Omaha daily bee., 1898-03-08

Only Three Members Are Recorded
Against the Measure.

HOUSE PASSES ARTILLERY BILL.
Only Three Members Are Recorded
Against the Measure.
WASHINGTON March THE spirit of
patriotism Was rampant In the house today
and by almost unanimous vote the Hawley
bill providing for two additional regiments OF
artillery was passed under suspension of the
rules. No effort was made to obstruct action
but Mr.. Bailey, the democratic leader
pleaded for more time than the forty mnutcs
allowed under the rule and because 1t was
refused. after the bill had been passed. he
inauguCated a filibuster against District OF
Columbia legislation that continued all day
Mr.. Bailey desired to speak in favor of the
BILL but could not get time.
Mr.. Hull (rep., Ia.) in opening the debate
explained briefly the necessity for these men
to man the coast defenees of the country.
BY juno /, he said, 244 big guus and 2S2
mortars would be mounted. These guns re-
quired eighteen men each to handle them,
and in time OF war sixty. There were 4,025
artillerymen all told in the service. The
guns empaced July 1 would require 1000
regardless OF ony exiscncy that might acise.
Even If no exigency arose these men, he
insisted; would be necessary to care for the
Notifications and guns upcn which we were
expendlng millions of dolars. The charge
that this bill was an attempt to Increase the
| standing army, to be used possibly'to over
awe the cities, he said, he considered too
| frivolous to discuss.
Mr. Cox dem. Tenr.) in opposing the bill
said he would vote as cheerfully as any man
| in the house for this bill IL 1t were needed
for the national defense as war measure.
but he argued that the president, as com.
er-in chief of the army, Fad authority
tc detail men from the other branches OF the
service, the cavalry and infantry, and that
such details could man and care for the
coast defenscs without increasing perma-
rently the standing army.
Mr.. Belknap rep. Ill), son Of ex-Secre-
tary of War Beknap, and Mr.. Mcclellan
(dem., N. ", son OF General Mcclellan,
both warmly advocated the passage of the
bill in brief speeches, and Mr.. Hay dem,
Va) created the first open enthusiasm by
declaring himself in favor of taking every
step necessary now to prepare for the emer-
gency which confronts the country
Mr.. Jones dem, Va), the other democrat
| who opposed the BILL insisted that the bill
was not war measure, as 1t had been rec
commended for several years.
Mr.. Shafroth (sl., Colo) caused round OF
| applause when he expressed his regret that
a single voice should be raised against such
| a bill at such a time. There was no denying
| the fact that our foreign relations with
| Spain were on the eve Of rupture. War
ought to be averted II possible, but we
| ought to prepare at once, he said, for every
| emergency.
Mr.. Williams (dem., Miss.) said that while
| his voice was now as ever for peace 1t
| seemed absolutely certain that Spain was
| forcing us into war to extricate the regning
| family from the desperate straits into which
it was placed by its futile attempts to sub
| jugate Cuba. He had been for Cuban bel
| ligerency and Cuban Independence and II
war was to come as a result OF our SYM
| pathy for those who were struggling for
their freedom he would not refuse to give his
vote to any measure designed to prepare us
to meet the enemy.
The time for the debate expired at this
| time and Mr. Bailey. who had not been able
to get the floor, asked for unanimous con-
| sent for three minutes. Mr.. Hepburn rep.,
| la objected.
Mr.. Lewis dem, Wash) attempted to Of
| fer an amendment prohibiting the use OF
these two regiments to suppress strikes.
The bill was then passed without division.
| The great chorus OF ayes was Offset by three
voices on the minority side, Messrs. Cox
| dem, TENN, Jones dem, Va), and Todd
| fusion, Mich).
District OF Columbia business was then
taken up and Mr.. Bailey. as a method of re-
! seating the refusal to accord the privilege
| of addressing the house on the artillery bill
! inaugurated fiibuster Roll call followed
roll call for two hours. When the confusion
of the floor became such that order was
called for. the speaker requested all members
| to take their seats.
| Mr.. Bailey retained his place on the floor
Again the speaker requested members to take
| their seats.
II take my seat" said Mr.. Bailey, as he
finally sat down, because the rules of the
house require it,
THE speaker exercises no authority excep,
| that conferred by the rules" said the
! speaker. He holds no other authority, and
| he expects none"
There were several exchanges after that
after one of which Mr.. Bailey. to the accom-
psniment OF republican jeers and democratic
| applause. declared that he could not be
"badgered" by the speaker. Then. turning
to the republican side. In response to their
| jeers. he added:
THAT demonstration either indicates q
lack OF deceacy or lack Of sense. and sus-
peet BOTH
I At $40 o. m. the house adjourned.
Spanish Buying Ammunition.
| LONDON. March 1.-TWO separate COM