The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1898-12-09
ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL
Passes the House Practically without
Opposition.

Passes the House Practically without
Opposition.
HOUSE washington Dec. s.--The urgent
deficiency bin to provide for the support
of the military and naval establishments
was passed b. the house today. practical
ly without opposition. A fear had been
expressed that the measure NIGH, open up
a prolonged debate upon the conduct Of
the war, but the democratic leaders decid-
cd that such a debate would properly
come later upon the regular appropriation
bills or upon the bill for the recoganiza-
don Of the army. There was not a word
OF criticism OF the war during the de-
bate. rne only point npon wnicn an Issue
was ra scd today was as to whether the
pill, providing, as it did, Tor the ray OF
the volunteers until July ], 1899, might
not be constructed as a modification of
the law under which the volunteers were
mustered into service. MIR. McRea, OF
Arkansas, offered an amendment provid-
Ing that it should not be so constructed,
and upon 1t there was a general discus
sion as to the advisiabillty OF mastering
the volunteers out before the regular ar
my was increased. Mr.. Cannon iinall6ac-
cepted the McRea amendment a number
of amendment were adopted.
Tne conference report upon the bill to
render the surlties of consuls, vice con.
suls and consular agents liable for dam.
ages in suits at law, was adopted.
The house adjourned until Monday.
\. r. Underwood CDem. Ala.) .interro-
gated Mir. Cannon with view OF receiv-
ing a statement as to the disposition to b'
made Of the volunteer army.
Mr.. Cannon said the treaty OF peace
might be ratified in January. It nigh
not be ratified for months. No one coulC
tell what was in front Of us. We mus
deal with situation. The volunteer ar
my might be mustered out and it's plac,
taken by the regular army. That was {
matter for future to decide, but he fel
Confident that the treasury would b.
rich enough and congress wise enough Z
meet any emergency.
Mr. sayers Oem. Texas.) the ranking
minority member of the appropriation
committee. gave his unqualified endorse
ment of the bill, which, he said, did no
affect in any way the legislation regard
( ing the volunteer or regular armies.
| simply made appropriations to supper
the present naval and military establish
ment. The bill was based on the tasor
that the volunteers would continue 4
rho service until July 1.lS99. II they wer
mustered out the appropriations would b
covered back into the treasury.
Mr.. Livingston Dem. Ga) expresse
the opinion that the law under which tn
voluteers were mustered into service wa
subject TO double construction as 10 IN
Time when they should be mustered out
and believed II ."e President was dis
posed TO keep the volunteers in the scr
vice until the regular army had been re
organized this bill appropriatlng none
for their payment would strengthen hi
hands
Mr.. McRea (Dem. Ark) gave notice tina
at the proper time he would offer a
amendment declaring that nothing in TN
pending bill should construe, extend u
modify section four OF the act of April 2
creating the volunteer army. lie said h
would not have pressed this amendmer
had It not been for the Presidents declaI
alton In his message that he would music
out the volunteer army as soon as the rC
gular was increased. 1t was unjust I
the volunteers 10 hold In the service whe
congress had given solemn pledge tha
they should be mustered out as soon a
the war was ended.
lie beneveu It was the purpose Of tn
President to hold the volunteers unti
large standing army was provided.
The army ON "a peace footing number
but $4,000 interposed Mr.. Cannon. Doe
the gentleman and his side OF the hous
stand ready TO support a bill TO increas
that army to meet the necessities Of tn
government in its present emergency an'
those which confront n2'
I'VE win meet that question when 4
arises" replied Mr.. McRea. I'VE are op
posed TO a large standing army, and We
are opposed to holding the volunteers t,
preform the duty OF regulars and be useC
as club TO force us TO create a larg'