The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-01-18
THE ARMY DISCUSSED,
MCCLELLAN MAKES AN ATTACK oN
ARMY EFFICrENCY.
Said II WAS Nothing bnt police
Forcc--Lcwis severely Crisiciscs
sci,rnan's Dfspatcl.

Washington, January 17s-This was Dis.
trlct OF Columbia day in the house bu
only three bills OF local Importance wer,
a rasaed Tho remainder or the session was
devoted to further consideration OF til,
army appropriation bill. The debate was
particularly notable for vigorous speech
by Mr. Mcclellan of New York. a son OF
General George b Mcclellan. attacking
the present army organization as Obsolete
and Inefficient. He asserted that we were
woefuly unprepared for war should "a
| crisis come and contonded for modern
methods Of organization and supplies which
would enable the United States to meet
an emergency.
| Mr.. Lewis OF Washington also made "A
speech that attracted attention IN de-
nuneiation OF trusts, which, he declared,
were threatening the liberties OF the coun-
try. The consideration OF the army appro-
priatiou bill was rot completed today.
This was District of Columbia day In
the house and after reading the journal
Mr., Curtis of the District of Columbia com
mittce claimed the day aud tho house
proceeded 10 consideration of District bust
ness.
After the passage OF three bills of purely
local importance the house resumed con
sideration OF tho army appropriation bill
begun on Saturday. In the course of the
debate Mr.. Griffith tRop., Iowal, defended
tue policy of retiring army officers on
three quarters pay The debate mudc was
significant of an attack upon the efficiency
OF the favorable branches of the army b,
Mr.. Mcclellan Dem. N. w. son or
General George b. Mcclellan. The arm,
To-Day, hc declared, was little better than a
eiumsily organized National police force
TOO heavy with the gold lace of stan Off
GERS many of whom had not seen more
active service than falls 10 The lot OF a
member OF the police force. The arm,
shnuld, lie declared, be entirely reorgaI,-
l2ed He said this in no shirt of jtnroisp
nut Tor the purpose of calling the attention
OF the country TO the fact thar Wo wtrn
paSing u large price for a very inefficient
army utterly unprepared for war whlto n
very small additional expenditure with
proper reorganization would work won
dars
Mr.. Mcclellan went into detailed dis
cuAsion of the various branches Of Inc
service Our infantry formations, he snlu
Would nave been considered excellent I'm
inc seventeenth century. He said the cav
airy was poorly mounted. One OF the gray
est uoHcli5 IN the present organization he
sului WIS the lack OF properly Instructed
ana competent stan. In the modern sense
al the word we had no stan Onr ammunl.
tloi' nlant, he said, WAS hopelessly deficient
~ Inc present rate of accumulated 20
serve, he said. at tho end of Ave wears we
would ouly have enough ammunition 10
N aspilS me infantry to two days Mt the
hT.ns rate OF the battle OF Gettysburg.
Mr.. Lewis CDom., Wis., made a visorous
speech against any increase Of the army
ne created something Of an iul ovation h,
taxing his position in tho area "a front
OF the speakers rcstrpn and speaking tn
pne house face TO face rs 10 Il coneres4
ton lie charged that the trusts were
~ control OF the country and constituted
Wy lPaiisu nahl OF lower behind the lie
ereea OF the courts. If the army were m
creRsed the people would, he sata. h. ius
tncd In asking II II was not to bnrrlcade
the trusts and 10 break down evorythinp
mat means the freedom az government,
ne dincred, he said, from the leader. MIR
bryan. who's cause he had followed Ho
was not willing TO subscribe TO tho idea
that free silver was the single end ia he
fought for There was necessity he said
Tor return to the democracy which had
for it's end the freedom OF the Individual
az an lndiyIduel. Mr.. Lewis quoted a iel- |
teram which he said senator Hanna had
received from Frankfort Germany, signed !
by \, Seligman as follows.
u congratulate you on your election.
II was very satisfactory to ne
nat message, said he, came from n man |
VINO helped to place n mortgage ,lpon this |
government Of ssee010 eco. Its insolenAe |
he SAID, had M parallel In history save
IN the message sent ~ Pontius plato Ia |
me fNecnuoner Of Jesus Christ conrrn,u
lating him that mis- work VAS well dot,n
Mr.. Gtosyenor interrupted 10 AK IL Mr.
Lewis ives aware that MIR seltgman was Al
American citizen.
II am responded Mr. Lewis. "ae a.
an nnrairiotie citisen," applause ON the
democratic side,)
Mr.. Grosvenor recalled the fact that Mr.
seliginan with tho credit of his house rem.
dered valuable aid TO the Union cause dur
ing the war To this MIR Lewis esnondea
Min the statement that Mr. Saiieman badj
removed his residence from this co,ntry
y time whom he feared the Income tny
Would COMPEL him 10 pay his share Ia
the support q the government. .He IS
the last man whom I should take pride
IN calling an american eitlseas'
Mr. HUI hsep., icwal. chairman OF tho
committee on military affairs expressed
concurrence IN the views OF MIR. Mcc,el.
an 70 the extent that he believed m,
army should hc reorSarlzei, as the pres.
Pnt ORGANIZATION was ohs3Ieic
The discussion Of che reais 81 tho army
WAS Continued by MeJsrs Wheeler dem.
NJ, ccN tnemr Tennl aud others
without oomn'eting she bill tho commit.
20 arose and at $40 p, M the house ad-