The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-02-18
RE-TRENCHMENT AND REFORM.

inspiration and bent of mind Of num-
Der of the would-be reformers of that
body. The Globe Democrats Washing
ton spondent furnished that paper
with graphic account of the proceed
ings, from which we make the subjoined
extracts:
Mr. Livingston of Georgia jumped
very hard upon one item reading:
For balls, pins and fixtures for bowl
ing alley.
"Will the gentleman explain" asked
Mr. Livingston, show these enter into
military education or improve the eye
sight of the boys:"
Mr. Wheeler of Alabama-It will not
improve their eyesight; but S100 invested
in that manner viii give these poor
cadets, who have to be at their studies
or in their recitation rooms or in their
beds twenty-five hours out of the
twenty -four, and an hour and a half at
their meals, little opportunity during
the severe winter periods, when they
to go to this bowling alley and
have that necessary exercise which
the facilities offer, and which
everyone recognizes as essential for their
health; and when the government of the
United States gets so poor that it cannot
appropriate $500 for the health of the
cadets at this institution, majorlty Of
them being the sons of farmers, we
ought to hang our heads in shame and
bow down to Chilli as our superior.
Laughter and applause.
Nh. Dockery-Was an item of similar
| import in the last appropriation bill?
Mr.. Wheeler, of Alabama think it
was. | do not know that it was, because
the bowling alley and gymnasium
have just been completed. They had a
very inferior bowling alley before.
Mr.. Dickerson-Do not all frst-class
colleges have gymnasiums
Mr.. Wheeler, of Alabama-All first
class colleges and schools that our
farmers sons go to have gyinnasiums.
Mr. Livingston-Do you think the gov
eminent ought to put people to the ex-
pense of paying for that bowling alley
| who have not bread and meat enough to
feed their wives and children?
Mr.. johnson of North Dakota spotted
an item for tearing up board floor and
putting in a tile floor.
Now, | would like to know" said he,
'what necessity there is for that, and
whether that will affect the eyes of the
students, and whether they would not
likely live year or two more if they
had board floor. There are lots of peo-
pie in my state who pay the tax living
on sod floors"
Mr.. Otis of Kansas proposed this
amending to the So saddle-cloth item:
That henceforth, at the expiration of
each congress, the old carpet taken from
the house of representatives be shipped
to West point and furnished to the cadets
for saddle cloths at cost Of shipping.
Laughter.
Mr.. waite-Mr. Chairman, make
the point of order that that is new Iegis-
lation.
Mr.. Otis-I offer that as a substitute
for lines and on page 6.
Mr.. Outhwaite--I insist upon the point
of order that this is entirely new legisla-
ton: it proposes to make disposition of
government property.
The Chairman-Does the gentleman
from Kansas insist upon his amend
ment?
Mr. Otis-I offer it as substitute for
lines 1 and 2 on page 6.
The Chairman-The gentleman from
Ohio (Mr. Outhwaite) makes the point of
order that this is new legislation. The
paragraph in the bill refers simply to the
amount that is to be appropriated for the
ensuing year, while the amendment
offered by the gentleman from Kansas
refers to all future time. The amend
ment is new legislation and the point of
order is sustained.
Mr. Otis-I withdraw the amendment.
Laughter.
Mr.. Dockery of Missouri was in the
very van of the economists. He went
around for four days with a resolution
for the recommitment of the bill to the
committee, with instructions to cut it
down below that of the "billIon-dolIar"
congress, but he was saved the trouble
of introducing it because of the s., 800. 46
margin. Mr.. Dockery attacked the bill
at an early stage of the fight, pointing
out what he considered unjustifiable
items.
ION page =" said Mr.. Dockery, "there
are ten new offices created, at a cost of
81. 800, while provision for ''soap TO be
used in scrubbing cadet barracks" appears
for the first time. These provisions will
take from the treasury of the United
States $3.50"
A member: II hope no Democrat will
object to the use of soap"
Mr.. Walker: ''Does the gentleman
move to strike out the soapT.
Mr.. Dockery. l anticipated an inter
ruption on that side. 1t has been al
legged, as gentlemen will remember, that
our friends have been quite proficient in
the use of soap" Something has here
tofore been said about its use in the state
of Indiana.
Mr. Boutelle. Does the gentleman re-
fer to those Immediately on this side:
Mr.. Dockery. No. on this side of the
Cherokee Strip" and Just beyond the
first row of Democrats. Laughter
Mr.. Boutelle. l hope the gentleman
will make his apology now. Laughter I
Toward the close Of the four DAYS
tournament, Mr.. Wheeler, of Alabama,
in charge of the bill. showed up the hy-
pocrisy of his fellow Democrats in their
pretended demands for economy. ''When
the gentleman from Georgia Mr.
Bloun0," said Dir. Wheeler, made
the motion to strike out the equip
ment for the gymnasium l sent for the
record containing the debate on the mil
itary academy bill three years ago; that
bill appropriated $500. 600 for building
which was not essential to the health OF
any one; it was simply a convenience,
comfort and architectural ornament.
The erection of this building required the
removal OF magnificent and valuable
structure. The proposition was regarded
by very many as injudici6us in the ex-
tTeme.
The Record l hold IN NY hand shows
that MANY of the assailants OF this bill