The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1898-04-15

the army reorganization bill attracted
little or no attention. 1t was COM
pletely overshadowed by the more alb
sorbing question. Considerable oppo-
sitiOn to the bill developed on the
ground that it's provision for IN extern
sion Of the regular army in time of
war to 100000 men would be inimical
to the national guard and the volun-
teer forces upon which the country
had heretofore relied in tim. of stress.
There will be strong effort to re-
commit the bill.
In the Senate.
When the senate converted intense
expectancy, amounting to excitement.
prevailed both OH the floor and in the
galleries. The presidents message
had been positively promised ana it's
coming was awaited with genuine
anxiety. Ten minutes after the SEN
ate convened consideration of the
sundry civil bill was resumed. and
with the exception of eight minutes
consumed by executive session. in
which Senator Davis announced that
no message would be sent in. almost
the entire session was consumed by
the appropriation bill. 1t was practi-
cally completed when laid for the day.
Washington, April S.-1hcre was Il
scene of great excitement in the house
during the consideration of the bill for
the reorganization of the army. 1t
was caused by Mr. LentZ. an Ohio
Democrat. who made vicious as
sault on the administration, charging
that the policy of delay was in the
interest Of stock iohbers in Wall street
He alleged that Wall street was in
possession Of information that the
message would not go in long before
1t was made known Mt the capitol,
md protited heavily by the advance in
the price Of stocks which resulted. He
even charged that there was no war
rant for the alarming statements
about the situation in Havana which
We're reported as justifying the delay
of the message Mr. LentZ's speech
created a profound sensation and was
met with
An Emphatic Reply
from Gen. Grosvenor. now regarded
generally as the administration spokes-
man OH the floor. Mr. Grosvenor not
only Indignantly denied that there was
justification for the reports. but held
Mr.. LentZ up to scorn for alleging cor
rupt motives against the president.
Mr.. l.cntz disclaimed this, but the
irate friend Of the president gave him
no mercy. He was thoroughly
| aroused and laid about him with Il
veritable bludgeon, charging that the
Democrats We're seeking political ad-
vantage, and paying his respects to
| John ]. NlcCook and others. Before
be concluded he expressed the opin
| ion that war was as certain as that
war was as certain as that he would
| live until next week. unless it was
| averted by Spain. The debate on the
army bill developed more and more
! opposition. Mr.. Hull tried to save the
| bill by agreeing to strike out all its
] provisions, even the three battalion
formation features but it was in the
end accommodating to G1. The house
adjourned until Monday.
Some sharp war talk was INDUCED
in by the senate. When consideration
of the sundry civil appropriation bill
was resumed the question pending
was the amendment Of MIR. Pettus Of
! Alabama providing for such improve
ment of the harbor at Mobile as would
enable war vessels to obtain coal and
other supplies there. Mr.. Allison OF
Iowa, in charge of the bill, made Il
point of order against the amendment.
This called out bitter speech by Mr..
!, Morgan Of Alabama, who charged the
(, appropriations committee With dis
eliminating against proper measures
and threatened to assist in dissolving
the committee. He followed With au
argument showing the necessity for
the improvement proposed. holding
that it would open to the government
in time of war the coal fields of the
South and enable it successfully to
| fight the reasonable monopoly that
had been formed to control the coal
! supply of the country in the event OF
war; The amendment was lost. AT
o'clock the bill had not been com
| pleted and was laid aside. the senate
/ devoting the remainder of the after
noon to eulogies of the late Senator
James Y. George of Mississippi.