The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-16
Speakers Urge Consideration Of Their
Requests For Discharge.
NO BLOODY SHIRT IN THE HOUSE
Pension Appropriation Bill Passed for
the First Time without Partisan
Debate-Mr. Allen Congratu-
Iates the House on Improved
Conditions-Amcrica
Bank Bill.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 1.-THE urgent
deficiency appropriation bill making pro-
vision for the army and navy for the
next six months displaced the Nicaragua
Canal bill in the Senate to-day prevent
ing even the taking Of vote on the
question of postponement until after the
holidays as had been intended.
The deficiency bill was passed after a
spirited discussion turning principally on
the point Of keeping the volunteer SOL
diers i'm the service.
PLEA FOR THE VOLUNTEERS.
Mr.. Cockreli addressed the Senate In
regard to the mustering-out of the VOL
unteer soldiers, calling attention to the
provision in the deficiency bill bearing
upon this point. He said that large
majority of the volunteers wanted 10 be
mustered out and that many OF them
were making sacrifices by remaining III
the service. On the other hand, the Of
ficers. who were finding the service more
profitable than the prlvates had in many
cases refused to forward applications for
discharges. Now that II was manifest
that the war was over, there was noth-
ing left for the soldiers To do but 10 per-
form a police duty. lie hoped that the
Department would be more lenlent with
the enlisted men.
NO WAR ON PHILIPPINES.
Mr.. CockreI said very few soldiers
would be required In Cuba or In the
Philippines, where. he said our footing
was very insecure.
1--WE have no war 20 make on the
Philippines" he said. and can make no
attempt to subjugate them unless Con-
gress first makes declaration OF war.
which IL is not likely to do. Until that
is done there can be no effort TO sub
jugate those people who are living In
peace in their own country and there
could be no excuse for the United States
maintaining a large standing army"
When Mr.. Cockrell finished, the Senate
took a recess until $3.50 Z. NJ. in order
TO permit Senators 20 attend the funeral
OF Mrs. Bright, wife of the sergeant-at-
arms.
UNLESS WE ATTACK.
After the recess, Mr. Hale. replying to
Mr. Cockrell, said he had no doubt that
the rank and file of the army abroad
had great desire to return home, and
he expressed the opinion that they
should be allowed 10 do. lie argued that
there was no menace of war unless II
was with the tflipnos, and the only
danger there was I'm our attacking,
though the duty devolved upon the
United States OF maintaining peace and
quiet i'm Cuba for the present. until the
Cubans could establish government Of
their own. He hoped this would not be
long
In respOne 20 a questiOn"from Mr. AL
len. Mr. Hale expressed the opinion that
affairs would he soon take such shape
that the services Of the volunteers could
be dispensed with. He thought that with
in the next six months 500 or 6,O0O sol
diers could be mustered out, but thiswas
a matter which should be left largely TO
the administration.
GORMAN FOR REDUCTION.
Mr. German said he had advocated an
amendment to the bill which would pro-
vide IN explicit terms for the reduction
Of the army by from q co to 5000 men
by July lst next. but owing to the repre-
sentatlOns OF the army authorities. he
would reserve his amendment until the
army bin comes before the Senate. In
this connection he paid a high tribute TO
Adiutant-Gcnerai Corbin. and then pro-
ceeded to warm the country against the
OF the military element
Naturally the army officer wanted to pre-
serve 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 en-
the idea that We should keep in
arms a sufficient number Of men TO keep
n subjugation foreign people lie
thought coaling stations necessary for
he extension Of our trade, but an
louEced himself as opposed TO undue
expansion by means of conquest
Mr.. Allison. Mr.. Money and Mr.. Sewell !
poke on the subject. after which the bill |
vas passed.
At the instance Of Mr.. Harris the SEN
Ite adopted resolution calling upon the |
President for informatiOn as to the |
status of the report OF the Nicaragua
anal. The Senate then went into execu- |
i've session and at sos adjourned until |
iOnday.