Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1906-05-14
COMP PETITION IN
BUYING SHELLS
HOUSE PUTS BAN ON SECRET
DEALS.
NEW RECRUITING RULES
officers Must Ascertain Ages of APP
pIicants Otherwise Than by Mere
Statements-Senate Brings Rate
Bill Debate up to Point of Allison
Compromise.

Washington, May 11.-Shells and
projectiles for the navy will, after
June 80, 1906, be purchased by the
bureau of ordinance in open market
instead of as is now the practice, Ill
secret markets from firms engaged in
the manufacture of these articles.
This change in existing conditions
was brought about through efforts o.
the chairman of the appropriations
committee Mr.. Tawney of Minnesota,
who offered an amendment to the
naval appropriations, which the house
had under consideration yesterday, dl-
recting the secretary OF the navy to
advertise for proposals for shells and
projectiles so that all firms engaged
in the business of their manufacture
may have an opportunity to compete,
Much time was spent in considering
the question of enliStments in the
navy, and the failure of recruiting Of
ficers to properly enforce the law as
to minors. An amendment offered
by Mr.. Keliher of Massachusetts was
adopted prohibiting naval recruiting
officers from enlisting seamen, ordi-
nary seamen or apprentices unless
their application is accompanied by a
certificate of birth and written evil
dence other than the applicants own
statement that he is of the age re-
uuired by the naval regulations.
The debate on this amendment e1l-
tended over much of the session and
at times grew decidedly animated ana
bit acrimonious.
After defeating amendments de-
signed to enlarge the yards at Wash
ington. D. c., and Pensacola, Florida,
the house adjourned until today, hav-
ing completed but few pages OF the
naval appropriation bill.
Ready for Allison Compromies.
The senate completed consideration
of the second section of the railroad
rate bill and just before adjournment
listened to the reading of sections .
and 4 without considering any amend
ment offered to them. The purpose
of this reading was to bring consld-
GRAFTON of the bill up to the point of
taking up the Allison compromise
amendments, which will be done to-
day.
A number of very important
changes were made in the second sec
ton, including provision restoring
tho inoDri cOpnoont papa1tv of tho oct
of 1887, and an amendment suggest
ed by McCumber imposing the penal
ty of fine and Imprisonment against
shippers who secure rebates from
transportation companies. The lat
ter amendment was incorporated for
trusts. Another amendment adopted
was offered by Senator Warren. 1t
gives government business preference
over all other traffic in time of war.
A long series of changes were also
made at the instance of the inter
state commerce commission. Many
of these were verbal and all intend
ed to improve the administrative feat
ures of the law.
There was a continuous debate
throughout the day, and there was no
little complaintAthat senators mani
tested a disposition to increase the
time allowed them under the ID
minute rule, by speaking on amend
ments to amendments and also by
speaking in the time of other senat-
ors. Senator Tdllman stated priv
ately. when the senate adjourned, that
if these practices continued he would
make an effort today to have speeches
limited to five minutes duration.
The senate sat until 6 o'clock ana
then adjourned to meet at IL this
Opposes Free Alcohol.
George Clapperton of Grand Rapids,
Mich, representing the wood alcohol
was heard by the SEN