The Portland daily press., 1898-04-08

Washington, April There was
scene of great excitement in the House
late this afternoon during the considera-
tion OF the bill for the reorganization of
the army. 1t was caused by MIR. Lentz,
an Ohio Democrat who made vicious
assault on the administration charging
that the policy Of delay was in the interest
of stock jobbing in Wall street. He al
legged that Wall street was in the posses
sion Of information that the message
would not go in long before it was known
at the Capitol and profited heavily by
the advance in stock which resulted.
He charged that there WAS no warrant
for the alarming statements about the
situation in Havana, which were made as
la justif cation for the delay of the mes
sage. Mr.. Lentz's speech created pro-
found sensation and was met with an en-
phatie reply from General Grosvenor, now
generally regarded as the administration
spokesman on the floor of the House. Mr.
7Grosyenor not only Indignantly denied
that there was Justification for the re.
ports but held Mr.. Lentz up to scorn for
alleging corrupt motives against the
President Mr. Lentz disclaimed this,
but the irate friend of tho President gave
him no mercy. He was thoroughly
aroused and laid about him with yerit-
able bludgeoE, charging that the Demo-
Gratis were seeking political advantage
and paying his respects to John j. Me-
Cook and others. Before he concluded he
expressed the opinion that war was as
certain as that we would live until next
week unless it was averted by Spain.
The debsts on the army bill today de-
veloped more and more opposition. Mr..
Hull tried to save the bill by agreeing to
strike out all It's provisions save the three
battalion formation feature, but IL was in
the end reco1nmitted 1SO to 81. The
House adjourned until Monday.
Washington, April Little evidence
of excitement existed when the House
met at noon. The public galleries were
crowced but yswning gaps showed in the
reserved galleries.
Members seemed to have settled down
to the conviction that they would have to
wait with what patience they could the
developments until Monday when the
message it is said, is to go to Congress.
The Chaplain in his invocation prayed
fervently for peace.
Mr.. Hull, chairman of the military
affairs committee, realizing the opposition
to certain features OF the army re-organ-
ization bill, stated before the considera-
tion ef that bill was resumed that at the
proper time he would move to strike out
everything except the first two sections
providing for the three battalion forma-
tion. The section providing for the ex-
pansion of the regular army in time of
war to 104, 900 would be stricken out.
Debate then proceeded
Mr.. Sulze~, Democrat of New York,
who supported the bill as it was proposed
to modify it, made vigorous pro-Cuban
speech. If Cuban independence were
he declared, Cuba would soon
be free. He declared that the majority in
Congress and the President little under
stood the intense feeling of indignation
among the people over the Maine and the
delay of calling Spain to account.
'Oh for one day of Andrew jackson in
the White House, he concluded. 'Hs
would say onward the fleet. forward the
whole line and lot thegbattle cry be Cuba
must be free. !"
Mr.. Lewis, Democrat of Washington,
assailed the bill. He not only
charged that it was part of u programme
to increase. the regular army in time of
peace, but he declared that the three bat
TALON formation had proved a, failure and
had boen so characterized by the COM
mander-in chief of the British army.
Mr.. Lent2, Democrat of Ohio, in the
course of remarks in opposition to the bill
declared that there would be no war, that
the peace party which was speculating
in stocks and bonds would prevail Me
said there was an irreconciliable disparity
between the reasons given for the delay Of
the Presidents message and the de-
spatches ON Havana. The message had
been postponed because Lee could not get
4 lnnricans nut of HaNana vet tho Drass