The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-04-07

Visitors in the House Went Away
SOreIY Disappointed

WASHINGTON, April 6.-After waiting
patiently in the galleries and corridors of
the House for hours, many of them from s
o'clock this morning until shortly before 5
o'clock this afternoon, the thousands who
had come to hear the Presidents Cuban
message turned away weary and Disguised
at the delay. Never was there such disap-
pGntment at the Capitol. The members
felt it even more keenly than the specta-
tors, and for two hours afterwards they
stood about the Hobbies discussing this
latest phase of the situation. The news of
the proposed armistice which came on the
heels of the announcement that General
Lee had cabed for delay received quite as
much attention as the request of Lee. The
debate in progress in the House over the
army reorganization bill attracted little or
no attention. 1t was completely overshad-
owed by the more absorbing question. Con-
siderable opposition to the bill developed on
the ground that its provision for an extern
sion of the regular army in time of war to
900 men would be inimical to the Ma
tional Guard and the volunteer forces on
which the country had heretofore relied in
time of stress. There will be a strong effort
to recommit the bill tomorrow.
AS the hands of the clock pointed to y
green baize doors leading from the lobby
to the House and assembled the rostrum.
With two whacks of the gavel the great
multitude was hushed The members and
many of the spectators in the gallery arose
and stood with bowed head as the blind
chaplain of the House delivered solemn
invocation for the divine aid in the days
deliberations At that hour there was a
general understanding on the floor that the
message would not be sent to Congress
probably until o'clock, and the members
settled in their seats TO await it's expected
appearance. AS the families of many of
the members could not obtain admission to
the galleries. Mr.. Bailey asked if the speak
er could entertain request that the mem
bers be permitted to bring their families
upon the floor. The speaker answered in
the negative. The rules strictly prohibited
him from entertaining such request
1t having been arranged last Friday that
the army reorganization bill should be a
special order for to-day mot to interfere
with report from the committee on for
eign affairs, the speaker recognized MIR.
Hull, chairman of the military affairs COM
nittee, to call it up. A wrangie followed
as to whether the bill should be considered
in committee of the whole or in the House,
and as to the limits Of the debate. The gal
leries watched these preliminaries impa-
tiently but with interest the leaders on
both sides. Mr.. Dingley and Mr.. Bailey.
and others participated in the sparing. 1t
was finally agreed that the bill should be
considered in the House, but all efforts to
arrange a limit upon the debate failed. ow-
ing to the objection of Mr. Marsh (Rep.,
Ili0, who is one of the most bellieose men,
bers on the floor.
Mr. Hull. in a calm, dispassionate state
ment explained the features and purposes
of the bill and the advantages of the pro-
posed three-battalion formation, which have
been fully covered In the press dispatches.
our present formation, ne said, was abso-
lutely obsolete and ii would be murder to
REQUIRE the army Of the United States 10
go into battle under the present law. The
deadly character of modern firearms made
an open formation absolutely necessary.
Mr. Marsh (Rep., I'D followed Mr.. Hull.
He indorsed the main features OF the bill,
but expressed his opinion that no captain
could handle a company OF 200 men under
the new formation
The debate drifted along with considerable
range many members participating. Mr..
Lacey rep, ia.) aroused the first outburst
of applause from members and galleries
when he said that he regretted that war
seemed inevitable but that one thing would
come out of 1t. The regiment of the StatS
Of Georgia would vie with that Of the STATE