The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-03-20
SENATE PASSES
IMPORTANT BILLS
Executive and judicial Appro-
priation Measure.
----------
SPANISH WAR CLAIMS
Committee Appointed to Settle Those
of Our Citizens.
BEVERIDGE'S FREE TRADE SUBSTITUTE
Offers it For Tariff Section Of Rorto Rican Bill.
It Denies That the Islanders Are Under
tiFe Constitution. Relief Bill in
the House..
(By the Associated Press

Washington, March 1.-Two measures
of national Importance and many of
slightly lesser interest were passed by
the Senate today. The Legislative, Eexec-
utive and Judicial Appropriation Bill,
carrying more than $25 ,0OO, 900 was passed
without debate. The committee amend
ments were agreed to as the bill was be-
ing read The measure providing for the
appointment of a commission to adjudi
cate and settle claims of citizens of the
United States, growing out of the war
with Spain was also passed without oppo-
Sition.
After a brief time the Porto Rican
Government and Tariff measure was I'M
der consideration Mr.. Foraker, in
charge of the bill, submitted some COM
mitee amendments. A few of them were
agreed to but the important ones are
still pending. A free trade amendment
to the bill was offered by Senator Bever-
idge who gave notice he would address
the Senate Thursday.
request of the House for confer
ence on the Pension Appropriation Bill
was agreed to and Messrs, Shoup, Quarles
ees on the part of the Senate.
At 2 O'Clock the unfinished business
the Porto Rican BiIl-was laid aside tenn
porarily and the Senate took up meas
ure TO carry into effect the, stipulations
of article I of the treaty between the
United States and Spain. The bill pro-
vides for the appointment by the Presl-
dent of three Commissioners to receive,
nd al MI ola i'm Of Citi
zens of the United States against Spain
which the Urited States agreed to adj
judicate and settle.
The sum of $4,000 annually is appro-
priated for the expenses of the Commits
sion, the life of the Commission being
IKE at two years.
Mr.. Davis, in charge of the measure.
explained that many OF the claims
would relate, OF course, to personal
wrongs suffered by American citizens.
Notable among such wrongs were those
suffered by Mrs. Ruiz, whose husband-a
dentist of Philadelphia--wa tortured and
murdered in Cuba. The bill, is carefully
drawn, Mr. Davis said, because of the in
termediate nature of the claims and he
believed the measure thoroughly protect
ed the interests of the Government.
Mr.. Davis expressed the belief that
substantially all of the claims had already
been filed with the State Department and
they aggregate about $20,0O00 900.
An amendment proposed by Mr.. HOar
was agreed TO extending the time for
filing claims with the Commission from
six months to one year after the organi-
Zation of the commission.
After an amendment offered by Mr..
Cockrell, but one appeal is left under the
bill, viz, from the findings of the Com
mission to the United States Court of
Appeals,
AS amended the measure twas passed
WITH out division.
Among the bills passed was one appro-
priating 100000 for the erection of d
public building at Atlanta, Ga.
The Senate agreed to the request or
the House for a conference on the bill
appropriating $2.O95OOO for the benefit Of
the people of Porto Rico and Senators
Allison, Hale and Cockrell were appoint
ed as the Senate conferees.
Mr.. Foraker then called up the Porto
Rican Government and Tariff Bill for the