The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, February 25, 1898, Page 3

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 1898 8 THE NATION PREPARING FOR WAR. " INCREASE OF SEAMEN FOR NAVY Plans for Manning the Auxiliary Vessels Are Now Considered. Information Sought From the Naval Militia Concerning the Smaller Craft That Can Be Armed. NEW YORK, Feb. 24—The Herald's Washington correspondent telegraphs: Besides giving orders for enlistment of an unlimited number of able-bodied seamen, the Navy Department to-day contracted for an guns for arming auxiliary cruisers. Seamen are required, it was officiz told, for gunnery on the trainin Lancaster, which will go into comynis- sion in April, the cadet training-ship ngahela, the dispatch-boat Dol- the training-ship Alliance. I o0 told it is difficult to get good d that the navy will take all r then . The department - a good pla \ as posible that nd Secret ng of the advi Mianton aind navy-yard) in nitor being intend- Philadelphia. The and will be 1 who will service be nit T > placed in if the Sec- 1 sufficiently required for nt of emerg- for the ngahe i Alliance will un- 1btedly ed on board the ves- ind. In not placing mber of seamen to be department appreciated umber allowed by la 1d the number be exceeded, X t un rstands the naval biil, which will soon be rted provides that the men and boys in gen- under training shall 11,800 men and 1200 boys. nt only permits an elist- 11,000 men and 500 boys, 1l increase authorized will > 800 men and 750 boy Al- is said at the department iis is not sufficient it is appre- at it will enable the depart- > all the monitors and the nd Columbia in commis- ulty. guns for auxiliary as entered in to to-day by 11, chief of the Bureau of the Navy Department, t erican Ordnance Com- ny. It provides for supplying to the thirty six-pounder rapid They will not be delivered Captain O'Neil told no significance attached He sald the company several ago its con- e with the department some , and that in order to keep in operation he had deter- make another contract. The cost $1100 each, making the t $ 0. I understand days in the bill an item approprating $25 000 for the chase of reserve gu cruisers instead of mended by Captain now available for nclude forty-nine re-inch and forty-one As a reserve for the mavy 1 hand four eight-inch, four two twelve-inch and two h. The department also a moderate supply of guns e and six pounder types. ides the vessels mentioned in the ald t morning as being avafla- le for service as auxiliary cruisers, the tment has taken measures to as- tain the number of small steam ves- sals which would be useful as gunboats, s and steam yachts as tor- fons to the various militia organi- & for this information. He instructed craft. For instance, know how many steam district are capable of ntaining a speed of from nine to knots at sea in ordinary weath- nd sufficiently strong and stable to a ba of at least two 4-inch poundear rapid firing guns. In r to ascertaln the * would be available for use as rams irmment has directed naval mi- I officers to report only such fron +1A steel tugs as shall be particularly in construction, especially for- 1, and have & speed of about twelve displacement of not less pon such tugs will be t two 6-pounder rapid er uctions of the Assistant Sec- as torpedo boats into ts of the first ciass must ed of 18 knots an hour for utive hou: and be capable % two Whitehead torpedo 1d short, and two six- rapid-fire gun Yachts of the ass must have a speed of from '4 10 15 knots, and be sufficiently strong dditional supply of | Columbia, | 1d be no danger of ex- | aval Committee has included i 1 parts of the country call- | aumber of tugs | emplate a division ¢f steam | three | to mount one Whitehead torpedo tube and one one-pounder rapid-fire gun. | Yachts to be available as torpedo launches must have a speed of from 9 to 14 knots per hour, and carry one short Howell or Whifehead torpedo | tube and one one-pounder gun. It was officially reported to the Navy | Department to-day that the monitor rror had left Norfolk for Hampton > she arrived a few hours retary Long said this even- that in directing that the Terror and Puritan be placed in commission | he was actuated solely by a desire to | keep up the armored strength to the point occupied before the destruction of the Maine. As to the movements of the Terror, the Secretary said she would either go to some northern port or join the North Atlantic squadron. It can be positively stated that the Terror will proceed to New York in case the Vizcaya should remain at that port an indefinite period. The cruiser Cincinnati reached the Barbadoes to-day, and the Castine will officially report her arrival at that place to-morrow. These vessels = will remain at that port until further or- ders. The only exact information received by the Navy Department from Havana during the day was conveyed in Cap- tain Sigsbee’s telegram, which said: | “HAVANA, Feb. 24—Long, | tary of the Navy: Wrecking tug Right Arm arrived yesterday. Begins work 7. Much encumbering metal must | be blasted away in detail. Navy divers | down aft seven days, forward four ays. Bodies of Jenkins and Merritt ot found. Two unidentified bodies of crew found yesterday. ment filled with detached broken and buoyant furniture and fittings, mud and confusion. Spanish authorities con- tinue offers of assistance and care for wounded and dead. Everything that goes from the wreck 3 tates should be disinfected. Wrecking company should provide for this. After compart- sulting with others, has recommended that all bedding and clothing should be | abandoned. It might go to acclimated poor. Useless fittings and equipments | might be towed to sea and thrown | overboard. Will take all immediate re- | sponsibility, but invite department’s | wishes. Shall old metal of superstruc- | ture and the like be saved? Friends of the dead should understand that we are in the tropics. charged with all matters relative to the dead. Don’t know what reports are being printed, but the intensely active repre- sentatives of the press here have been tion. SIGSBEE.” Secretary Long immediately replied to Captain Sigsbee, approving all his recommendations. have Wainwright, executive officer of the Maine, make arrangements with the wreckers for the disinfection of everything sent to the United States. |GUARD THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI. Fleet Away From the Cities of the Great Valley. NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 24.—The naval | defense of New Orleans is of particular | interest to the people of the Mississippi | Valley and the big cities along the ;Ohio, Missouri, Red, Cumberland and Tennessee rivers, for the simple reason [ that 1f_foreign ships of war were to | pass Fort St. Phillip and Fort Jackson, | & contingency by no means impossible, | the very heart of the most prosperous section of the United States would be | at their mercy. Fort St. Phillip is al- | most finished and will soon be turned | over to the Government by Major | Quinn, the engineer in charge. Two | companies of artillery now quartered at Jackson Barracks will soon be de- | tafled at Fort St. Phillip. Fort 8t. | Phillip will be strongly fitted out in the way of guns. Two big ten-inch rifles are already at the fort, and it would not, so Major Quinn said to-day, take more than twenty-four hours to get them in place if occasion arose for rush work. The foundations for the placing of two efght-inch rifles have | been commenced and are well under | way. The clght-inch guns have not | arrived, but the | are on their way. | In addition to the eight and ten inch | be put in position before the transfer is made, and there will be in addition, to round out the armament of the fort, a battery of twel steel mortars. The ten-inch guns are terrors. They have a range of twelve miles, and woe to the ship that attempts to steam past thern. The eight-inch guns are not to be sneezed at, and the rapid-fire guns and mortars can make it hot for an enemy at closer range. The eight-inch | guns are mounted on disappearing car- | riages and are breech-loaders. Major Quinn has had no instructions to rush the fort to completion, and no | extra force of men has been put on. i No color is lent to the rumor that the ! Government is preparing for war by the condition of affairs at Jackson Bar- racks cr Fort St. Phillip — ' To Cure a Cold in One Day. | Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tabiets. Al | sts refund the 1money if it falls to cure. | %c.” The genulno has L. B. Q. on each tablet. Secre- | “The surgeon of the Maine, after con- | Chaplain Chidwick 1s| His conduct is beyond praise. | | very considerate of me and my posi- | He was directed to | disappearing carriages ! guns, a battery of rapid-fire guns will | I LIEUTENANT-COMMANDER ADOLPH MARIX, U.S.N.,, Who Is Acting as Judge- Advocate of the Maine Board of Inquiry. RELIEF FOR THE VICTIMS Unfortunates of the Maine | Are Not to Be Neg- i lected. | | | | Uncle Sam Will Also Provide | for Those Who Depended | Upon the Slain. | Boutelle’s Bill to Give Twelve | Months® Pay to the Crew or | to Their Heirs. | Epecial Dispatch to The Call. Call Office, Riggs House, H ‘Washington, Feb. 24. Representative Boutelle of Maine, chairman of the Committee of Naval Affairs in the House, introduced a bill | late this afternoon providing for the | relief of the victims of the United | States battle-ship Maine. It follows | generally the lines of the Samoan dis- aster relief bill of 1890, and is the re- sult of several days’ conferenceincom- | mittee, and embodies the views of the i administration. | Chairman Boutelle had a conference with President McKinley to-day, at which he went over with him the pro- the measure to an informal meeting of some of the committee. It will be re- ferred back to the committee, imme- | diately acted on there and its passage by Congress expedited. The bill provides for the payment of twelve months’ sea pay to the widow, | child or children, or, if there be none such, to the parent or parents, or if neither of those, to the brothers and | sisters, of each of those killed in the { Maine. TIn addition the legal heirs of each of the victims shall recelve any | arrears of pay due at the time of death. | It is provided, also, that any allot- | ments previously made by any of the deceased in favor of any relatives of the degrees mentioned, shall be con- tinued for three months, the amounts !so paid to be deducted in the twelve months’ pay otherwise allowed. Claims for the relief thus provided must be filled with the Secretary of the Navy within two yearg from the date | of the passage of th® bill, and it is | provided further that such relief shall be accepted in full compensation and satisfaction of any and all clamis on the part of the beneficiaries on ac- count of loss or death through the | destruction of the Maine. | _The bill also appropriates $10,000 for the removal, so far as practicable, and burial in the United States cemetery at Arlington, of the remains of the vie- tims, with a further provision that | relatives of any of such deceased may require the remains to be conveyed to their homes within the United States at the Government’s expense for burial. The removal of any body is made sub- ject to the discretion of the Secretary of the Navy. I MONITOR IS NEEDED f IN THE KENNEBEC, IProteccion Is Asked for the Bath Iron Works and Vessels Under Construction. NEW YORK, Feb. 24.—A Bath (Me.) special to the Herald says: Genera! T. W. Hyde has sent a message to Hon. Nelson Dingley, representative in Con- gress of the district in which this city {e situated, and to the Secretary of War, askihg that one of the monitors be sent here for the protection of the Bath Iron Works. It was mentioned that what repairs might be necessary could be soon accomplished here and a monitor would be efficlent in protecting the city of Bath as well as neighboring cities and towns from ab enemy. In case of war with Spain the ghip- building plants along the coast would naturally immediately receive the at- tention of the Spanish navy, and the Bath Iron Works, where work is being | rushed on the engines and hulls of two | { modern torpedo boats of 30% knots speed, would not be overlooked: Lieutenant McGrann of the United States navy, stationed at the iron works during the construction of these posed legislation, and later submitted | boats, was interviewed to-day and said that he thought it would be very ad- visable to have a monitor in the Ken- nebec for the protection of this impor- tant station. General Hyde and Lieu- tenant McGrann have conferred to- gether on the subject and both are of the same opinion. The lieutenant men- tioned, however, says that doubtless little destruction would be accomplish- ed by Spanish warships ordered to this coast if they were only able to advance as far as the mouth of the river, as the enemy would have no target, and it would be all fuss work and one chance out of fifty of results being disastrou The monitors are designed for navi- gation in shoal waters, and while they are not as satisfactory they -carry larger guns than v els ordinarily of their tonnage. One of these heavily armed ironclads could easily protect this harbor from an enemy coming by sea. — - WARNING GIVEN A Spaniard, Supposed to Be De- ranged, Who Said the Maine Was Going to Be Blown Up. NEW YORK. Feb. 24 —A special cable from Havana to the Evening Sun says: It is useless to attempt to enu- merate the number of coin and theories which are ¢ the causes of the Maine disaster, nearly all going to prove that the explosion was intentional. One of the most mysterious coinei- dences is that a man who seemed to be a Spaniard came to the American con- sulate a few days before the explosion and, addressing himself to M. Hyatt, whom he mistook for Consul Lee, sal “Mr. Consul. I have come to in- form you that the Maine is going to be blown up. Take the vessel away and let me go with it, otherwise I am & lost man.” Hyatt has charge of distribution of American supplles for reconcen- trados. His desk is at the entrance to the consulate, and he is daily ap- proached by hundreds of weeping women and men who are half deranged owing to the effects of starvation. He paid no attention to the man, who then addressed Vice-Consul Springer. Mr. Hyatt motioned to Mr. Springer to pay no attention to the stranger; that he seemed crazy. On the day before the explosion he came to the consulate three times. He was very much excited. Since then no one has seen him. = e COMMANDER BUCKLAND CALLED TO WASHINGTON. It Is Evident Naval Reserves Would Play an Important Part in Case of War. £ NEW YORK, Feb. 24.—A New Haven, Conn., special to the Herald says: Commander Edward C. Buckland of the Connecticut Naval Battalion left for Washington to-day in response to the Yollowing telegram: “Commander ;‘Bucklnnd of the Wyandotte will report | to the Navy Department at Washing- | ton on Friday.” As stated in the Herald this morn- ing, repairs are now being made upon the Wyandotte, which is one of the |old monitors that has been anchored in this harbor for the use of the naval | reserves. Engineer Trowbridge of the reserves has been instructed to pre- pare a list of shipping vessels of Long Island Sound that could be used in time of war. Commander Buckland left | New Haven very suddenly, and did not inform any of nis friends or officers of his battalion of the nature of his mis- sion. It is believed, however, that he | has been summoned to Washington as a result of the activity of the Navy i Department in all its branches. - SIGNAL CORPS IS ORDEREDrTO BE READY. One Branch of the Connecticut Mili- tia Would Be: Very Useful to the Army. NEW YORK, Feb. 24.—A Bridgeport, Conn., special to the Herald = says: Instructions have been received by the Brigade Signal Corps of the Connecti- cut National Guard to be ready for service. One of the high officers safd to-day that the order they had re- cefved was precautionary and that ! troops would not be ordered out of the State, but that the Brigade Signal Corps was rated equal to any similar corps in the regular army,"and in the event of war might be called to Key West. ¢ AT THE CONSULATE. | THIS WOMAN WOULD FIGHT Miss Lou Heid Ready to Battle With the Spaniards. Willing to Cast Aside Scissors ® and Razor and Shoulder a Musket. Says She Is Not a “Jingo,” but Offers the National Guard. to Join Epectal Dispatch to The Call. STOCKTON, Feb. 24.—Miss Lou Held, who runs a little barber shop on Weber avenue, is one of the most original women in the world, and as her occu- pation of barber shows she dées not hesitate to enter the lists with sterner man for a livelihood in this world. Now, Miss Heid does not appear to lack in patriotism or whatever that quality is that makes people with fiery hearts talk of shouldering muskets. While many men are talking of avenging the national honor, here is a woman who is willing to become a Moll Pitcher and man a gun in defense of the country. Miss Heid has not let her intention end with talk. She has, after some effort, prepared a communication which she intends to send to Captain Johnson of Company A, in which she sets forth her views on the Cuban matter, and is credited with evolving the following: Captain W, Dear Sir: I have been reading in the pa- pers that there may be a war in this country with Spain. I ain’t one of those “Jingoes,” or whatever you call them, but I'don’t think our flag ought to be insulted by a lot of Spaniards. scamen lost. If they died in ould have been different, but my living in a barber shop on Weber ave. nue, and because I do that some may say 1 am like a man. ferent from others of my sex, and I ain't afraid of no man. want to say: I have heard of women in | war, and if your company is called out I am willing to shoulder a musket and fight for this country. LARGE CONTRACT FOR PROJECTILES FULFILLED. Supply “of Big Ammunition In- tended for the Use of the Army. NEW YORK, Feb. 24.—A Richmond, Va., special to the Herald says: The Tredegar Iron Works shipped five car- loads of projectiles to New York to- day, the fulfillment of a contract en- tered into some months ago between the United States Government and the management of the works. The first shipment was made last September, and the date set for the completion of the contract has been anticipated by four months. Eleven hundred projectiles were or- dered, ranging in weight from 1000 to 3000 pounds. The largest one measures four feet in length and twelve inches in diameter. They have been manu- factured under the personal supervision of A. C. Meagher, local inspector of the Ordnance Department, and each pro- jectile has been inspected and ap- proved. There is no significance to be attached to this shipment to-day, as it is merely the fulfliment of an old con- tract, and the projectiles are intended for the army and not for navy use. P, Foresters- Sympathize. Court American No. 7916 at its last meeting unanimously adopted the fol- lowing: : : Whereas, We have learned that a terri- ble cen.lg,mlty has befallen. the United s battle-ship Maine and the men ey whereas, we belleve that thereof; and € it el: the duty of every American . to sympathize with the bereaved of_their country; therefore, be it Resolved, That we, as a lodge com- posed of American citizens, extend our sympathy to the sorrowing families and friends of those brave men who were so luddenly‘lunlmnned. R. Johnson, Company A— And then think of | went down like rats In a trap. Now, | Captain Johnson, I am a woman and earn | I may be a litue duc| ga0t less than a dozen Americans ar- Now. this is what T | n_citizen families of those who lost their lives in the service Credence We KEY WEST, Fla., Feb. 24—A sensa- tional story was started to-day to the effect that several weeks ago a con- | tractor who had been engaged in plac- ing sewers at the United States bar- racks in this city asserted there had been awarded to him a contract to do similar work in Havana. It is known | that this contractor did revisit Ha- | vana, also that he engaged the serv- ices of a young man residing in this | place. It is now alleged that this con- | tractor carried some dynamite from | here which he saild was to be used in | excavating and other work connected | with his contract. It is lixewise said that before leaving for Havana he was | a frequent visitor at the Spanish con- sulate in this city, and that prior to the sailing he obtained some letters of introduction from the officials of the consulate. The story now told is that his mis- | sion to Havana was to place dynamite bombs in Havana harbor, but that he | did not do the work in person. It is alleged that he prepared the plans and another man carried out the dirty part of the plot under his supervision. The story is told to-day by a young man who accompanied the contractor to Havana, but he professes to know nothing of the work done, which was accomplished by the mysterious per- son engaged by the contractor. This person is said to have disappeared. The standing of this contractor and the high cha®acter of his associates throughout this State would unite to make a great sensation here if his name were made public in connection with the story of the disaster. In connection with the claim made by the Cubans that there are mine galler- ies under the harbor of Havana, lead- ing from subterranean passages and known to have existed for years before the construction of Fort Cabannis and Morro Castle, the Spaniards ex- plain that for over a century a subter- nanean passage about two miles long and eight feet at its narrowest diam- eter, capable of giving passage to a col- umn of troops, has existed from the navy yard to Castillo del Principe. But, the Spaniards further assert, the existence of this passage was not known to the present authorities or to those who havebeen in power for many years past. The entrances and exits, it is added, have been closed for years past by thick walls now covered with debris, and their exact location is said to be lost. At the same time, it is ad- mitted that matter regarding the sub- terranean passage can be found in old documents contained in the archives of Havana. Finally the Spaniards in- | sist that this passage does not go under the harbor at any point. The arrival of the steamer Olivette from Havana last night differed in no respect from any of her previous tMips, notwithstanding stories that Consul- General Lee would arrive by the steamer and be accompanied by the entire American colony of Havana, or- dered by Lee to seek safety in flight before it was too late. As a matter of rived, several of whom make regular weekly trips between Havana and this | port on business. | Scores of correspondents, more, really, than there were passengers, were on hand ready to interview the | new arrivals, but they had their | trouble for nothing, as the few who did talk could furnish nothing additional to what was already known here. From one of the passengers I learned that General Lee had advised several { Americans who were visiting Havana | with their families for pleasure, if fthe,v felt any uneasiness to return to | the States at once. Among the passengers who arrived was Lieutenant Holman of the ill- fated Maine, who received a hearty welcome on the wharf from Comman- der Forsythe and Paymaster Jewett of this naval station, and the officers of the Maine who are still quartered at the hotel here. Like all the other offi- cers, Lieutenant Holman declined to be interviewed, but expressed the opinion thit the Board of Inquiry would finish its investigation within the next few days, and leave for Key West, where the session will be continued. Considerable indignation has been expressed tome to-day by officers of the Maine at: the action of certaln New York papers in publishing “fake” in- terviews with them and reproducing letters alleged to have been written by them to relatives and friends ‘in the North giving accounts of the disaster to the Maine and describing their sen- sations during the explosion. ~One of the most indignant is Lieutenant Cat- lin, whose signature, he says, was at- tachied to a “fake” letter published in a sensational paper, and alleged to be addressed to a relative in New Jersey. It was printed under sensational head- lines, but he characterizes it as a fraud of the first magnitude. Mrs. Sicard, wife of the admiral, ar- rived this afternoon by steamer from Miami, and was joined by her husband, who, with some of his personal staff trom the flagship New York, came up | tia up to date. PLANTED MINES AT ‘HAVANA A Startling Story Obtains at Key st. Was the Mine That Destroyed the IlI-Fated Maine Laid by a Citizen of the United States? from the anchorage outside the bar this morning. panied by Miss Sicard and Miss E. De- | lafield. They Mrs. Sicard is accom- are comfortably quar- tered at the Hotel Key West. Among the passengers from Miami to-day were also Senator Redfield Proctor, former Secretary of ‘War, and M. H. Parker, late Commissioner of the District of Columbia. The Senator was taken in charge by the Collector of Customs shortly after his arrival, and enjoyed a drive around the city. | While I could not ascertain the facts, the impression prevails that his visit is of ‘an official ‘character. He will con- tinue to Havana by steamer to-morrow, GRATIFYING CONDITION OF THE NAVAL MILITIA. It Can Be Used at Once as a Second Line of wefense and for Man- ning Cruisers. WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.—The Navy Department to-day gave out the figures showing the strength of the naval mili- This shows a total force of 4445 officers and enlisted men, which is a gratifying increase from the 3703 own by the report. The number of | officers and men by States is as fol- lows: California, 396; Connecticut, 165; Flor- ida, 106; Georgia, 225; Illinois, 523; Louisiana, 262; Maryland, 240; Massa- chusetts, 441; Michigan, 193; New Jer- ; New York, 472; North Caro- . 230; Ohio, 216; Pennsylvania, 216; hode Island, 130; South Carolina, 152; Virginia, 44—Total, 44 Aside from the forces shown in the above list new forces are in process of formation which promise to swell the total to much larger figures at an eariy day. - The organization of this auxiliary arm of the naval service is under the immediate direction of Lieu- tenant Gibbons, U. S. N., whose energy has accomplished much in securing State organization, in the harmonizing of the bodies into one compact force capable in emergency of co-operating with the regular navy. In this last report Assistant Secre- tary Roosevelt said that the State na- val militia, in the event of such an emergency, could be utilized at once for manning the smaller cruisers. It could be depended upon mainly, he said, as a second lime of defense, and also be used in placing mines and the establishment of signal stations for coast defense. The appropriation of $50,000 made by Congress to ald the work of the naval militia will be apportioned among the States in a few days. CRUISER MINNEAPOLIS READY FOR SERVICE. Floating of the War Vessel Was Witnessed by a Thousand Interested Spectators. PHILADELPHIA, Feb. United States cruiser Minneapolis was successfully floated out of the drydock 24. — The at League Island Navy-vard at high | tide this afternoon. The floating of the cruiser was witnessed by nearly a thousand people. The Minneapolis has been in the dry= dock since last December, partly to avoid the ice in the river and also to have necessary repairs made to her keel. The school ship Saratoga will be placed in the drydock for repairs. Notwithstanding all reports to the contrary, there is no unusual activity at the yard beyond the extensive im- | provements that are being made to the back channel, which will be used as a fresh water basin for vessels of thenavy. The receiving ship Richmond is be- sieged dally by applicants for enlist- ment, but very few are now being taken. Besides the Minneapolis there are at League Island the cruiser Columblia, the monitor Miantonomoh and the ram Katahdin, all out of commissiion at present. There are also eight old moni- tors at the navy-yard, all of them rel- ics of the Civil War, but which could be fitted up quickly in case they were needed. TO CARE FOR THE UNUSED MACHINERY. Action Taken by the House Shows the Government Is Preparing for Contingencies. ‘WASHINGTON, Feb. 24.—The fact that the Government is preparing for contingencies was recognized .in the House to-day, when Chairman Can- non, who has been laboring to keep down appropriations, accepted without a word of protest an amendment to increase the appropriation to care for the unused machinery at the Spring- field arsenal. Gillette explained that the necessity for using this machinery might occur at any time. Resolutions which were objected to a few weeks ago for the appointment of two extra naval cadets to positions in the engineer corps of the navy were also adopted. One of them will fill a vacancy caused by the death of Lieutenant Merritt of the Maine. In the Senate to-day the resolution offered yesterday by Allen of Nebraska to appoint a committee of five Senators to investigate the Cuban situation was withdrawn by its author, when it was laid before the Senate.