Omaha daily bee., 1889-03-06
THE MILITIA KNOCKED OUT.
It's Forty Thousand Dollar Appr o.
priation Killed.
TOM MAJORS GETS ANOTHER RAP
The Record ofthe Professional Grang
or Statesman Ventilated in
the House-Legisiature
Proceedings.
The Militia Bill.

The Militia Bill.
LINCOLN. Neb., March Especial TO THE
BEE. The appropriation bills came up as Il
special order this morning The contingent
expenses for the governors office were
passed with very little opposition, but when
the appropriation for the office of the adiu-
tant general was reached it provoked a
storm.
Fieldgrove of Buffalo gained the floor ana
moved to adopt the report.
Cameron OF Washington moved 70 strike
out the item Of $40, 900 for the support of the
militia.
The motion was seconded by Everett OF
Burt.
Bortis moved to reduce the item to $50, 900,
which was further amended by Cady by ad-
ding the words, sin lieu Of oil other appro-
priatons."
Coleman of Antelope, chairman of the
committee on militia, defended the original
bill. He referred to the militia of other
states, ana made the statement that it was
the well-drllcd militia of the south that
came near defeating the union armies.
Hall asked Coleman If the Georgia militia
had been present at the "battle OF Wahoo,"
which side would have whipped: Laugh
ter.
Cady thought that if the bill was cut
down ut all the whole thing should be wiped
out.
Caldwell said there is strong sentiment
in the state against large appropriation for
the support of the militia, and also senti-
ment in favor of keeping up some scmbance
of a military organization. He thought the
monthly drill might be dispensed with, but
the annual reunion should be kept up.
ChriSty, of Clay. was not in favor OF
spending the peoples money needlessly, but
thought the amendment of his colleague,
Mr.. Bortis, to make the appropriation S2O,-
600, should prevail.
Corbin thought the state was now on
peace footing, and did not need any standing
army pensioncd Oh the tax payers.
Speaker Watson defended the militia. He
said that well trained militia was the safe
guard of the state; that in every case of pub
lie disorder the people instinctively turned to
the militia for protection against mob vio-
lence. Nebraska, he continued can afford
TO keep abreast of her sister states in this
matter. He referred to the Pittsburg riots
in 1878 as an instance where the militia were
found almost Indispensable.
White asked if 1t was not true that the
militia had to be locked up in the round
house until released by the national troops.
Watson thought this might have been the
case, but the Nebraska militia are made of
better metal. In closing, he denounced the
scheme to do away with the militia as DEM
ocratic cry, championed by such reformers
as j. Sterling Morton and Van Wyck of
Otoe. and about the only argument the dem
ocrats had during the campaign.
Majors of Nemaha failed to see the need of
a standing army in the peace loving state of
Nebraska. What good has the militia done
the statet The taxpayers, groaning under
heavy mortgages, are watching the actions
of this body with lively interest. The
question is, shall wo continue the eXtrava-
gance inaugurated two years ago, or shall
we make an effort to relieve the people from
the burdens of taxation.
Baker made strong plea in favor of the
appropriation, and in the course of his re
record, and declared that no man could pose
as an innocent man who had ATTEMPTED to Sc
cure seat in congress through fraud, per
jury and forgery. He also referred to Ma
OF the so-callcd granger combination.
Several members endeavored to interrupt
the speaker, but Majors asked that Baker be
allowed to finish his TRADE. When he sat
down Majors arose in an agitated manner
and read rule of the house forbid
other by name and from impugning
their motives. He asked no protection for
himself from the house, either physically or
otherwise. "The gentleman from Jefferson
warned me-" continued Majors, when the
bill to appropriate $4,000 to send him on a
junketing trip to Washington went down to
it's death, that he had it in for me, and now
the attack has come IL is not an attack on
me, but on that huge class (farmerS) OF men,
bers with whom presume to act.
An exciting colloquy then followed.
Baker vehemently denied that he had
threatened Majors and stated that "the as
sertion of the gentleman Is absolutely false"
Majors advanced toward him, and shouted:
"You did, Mr.. Baker. You told me right
there Indicating a position near Bakers
seaD that you had it in for me-"
The chairman raped for order, and Baker
still attempted to speak
Finally Fieldgrove's voice was heard, and
the gentleman from Buffalo being recognized
by the chair, said: 81 now arise for informa-
tion. Applause.l Do we sit here to listen
to two members quarrell i move they be
excused for few minutes until they can go
out and settle this little matter by them
selves" Great daughters
This sally brought down the house. and
quiet being restored, vote was finally
reached All amendments were lost, and
Camerons motion to strike out the whole
amount carried by vote of Al to 40.
IL,