Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-02-14
Bill to osn,truOt Bridge At st. J,s.ph is
AmsHg Those Passed.
PANS MISSOURI RIVER At THAT POINT
II-COafsasratss to Be Reimbursed for Lc,s
Of sids-ArnL
FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS SET ASIDE
Representative CorIiss Urges Passage
Of His Bill ProvIdins for Cow
ernment Cable 40
Manila.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 13.-The house to-
day unanimously adopted a resolution pro-
posing an amendment to the constitution
OF the United States for the election Of
senators by direct popular vote. There
was no demand for time to debate the res
oiutton This is the fourth time the house
has adopted similar resolution.
Two bills Of general Importance we're
passed by the house today, the remainder
OF the time being devoted to minor busi-
ness. One was a senate bill to provide for
the payment of the claims OF confederate
officers and soldiers whose horses, side
arms and baggage we're taken from them
by union soldiers, contrary to the terms Of
the surrender of Lees and Johnson's
armies The amount to be paid under the
bill was limited to $4,000. The other bill
was to confer on the Spanish claims COM
mission authority to send for persons and
papers and to punish for contempt.
A bill also was passed to grant to the
White River Railroad company the right
to construct railway across the govern
ment lands In Independence county, Ar
kansas.
Manila Cable Bill.
Speaking to a pro forma amendment to
| the latter bill, Mr.. Corliss (rep) OF Michi-
! bohb WhO 10 bhS duNnOT Ol n DILL TO pToNlQo
for the laying Of a government cable from
San Francisco to Manila. addressed the
house on the cable project. He was op-
posed, he said, to congress yielding con-
cessions to private cable monopolles, nota-
bly, the Commercial Cable company, con-
trolled by the Mackey Bennett forces, and
dwelt on the Importance of the United
! States operating it's own cable lines.
1.-THE right to construct cable lines" he
said, sis an inherent right Of the nation.
No one has q right to lay a cable without
permission Of congress. There is no law
In existence by which cable lines can be
| laid"
Congress" he continued, "has assumed
the right to control the construction and
operation Of cable lines in Alaska. Is It
not far moro important for the msinten-
ance Of peace and for the welfare Of our
people to control cable communication with
Hawaii, the Philippines and the other
islands In the Pacihc?"
Bridge for st. Joe.
The following bills were passed;
To authorize a bridge across the Ar
kansas river near Fort Gibson, !. t.; to
construct a Lridge across the Missouri
river at st. Joseph. Mo-, and to authorize
the Memphis, Helena & Louisiana railroad
to construct bridges across the White and
Arkansas rivers.
When the committee on election Of the
president, vice president and representa-
tives in congress was considered, Mr.. Cor
liss called up the joint resolution propos-
ing a constitutional amendment to provide
for the election Of senators Of the United
States by popular vote. He explained that
the resolution was practically identical
with the one passed by the house in sew
eral congresses and said he did not think
1t necessary to discuss the measure.
There was no desire to debate the meas
ure, and 1t was adopted without dissent
ing vote.
Al 4:45 the house adjourned.