The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-04-21

pending law On Une sbtsueos oooh. Huf. nun
said that the best argument Tor perma-
nent law was the fact that the executive
otficers Of the government were compelled
to ask Congress to enact law to carry
out the will of Congress.
Mr.. Marsh. Repub lican Of Illinois, ami
Mr.. Saver. Democrat of Texas, both Ak
pressed the opinion that this measure
should be passed forthwith.
1t was finally arranged that DEBATE
should be closed at 2. ID p. m. ar, ~
The amendment was adopted Mr. NY ~
Millin. Democrat of Tennessee, moved to
reduce the term of enlistment OF inc VOL
unteer forces from three years as pro
vided in the bill to one year. tie thougn1
many of the young men OF ire country
would not be willing to enlls5 Ior ohrse
years.
Mr.. Hull replied that it was not expect
ed that the war would be long one un-
less Spain resorted to guerilla warlare'
but he did not believe a three years Term Ell,
would terrorize the young men. The
amendment was defeated.
Mr. Handy offered substitute autno-
rlzlng the enlistment of 0,0O0 men Lor
the present war. He said IT was GUS
tlnctly temporary measure and me6 Ihe
approval of eminent military authorltles'
The substitute was lost.
MIR. Talhert, Democrat of South Caro-
AAhc3 WHIhOa uuC 11OuSo UudV Wa ''-N->
Spain was not light thing Gentlemen
who thought it would be over in a tew
days would be sadly disappointed. Every
country in Europe might be drawn
into the encounter before we got through
with Spain.
Mr.. Little, Democrat of Arkansas,
offered an amendment, which was agreed
to, providing that the Indian territory
shall furnish its quota. =
Mr. Iinnpu RQn1hIiaan nf NORTH
Carolina, offered an amendment proyid-
ing that nothing in the bill should be
construed to prevent companies and
regiments from selecting their own DILL
GERS The power to select officers to I'LL
vacancies, he said, would be an incentive
to enlistment
Mr.. Grosvenor, Republican of Ohio,
one half of the officers elected at the be-
ginning of the late war, he said, had
been retired within a year on account OF
their unfitness.
Mr.. Pearce, Republican of Missouri,
said that the election of officers was de-
structive of discipline and efficiency.
Mr.. Talbert challenge this statement
Confederate army.
Gen. Walker, Republican of Virginia,
said that his experience in the Confed-
crate army had taught him that an army
that elected its own officers was wholly
inefficient. While all men would fight If
properly disciplined and led, many could
not be counted upon in danger when in
efficiently Differed.
The Linney amendment was defeated.
An amendment was adopted providing
fol chaplain for each regiment. An
other amendment was adopted providing
that cegimental and other medical Off
GERS should keep daily records of all off
GERS or sick or wounded and upon the
dlsbandment of the organization the rec
ords should be filed in the record and
pension office of the war department.
Section ID was amended 30 as to pro-
vide that the governors of the states in
stead of the President might appoint Off
GERS Of the regular army in the grades of
field officers in the volunteer army, such
appointments to depend upon the consent
of the President.
MIR. Cannon, chairman of the appro-
priations committee offered as an amend
ment section an amendment which
provides that all government employees
called into the military or naval service
of the United States while in such SER
vice should be granted leave of absence
and upon honorable discharge be entitled
to resume their employment at the same
pay and grade.
1t also provides where necessary for
temporary appointments TO NIL Vacan-
cies.
Mr.. Grosvenor objected to the amend
ment. 1t might be necessary, he said, to
offer such an inducement to secure en-
listment, but with 100000 able bodied
men there was no reason why the favor.
ties of the government should be showed
further favoritism.
Mr.. Cannon said there were.le letter car
riers, clerks and others in the public SER
vice who We're anxious to enlist in the
volunteer service and they should be
allowed to do so.
Mr.. Paris, Republican of Indiana, said
the amendment was the legitimate out
growth of the civil service humbug.
This proposition contained the biggest
bounty ever contemplated to enlisting
soldiers. The amendment was defeated.
The bill was then passed without d.
vision and at 5.15 p. M, the House adj