The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-12-09
Seventy Millions MoreFor the Army
and Navy.
HOUSE WAS UNANIMOUS
DISCUSSION OF THE STATUS OF
VOLUNTEERS.
House Expressly Declares That In
Voting Money For Their Pay the
Term of Enlistment Is Not Elk
tended-No Criticism of the Con-
duct of the War.

Washington, Dec. .S.-The urgency de-
ficiency bill to provide for the support
OF the military and naval establish
ments was passed by the house today,
practically without opposition. A fear
had been expressed that tine measure
might open up a prolonged debate upon
the conduct of the war, but the Demo-
cratic leaders decided that such a de-
bate would properly come later upon
the regular appropriation bills, or upon
the bill for the reorganization of the
army. There was not a word of criti-
cism of the war during the debate.
The only point upon which an issue
was raised today was as to whether the
bill, providing, as it did, for the pay
of the volunteers until July /, 1899,
might not be construed as a modifica-
ton of the law under which the volun-
teers We're mustered into service. Mr..
McRae of Arkansas offered an amend
ment, providing that it should not be
so construed and upon it there was a
general discussion as to the advisability
as TO mastering the volunteers out be-
fore the regular army was increased.
Mr.. Cannon finally accepted the McRae
amendment, and that removed the only
shadow of opposition to the bill. ,.l
A number of amendments We're
adopted upon the recommendation of
the appropriations committee, which
received some supplemental estimates
after the bill was prepared. The larg
est of these was an item of So, O00, 900 for
an emergency fund for the war depart
ment, $57S,O0O for the ordnance depart
ment, increasing the amount carried by
the bill to $69,S95, 1872.
The house adjourned over until Mon
day to give the committees an oppor-
tunity to work without interruption.
Sir Wilfred Laurier, premier of Can
ada; Lord Herschell, Sir Louis Davies
and Mr.. James Winter, premier of New
foundland, members of the high COM
mission, occupied seats in the gallery
of the house today, being the guests of
Mr.. Dingley, the floor leader of the
majority, who is a. member of the COM
mission. They seemed greatly inter
ested in the proceedings and procedure.
Mr.. Dingley pointed out to them the ce-
lebrities of the house.
DEFICIENCY BILL.
On motion of Chairman Cannon of the
appropriations committee the house
went into committee of the whole i'm
mediately after the reading of the jour
nal to consider the urgent deficiency
bill, for the support of the military and
naval establishments during the six
months, beginning Jan. 1, 1899.
Mr.. Underwood (Dem., Ala.) interro-
gated Mr.. Cannon with a view to re-
ceiying a statement as to the DISPOSE
ton to be made of the volunteer army.
Mr.. Cannon said the treaty of peace
might be ratified in January, it mighl
not be ratified for months. No one
could tell what was in front of us. We
must deal with the situation. The vol
unteer army might be mustered out,
and its place taken by the regular
army. That was a matter for the future
to decide, but hefe1t confident that the
| treasury would be rich enough and con-
gress will vote enough to meet any
emergency.
Mr. Sayers Dem, Tex), the ranking
minority member of the appropriations
| committee, gave his unqualified en-
dorsement of the bill, which, he said
did not affect in any way the legisla-
ton regarding the volunteer or regu-
! lar armies. 1t simply made appropria-
| lions to support the present naval and
| military establishment. The bill was
] based on the theory that the volunteers
would continue in the service until July
| l, 1899 If they were mustered out the
appropriations would be covered back
into the treasury.
M'KINLEY'S THREAT.
Mr.. McRae (Dem, Arl1.) gave notice
/ that at the proper time he would offer
an amendment, declaring that nothing
| in the pending bill should construe,
! extend or modify section of the act
of April %, creating the volunteer
army. He said he would not have
pressed this amendment had it not
been for the presidents declaration in
! his message that he would muster out
! tie volunteer army as soon as the reg
! ular establishment was increased. 1t
was unjust to the volunteers to hold
| them in the service when congress had
given a solemn pledge that they should
| be mustered out as soon as the war
/ ended. He believed it was the purpose
! oC the president to hold the volunteers
until a large standing army was pro-
| Viued.
"I he army on a peace footing num-
! ters but 26,000' interposed Mr.. Can
non. Does the gentleman and his side
os the house stand ready to support a
! bill 20 increase that army to meet the
NJ cessities of the government IN its
| present emergency and those which
c. rfl ont it?"
w e will meet that question When it
arises replied Mr. McRae. 1--WE arc
opposed to a large standing army, and
! We are opposed to holding the volun-
trers to perform the duty of regulars
and he used as a club to force us tc
create a large standing army. Let re-
organization of the army come in The
regular way"
KINGS AMENDMENT
Mr.. King Dem., Utah) offered an
| amendment to limit the appropriation
for the pay of volunteers to the period
prior to March 81, 1899. He thought it
the imperative duty of the president to
muster out the volunteers as soon as
peace was declared The amendment
was lost without division.
Mr.. Allen Dem., Miss.) offered an
amendment providing that the money
appropriated in the bill for the pay OF
volunteers should not be available
longer than three months after ratifi-
cation of treaty of peace. 1t was de-
feated, 51-71.
On motion of Mr.. Cannon, several
committee amendments were adopted
Mr.. Cannon then accepted the Nc
Rae amendment Without further
| amendment the bill was reported tC
the house and passed without division
MI. Shafroth of Colorado asked unan-
inious consent for the consideration Of
the bill for the reclamation of arie
lands Mr.. Hepburn of Iowa objected
A conference report on the bill re-
lating t. the bonds of consuls. vice
consuls and consular agents was adopt
ed At APO p. m. the house adjourned
until Monday.
Sick Headaches,