The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-22
THE SENATE PASSES THE ARMY RE-
ORGANIZATION BILL
THE SENATE'S AMENDMENTS
the Bill as 1t Was Returned by the
Conference Committees of the Two
the Bill-The House Devotes the Day
to the Bill Referring the Cramp Com
pany's Claims to the Court OF Claims.
SENATE.

Washington, January 1S.-Just be-
fore 6 iclock this evening the senate
finally disposed Of the army ~reorganiza-
ton bill. The measures having origi-
mated in the senate the final question
agreeing to the senate amendments.
They were agreed to by a vote of 43
to %. While party lines were drawn on
the measure. four democrats voted for
it-Senators Lindsay, of Kentucky;
McLaurin. of South Carolina; Morgan,
of Alabama, and Sullivan, OF Missis-
sippi. Senator Hoar, of Massachu-
sets, who W a detained at his home
by illness. was paired against the bill
with Senator Spooner. of Wisconsin.
Numerous amendments were made
to it, but, in general, the committee
was sustained. and the measure, with
the exception CT the elimination of the
canteen clause, is not widely different
from that reported to h senate
A determined effort TO amend the
bill to provide against the sale OF aiq-
uor in the Philippines and ito prohibit
the importation of any kind Of intoXi-
cants into the islands was defeated.
Every effort to prevent the increase
in the strength of the army was de-
feated by a decisive majority.
A notable speech vas delivered dur
ing the day by Senator Hale, OF Maine,
who, while opposing the increase IN
the strength of the army, STATED cogent-
ly his reasons for supporting the dill.
The measure was sent ito conference
between the two houses. Senators
Hawley, republican, of Connecticut:
Proctor, republican. of Vermont, and
Cockrell, democrat, of Missouri, being
appointed conferees on the part of the
senate.
Senator Lodge. of Massachusetts,,
presented the credentials of his CO..
league, Senator Hoar, who was re-
elected for his fifth election. With the
expiration of his present term he will
have served twenty-four years in the
senate.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
The house spent the entire day to-
day on the bill to refer to the court of
claims the claims of the William
Cramp & Sons Shipbuilding Company
Of Philadelphia for alleged damages
due to the delay of the government in
furnishing armor plate and material
for the battleships Massachusetts and
Indiana and the cruisers New York and
Columbia. The claims aggregate ST.
367 PA. The bill has been conspicuous
at every session Oh congress Tor several
! years. 1t met with the and
determined opposition of a portion of
the minority under the leadership of
Mr.. McDermott, of New Jersey, and
Mr.. Robb, of Missouri.
Mr.. Bingham, Pennsylvania, spoke in
support of the bill.
Mr.. Robb, of Missouri, who is a men,
Der of the committee on claims, oppos-
ed the bill. He called attention to the
fact that the contract with the Cramps
specified that 40 additional charges
should be made or account of changes
in plans and also that the contractors
| had further expressly released the gov
eminent from every claim for loss or
damage sustained by them by reason
| of the governments failure to furnish
| armor and material. The government
held the contractors receipt in full.
e the committee rose and report
ed to the house that it had come to no
conclusion upon the Cramp bill.
A prolonged ilibuster was begun, but
it advocates at length succeeded in
having the previous question ordered
upon the bill. The vote On the previ-
Gus question was 104 to Sc.
This gives the bill a tactical advant-
age in a parliamentary way. which
practically insures a vote upon il
whenever it is called up again. -Four
minor bills were passed, and at 6:1t
o'clock the house adjourned.