Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-12-16
THE 55TH, CONGRESS.
DISCHARGE OF VOLUNTEERS AND
EXPANSION ny CONQUEST.
PROMPT PASSAGE OF PENSION BILL.
House Congratulated Thereon by
"priyatcv Allen, "One Of the MOST
Gallant and Desperate soiuicrs VI
the Confederacyo
the Confederacy"

for the next six months, dlsplaceu the
Nicaragua canal bill in the Senate to-
day, preventing even the taking or
vote on the question OF postponement
until after the holidays, as had been In
tended.
The deficiency bill Was passed, after
spirited discussion, turning principally on
the point of keeping the volunteer sol
diers In the service. Mr.. Cockrell ad-
dressed the Senate I'm regard TO the mus
tering out Of the volunteer soldiers cali
ing attention to the provision in the de-
ficiency bill bearing upon this point lie
said that q large majority OF the Voiuh-
teers wanted to be mustered out, and that
many OF them were making sacrifices by
remaining in the service. on the other
hand. the officers, who were finding the
service more profitable than the priVateS,
had, in many cases refused to forward
applications for discharges. Now, that
it was manifest that the war was over,
there was nothing left for the soldiers TO
do but TO perform police duty He hoped
that the department would be more
lenient with the enlisted men.
FEW SOLDIERS REQUIRED.
Mr.. Cockrell said very few soldiers
would be required in Cuba or in the Phil
ippines. where, he said, our footing was
very insecure. 1--WE have no war to make
on the Philippines" he continued, and
can make no attempt 10 subjugate them,
unless Congress first makes declaration
Of war; which it is not likely to do. Until
that is done there can be no effort to
subjugate those people, who are living
L. tn thasN
could be no ezzSSee for the United States
maintaining a large standing army"
When Dir. Cockrell had finished the
Senate took a recess until $3.50 =. NJ, I'm
order to permit the senators TO attend the
funeral OF Mrs. Bright, wife Of the Ser
geant-at-Arms.
After the recess MT. Hale, replying 10
Mr.. Cockrell, said he had no doubt that
the rank and file of the army abroad had
a great desire 10 return home. and he eX-
pressed the opinion that they should be
allowed to do so. He argued that there
was no menace Of war, unless it was with
the Filipinos. and the only danger there
was In our attacking, though the duty
devolved upon the United States Of main
tanning peace and quiet in Cuba for the
present, until the Cubans could estab-
lish q government of their own. He hoped
this would not be long.
In response to questions from Mr.. Allen,
Mr. Hale expressed the opinion that af-
fairs would soon take such shape that
the services of the volunteers could be
dispensed with. He thought that within
the next six months 5000 or GOO soldiers
could be mustered out, but this was q
matter which should be left largely to the
administration.
GORAIAN AGAINST EXPANSION.
Mr.. German said he had advocated an
amendment TO the bill, which would pro-
vide in explicit terms for the reduction
Of the army to $1,000 men by July 1st
next, but owing 10 the representations Of
the army authorities, he would reserve
his amendment until the army bill should
come before the Senate.
In this connection he paid a high tri-
butte to Adjutant-G General Corbin, and
then proceeded to warn the country
against the encroachment Of the military
element. Naturally, the army officer
wanted TO preserve his own Importance
and maintain his employment. but this
was no reason why the private citizen
should not guard his own rights. Mr.
German conceded that some increase Of
the army was necessary, but he did not
want to encourage the idea that we should
keep in arms a sufficient number of men
to keep in subjugation foreign people
He thought coaling stations necessary
for the extension OF our trade. but an
nounced himself as opposed to undue ex-
pansion by means of conquest
Mr.. Allison, Mr.. Money and Mr.. Sewell
spoke on the subject, after which the bill
was passed.
NICARAGUA CANAL REPORT.
At the instance Of Mr.. Harris the SEN
T,,tf, 81 -.
President for information as TO the sta
tus Of the report on the Nicaragua canal.
The Senate then went into executive SEES
sion, and at sos adjourned until Monday.
House of Representatives.
The House to-day surpassed all previous
records in the expedition with which it
passed the pension appropriation bill. The
bill In days gone by has been one Of the
most fruitful themes Of acrimonious par
tisan debate, but to-day, although carry
ing 4,000000 moro than the act for the
current year, il was passed In twenty
minutes, without a word of criticism. The
bill carries $145, 233, $50
PRIVATE ALIENS CONGRATULA-
TIONS.
Mr.. Allen OemocraO, of Mississippi,
Of the Appropriations Committee, called
attention to the fact that when he first
came to Congress, fourteen years ago, the
pension appropriation bill invariably pre-
cpitated a bloody-shirt discussion. He
congratulated the country that Congress
had progressed since then, and that there
would be no acrimonious discussion on
this bill The country at last had the
gratifying information that the pension
roll had reached the maximum, and Il
congratulate the country for this" said
Mr. Allen, In conclusion, that while one
OF the most gallant and desperate sol
diers OF the Confederacy ChlmselO had
helped to report this bill. the President
Of the United States Is down I'm Dixie,
doing honor to the Confederate dead. We
all have cause to rejoice" daughter and
applause)
INTERNATIONAL BANK.
The House then entered upon consider
otion of the bill to incorporate the In
ternational American Bank. This project
was recommended by the Pan-American
Congress in 1889. An arrangement was
effected for a vote upon tho passage Of
the bill at 3 o'clock tomorrow. IL was
supported in debate to-day by Messrs
Brosius Republican), Of Pennsylvania;
Adams Republican, Lacey Republican,
and walker Republican), and opposed by
Messrs. Cox OemocraD, Of Tennessee;
briggs Democrat, OF New York, and
Bartlett Democrat, Of Georgia.
The conference report on the bill ex-
tending the maritime laws to sailing yes
sells OF 100 tons and over, and providing
for the licensing OF second and third
mates, was adopted.
The House at =. NJ, adjourned until
tomorrow.
Shriners to Elect officers.
Acca Temple, Mobiles OF the Mystic
Ghrinn will mani Iha nirhf nf AZ. Ont 4,