THEIR APPOINTMENT.
ARMY OFFICERS ON THIS DUTY
To be Kept at Their Posts Until After
h Inauguration of the Governor.
Senator Tfllman Assigns the Reason
for Thfs-The Senate Passes the Res
olution-Senate Still Working on the
Alaskan Bill-The House Considers
the Naval Bill.
SNATE.

SNATE.
Washington, April 19.-During the
most of the session the Alaskan civil
code bill was under consideration, he
debate continuing on h Hansbrough
alien miners amendment.
Senator Carter presented formally
his substitute for the Hansbrough
amendment and delivered a speech in
support Of it.
Senator Spooner antagonized both
the original and the substitute amend
ments, holding that h courts ought
to settle the conflicting claims with
out Interference by congress.
The house bill relating to the al
lowance Of exceptions was passed. 1t
amends section $50 of the Revised
Statutes so "a to provide that in Cas-
of the death or disability of the trial
Judge in any cause his successor may
hear and pSSS upon motions for a
new trial and allow and sign bills of
exception.
Mr.. Foraker's joint resolution pro-
viding for the temporary Porto Rican
administration was then taken up.
Senator Chandler hoped senator's
would introduce resolutions of inquiry
if they desired information and per-
NIT the pending resolution to pass.
I'VE are" said Senator Tillman,
of South Carolina, in reply Ito have a
grand pageant On May 1st, when the
new governor is ITO be inaugurated.
This inauguration is to take place
with the greatest ceremony eve seer
in any part of the United States. 1
imagine that the purpose of this dis
play is to impress the islanders with
the grandeur and greatness of h
United States, as we'll as to impress
the people of the United States with
the new policy of imperialism by
which an American ~pro-consul is to
take possession of the island.
After a while, Of course, we will
have another governor sent ITO the
Philippines and he will be of so much
greater Importance than the govern
or of the little island of Porto Rico
that I suppose he must lave the navy
escort him across the Pacific, and
must hav umbrellas held over him
Xix the hey of Algiers and the sultan
of Morocco. We will have him at
tended by our subject princes in the
Sulu archipelago with Mahomedan
body guards, and all that sort of
thing. If that is the r of keep
ing these army officers in Porto Rico
L will interpose no obstacle to the
passage of the resolution"
Senator Bacon, of Georgia, inquired
whether United States army officers
were in receipt of salaries as civil of
hc1als in addition to their pay as army
officers.
Senator Foraker replied thai the
army officers were prohibited by law
from accepting such additional pay:
Senator Bacon said he had under
stood that some army officers were re-
ceiving large salaries in addition to
their regular pay
Senator Chandler said that if so,
congress ought to know and suggest
ed senator TfllYnan offer a resolution
of inquiry.
Senator Bacon said he had under
stood it to be the purpose of the lead
ers of the dominant party in congress
10 ad1ourn early in June. He thought
1t i~nadvisable therefore that the limit
OF the tenure of office of temporary
ofhc1alS should be so far removed as
august 1St, as these officers all would
nave to be confirmed by the senate.
Senate suggested most of
the appointments at least would be
made before adjournment.
senator Bacon explained his infor-
nation as to adjournment plans came
from newspapers, intimating it was
the presidents desire.
senator. Platt replied that he was not
aware the president expressed his de-
s1res through the newspapers. Sena-
TORS, he believed, are all in favor of an
early adjournment, land 1 think. so
far as I know the sentiment of he
country he said, that the people will
be glad to ave us adjourn even before
June.
Il think the senator is entirely cor
rect" said Senator Bacon. Nothing
can be done at this session of congress
except by the dominant party and he
less work is o the better. And the
sooner we adjourn without doing any
more of that work the greater he
gratfhcation of the country will be-"
The measure was finally passed with
out division.
A bill authorizing the commissioner
OF internal revenue to redeem or make
for internal revenue stamps.
not used or disable, was passed.
The senate then adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The house spent practically the en-
TIRE day debating a proposition in the
naval bill designed to turn over to the
navy the survey and charting of the
waters of Cuba, Porto Rico and the
philippines. The bill carried an ap-
preparation of 800, 600 for this purpose
Mr.. Cannon, chairman of the appro-
pr1atlons committee, led the fight
against it, arguing that such surveying
on these waters as should be made
should be performed by the coast and
geodetlc survey, which he said could
do the work cheaper and better In
the n the house sustained his view.
adopting an amendment offered by him
to appropriate only the regular $40. 900
for ocean surveys
The chairman Of the committee of the
whole, Mr.. Payne, overruled the point
Of order against the appropriation for
the new naval academy, but an amend-
ment offered by Mr.. Cannon was
adopted. providing that before the
money appropriated by the bill for the
academy be expended plans for the
whole Improvement, not to cost to ex-