Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1902-04-25
INCREASE OF POWER.
Senator Hawley Would Give It to
Lieutenant General.
HR INTRODUCES A BILL TO THAT END
Measure IL Said to BE i'm the Interest
of Gen. Miles ~ The Senate
May Take a Spring
Vacation.

Hawlsy, chairman Of the senate COM
mtttee on military affairs, Tuesday In
trouduced bill to increase the efi-
cheney Of the army" The most impor-
tent section OF the bill Il the following:
Subject to the command OF the presd
dent. and general direction Of the secre-
tary OF war, the lieutenant general shall
exercise general command over the mill
tary forces Of the United States. shall
Issue army orders and direct inspections
OF tbs troops. He shall be charged with
fns Instruction. training. discipline and
distribution Of the army, with the prepara-
ton and maintenance Of detailed plans for
the mobilization OF the military forces. with
the preparation and maintenance OF
schemes of offensive and defensive opera
tions. and with collecting and compiling
military information. It will be his duty
to see that the army is at all time suitably
and amply supplied and equipped. and that
the munitions of war are of the best ma
testal and Of suitable character. He will
recommend suitable persons for promotion
and Tor military honors and rewards. He
will be assisted In his duties by and his
orders will be conveyed and executed
through the agency of the general Of
ncers ding commands and the gem
ersi OF the army"
above provision is intended to
give the commanding general legal
status which at present he has not,
and is understood to be in the interest
Of Gen. Miles.
Other portions Of the bill relate to
details OF the administration of the
affairs OF the army. One OF these pro-
visions authorizes the president to di-
rect that the funds appropriated for
the quartermasters, subsistence or
pay departments may be placed to the
credit OF the disbursing officers Of
either OF these departments.
Agree ON Chinese Bill,
Washington, April 2s.-The confer
ees on the Chinese exclusion bill have
practically reached an agreement. The
main features OF the senate bill have
been adopted, but there are some al
terationE.
The agreement reached is upon all
but one feature OF the measure. I'm
der the agreement the senate substi-
tute becomes the exclusion measure
but the house conferees have secured
concession specifically reenacting
sections to IA of the exclusion act
of September 10, 1888. The point still
open is as to extending the exclusion
indefinitely after May next. The
house bill extends the prohibition
indefinitely, but the senate limits it
until new treaty is made. The
house conferees are insisting on tax
ing out the reference to new treaty,
SO that there will be no limit of time
to exclusion.
Senate Wants Spring Vacation.
I Washington, April 23.-During the
consideration of routine business Tues
day Senator Hoar (Mass.) presented q
resolution providing for an adjourn
ment Of the senate from, Thursday,
May to Monday. May 5, the object be-
ing to afford time for the spring
cleaning of the senate chamber. The
resolution went over under the rules.
Formal discussion of the bill tempo
rarily TO provide government for the
Philippine islands was begun Tuesday,
Senator Rawlins (Utah), the leading
minority member of the Philippine
committee, opening the debate. He
denounced the bill as an unwarYanted
imposition on the F1lipinos, declaring
that it would establish one Of the foul
est oiigarchies in the history Of the
world. He maintained that the Philip
pine commission was given too great
power by the bill and asserted that
under its provisions the islands would
be exploited for private gain. While
he was speaking two efforts were
made to maintain quorum, the second
resulting in lively tilt among several
senators, Senator Scott CIV. Val in
timating that argument could not In
fuence any senator.
Washington, April 2a-The house
Tuesday by a vote OF rs to 70 rejected
claims attached to the omnibus claims
bill by the senate aggregating 81, $780,
600, and on the heels of that action
nonconcurred in the whole senate
amendment (the various items having
been ruled, to constitute single
-amendment) and sent the bill to con-
ference. The military academy APP
preparation bill was passed after the
limit of cost of the improvements at
West Point had been reduced from
$6,500, 900 to S., 500, 900, and the amount
of the appropriation in the bill from
$4,000, 900 to 81, 900, 900.
Pardoned.
Washington, April 23.-The presi-
dent has granted pardon to Robinson
Kemp, who was convicted in the United
States circuit court for the western
district of Arkansas of murder com
mitted in the Indian Territory, and on
February 81, 1856, was sentenced to be
hanged. In the following April this
sentence was committed by President
Cleveland to imprisonment for life on
the ground thatth evidence on which
he was convicted was circumstantial
and conflicting. Kemp has now been
imprisoned for more than 16 years in
the Detroit house of correction. He
is full-blood Chickasaw Indian and
upward of so years of age. Attorney
General Knox, expressed grave doubts
OF the prisoners guilt.
The River Disaster.
Cairo, ILL.,, April 23.-The insurance
men, wrecking crew and others have
been Investigating the ruins of the
burned steamer City of Pittsburg.