The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-16
maintaining large standing army at those


islands"
The spaniards Mr.. Cockrell said, would
soon be out of Cuba, and as the object Of
the war was to get the Spaniards out of
that island there was no longer reason for
maintaining q large force under arms. The
Cubans We're perfectly capable of maintain
ing a republican form of government and
should have the right to do so. He said
that Spain could not cede the Philippines
because she did not possess them. The
United States did not want troops to fight
the Filipinos and could not do so without
a declaration of war.
Replying, Mr.. Hale said he had no doubt
the rank and file of the army abroad had
great desire to return home, and he ex-
pressed the opinion that they should be al
lowed to do so. He argued there was no
menace Of war unless it was with the Fill
pinos. and the only danger there was in our
attacking them. 1t was true that the duty
devolved upon the government of the United
States of maintaining peace and quiet in
Cuba for the present until the Cubans could
establish a government Of their own. He
hoped this would not be long.
In response to questions from Mr.. Allen,
Mr.. Hale expressed the opinion that affairs
would soon take such shape that the serv-
ices of the volunteers could be dispensed
with. He thought that within the next six
months $4,000 or co. 900 soldiers could be mus
tered out. But this was a matter which
should be left largely to the administration
He understood it was the intention to keep
about 10000 men in the Philippines.
GORMAN WANTS A SMALL ARMY.
Mr.. German said he had advocated an
amendment to the bill which would provide
in explicit terms for the reduction OF the
army to from 900 to $4,000 men by July 1
next, but owing to the representations of
the army authorities ne would reserve his
amendment until the army bills should come
before the Senate. In this connection he
paid high tribute to Adjutant General
Corbin and then proceeded to warn the
country against the 1ncroachments of the
military element Naturally the army Off
Ger wanted to preserve his own Importance
and maintain his employment, but this was
no reason why the private citizen should not
zealously guard his own rights. He thought
coaling stations necessary for the extension
of our trade, but announced himself as op-
posed to undue expansion by means of con-
quest.
Mr.. Allison expressed sympathy with the
desire to have a large number of volunteers
mustered out, but it must not be forgotten
that under the law the necessity existed for
the immediate reduction of the regular army
from 5000 to 5000 men. He called attention
to the Importance of a sufficient force to
maintain our coast Notifications, saying that
General Miles had expressed the opinion that
from 14,000 to 5000 men would be neces-
sary for this purpose. In view of these and
other facts, he considered it wise to follow
the wishes of the President and the mill
tary authorities in this matter. He was sure
there was no purpose to keep the extra
force longer than absolutely necessary. The
fact must not be lost sight of that our af-
fairs in Cuba were in a transitional state
and under the circumstances, with large
number of Spaniards left in the island moth
ing was so probable as disturbances. We
had agreed to maintain order in Cuba during
the unsettled period and while he hoped
this period would not long continue he, for
one, would not consent to so reduce our
frees as not to be able to make good our
pledges.
Replying to suggestion, Mr.. Allison said
the President had no power to muster into
our army the natives of any of the various
isislands unless it should be done by taking
them into our regular army organizations
He suggested legislation authorizing the
| utilization of large percentage Of the local
forces in the outlying islands.
Mr.. Money said his experience had not
been the same as that of other senators who
had found regimental and company officers
unwilling to assist their men to get out of
| the army service, but on the contrary they
were generally anxious to aid them. He
! thought married men should generally be
| relieved from the service.
Mr.. Sewall said the War Department had
| for the past several months been gradually
wedding out soldiers for discharge and that
! many thousand had thus been relieved from
| this duty. He had no doubt that even with
out legislation $1,000 men would be released
| within the next six months.
The urgent deficiency bill was then passed.
At the instance of Mr.. Harris the Senate
adopted resolution calling upon the Presi-
| dent for information as to the status of the
report of the Nicaraguan commission. The
| Senate then went into executive session and
at sos p. m. adjourned until Monday.