The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-04-07
ghe aohita nau Eagle ghursdau gerormino april 1888

rules strictly prohibited him from enter
tanning such q request.
| It having been arranged last Friday that
the army reorganization bill should De a
special order for today mot 20 interfere
with report from the committee on for
| eign affairs, the speaker recognized MT.
Hull. chairman of the military affairs
committee, TO call it up. A wrangle fol-
| lowed as to whether the bill should be con-
sidered In committee OF the whole or IN
the house. and as 10 the limits OF the DE-
bate. The galleries watched these pre-
liminaries impatiently, but with interest
as the leaders on both sides. MI Dlngley
and Mr.. Bailey. had participated in the
sparring. 1t was finally agreed that the
bill should be considered in the house. but
all efforts failed to arrange limit upon
the debate. owing to the objection Of MI
Marsh (Rep) of Illinois who is one OF the
most beIlicose members on the floor.
Mr. Hull in calm. dispassionate state
ment, explained the features and purposes
Of the bill and the advantages OF the pro-
posed three battalion formation, which
have been fully covered in the Associated
Press dispatches
Our present formation. he said, was alb
soIutely obsolete, and it would be murder
70 require the army of the United States
TO go into battle under the present law.
The deadly character OF modern firearms
made an open formation absolutely nee
essary.
While Mr.. Hull was speaking the report
was quietly spread through the house that
the message would be sent TO the house at
O'Clock
Mr.. Marsh (RepD Of Illinois followed Mr..
Hull. He Endorsed the main features of
the bill, but expressed his opinion that no
captain could handle a company OF $50
men under the new formation. The de-
bate drifted along with considerable
range, many members participating.
Mr.. Lacey (Rep.) of Iowa aroused the
first outburst Of applause from members
and galleries when he said that he re-
GREETED that war seemed inevitable, but
that one good thing would come of it.
The regiment Of the state of Georgia
would vie with that of the state Of Iowa
to see which should be in the front rank
of battle and stay longest. The coming
war would cement with blood and iron the
states of the Union.
Mr.. Robbins (Rep) of Pennsylvania OPP
posed the bill because he believed it was
inimcal to the volunteer service of the
United States. In case of war the volun-
ter service he thought, ought to do the
?
as was proposed in this bill, to
10000
When the report was circulated and con-
hrmed that there was to be no message
today. there was an exodus of Disguised
people from the galleries, and the mem
bers deserted the floor to discuss the latest
phase of the situation in the lobbies In
terest in the debate on the army bill al
most ceased and it drifted along in desul-
tory fashion.
The main argument used against the bill
was that in case of war the national guard
and volunteer forces could supply the
troops necessary above the regular army
Of 26OOO.
This was met with the contention that
as one-quarter Of the expanded regiments
would be regulars, that they would be
ready for real service in a much shorter
time than the volunteer forces could be.
An amendment was offered to reduce the
size Of the companies from $50 to 200.
AT o'clock, without action on the bill
the house adjourned.