The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1904-03-11
HAWAI- APPROPRIATION BILL
THIS INFORMANT MEASURE Is
PASSED BE THE SENATE
Then the Army Bin Taken Up-Thc
House Considers Postal Affair."
Report OF Mr.. Oyersfree1

washington. March the Senate
today passed the naval appropriation
bill. which has bes before IL for the
past four or FIVE days and b e proceed
ed 20 the consideration OF the army bin.
The principal question debated In
connection with the naval bin was that
OF the price and method OF supplying
armor place for battleships. and IL grew
out OF an suggested by Mr..
Patterson providing for a government
armor plate. He ultimately withdrew
the amendment. but offered others. linn
tting the price OF arnor and prohibit
ing purchases from trusts. all of which
We're laid on the table. An amendment
TO the ava bill proposed by Mr.. Hale
was agreed TO. increasing the amount
for b navy yard at Charleston. 5. G.
from S6SS. 500 10 1914 SOC.
In speaking OF the continued growth
Of the navy. Mr.. Patterson said the
completion OF The naval programme
would place the United States ahead OF
Germany and Russia in actual tonnage
and ahead of France and next to Great
Britain in effective fighting tonnage
and my Judgment" he continued. is
that American sentiment Will not
permit the United States at any time
in the future to fall behind IN tn0 naval
power any nation that IL la passed
Mr.. Patterson discussed the Philippine
dCcNio "a ABS AASN VbA-N AZ NN S~N
believe II holding the Philippines he
was OF opinion that the majority OF the
people were against him and that there
fore the day was far distant when the
people OF that archipelago would De
given their freedom
Mr.. Bacon did not accept the view or
Mr.. Patterson as TO the OF the
Philippines, saying that he hoped the
conscience of the American people
would be aroused over the injustice or
the present situation.
Speaking to the armor plate question,
Mr.. Bacon said that this government
had utterly and abjectly surrendered
to the armor makers. leaving them to
charge their own prices without enort
on its part to make rmor for itself.
The reading OF the army bill had not
concluded when the Senate adJourned-
THE HOUSE.
| Washington, March Postal affairs
| engrossed the attention Of the House
today. practically to the exclusion or
| all else. The subject was introduced
by Mr.. Overstreet. Chairman Of the
| committee on postofices and post
| roads who submitted the report o.
| that committee on the Hay resolution
calling for certain information regard
! ing the use Of Influence" by members
| of the House to secure increases In
| SALARIES, etc., " poSliiidSNOiS- ~
| was a full attendance Of On
| 10Th sides Of the chamber when Mr..
| Overstreet stated that he had been d.
| rected by unanimous vote OF the COM
mittee to recommend that the Hay
resolution be tabled. as the informa-
ton wanted accompanies the report.
Minority members. including Aessrs.
Williams. of Mississippi. and Maddox,
of Georgia. urged that debate and vote
on the resolution should be deferred.
as thew had not had an opportunity to
read the report, so an agreement was
reached to postpone further actton
until Wednesday and four thousand
copies OF the report were ordered
printed. There will be three hours de-
bate on the motion to table and a for
NAL amendment will be offered by the
minority to provide for a general in
vestigation Of the postoffce depart
ment.
Mr.. Overstreet. in connection with
the report. said that in his opinion
there was not a single instance OF any
reflection on the integrity of any men,
Der. When the printed reports were
brought in later by a messenger, men,
bers crowded roun the door keepers
desk to secure copies and business was
suspended temporarily, until all were
supplied.
The p~ostoffce appropriation bill was
LllCii IdhSI ny uilu NIL hooIir III
crat. Tennessee. the ranking minority
member Of the postoffce committee, ar
raigned the system employed in the
~postoffce department, and made a
appeal for a general investigation OF
the affairs of the department.
Mr.. Cowherd. Democrat Of Missouri,
also a member Of the committee, fol-
lowed with an analytical review of
charges, made in the Bristow report.
which he referred to as a shameful
story of fraud and m1sa6ministration.
He also favored a general congressiou-
al investigation OF postal affairs. Dir
Cowherd read from a letter written by
an agent of the Time Clock Company,
intimating that money would be use1
to influence favorable action by Heath
and Beavers. Mr.. Cowherd said shares
of Montague indicator stock had been
given to Beavers and Heath. and he
thought some measures might have
been taken to find put whether ther.
had been any unlawful act on Heath's
part
The House adopted the resolution OF
Mr.. Martin, Republican. Of South
Carolina. directing the secretary OF
commerce and labor to investigate the
causes for the differences between live
cattle and dressed beef prices.
h House adjourned until tomor-
row.