Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-08
HOUSE CATCHES THE FEVER.
Patriotic Enthusiasm Was Rampant
Among Members Of Congress.

hIHOug WtlHUtIS vi July l6SNs
The Bill to Increase the Regular
Army by Two Additional Artil-
lery Regiments Passed Without
Division : Only T Three Voices
Heard When the Noes Were Gall
ed Foresight Opposition Offered
Because OF the Principle Involved
in Increasing the Army in Time OF
Peace Bailey Refused Permission
to Speak Three Minutes.
Washington, March THE spirit OF
patriotism was rampant in the House
to-day and by almost an 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
! minutes allowed under the rules and
| because it was refused, after the bill
| had been passed, he inaugurated a
| flibuster 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, in opening the debate. ex-
| planned briefly the necessity for those
| men to man the coast defenseS OF the
| country BY July /, he said, 244 big
| guns and 232 mortars would be mount
| ed. ATS in all. These guns required IL
| men each to handle them, and in time
] of war sixty. There were but 4,G25 ar
tillerymen all told in the service. The
| guns emplaced July / would require
| 900 regardless of any exigency that
might arise Even if no exigency arose
| these men. he insisted, would be nee
| esary to care for the Notifications and
| guns upon which we were expendtng
| millions of dollars The charge that
| this bill was an attempt to Increase the
| standing army, to be used possibly to
| cverawe the cities, he said, he con-
sidered too frivolous to discuss
| MIR. Cox, in opposing the bill, said
| he would vote as cheerfullv as any man
| in the House for this bin If it were
| needed for the national defense as
war measure. but he argued that the
| President, as cOmmander-1n-ehle1 or
| the army. had authority to detail men
| from other branches Of the service, the
| cavalry and infantry and that such de-
| tails could man and care for the coast
defenses without increasing perma-
nently
THE STANDING ARMY.
! chr III v
/ Secretary Of War Belknap and Nj:
| McClelland (Dem.. N. W, a son OF
Cen. McClelland, both warmly advocat-
| al the massage of the bill in brief
| sneeches and Mr.. Hay CDem., Val
| created the first open enthusiasm by
declaring himself in favor of taking
every step necessary now TO prepare
| for the emergency which confronts the
country.
| Mr. Jones Dem, Va.), the other
| Democrat who opposed the bill, insist
| ed that the bin was not war meas
! ure as ii had been recommended TOT
| several years.
| Mr.. Shafroth (Col.) caused round
! of applause when he expressed his re-
| greet that a single voice should be rals-
| ed against such bill at such time.
| There was no denying the fact that
| orr foreign relations with Spain were
! on the eve of a rupture. War ought
| to be averted if possible, but we ought
| to prepare at once he said. for every
| emergency.
| Mr.. Williams fDem., Miss.,) said
| that while his voice was now as ever
f! for peace, it seemed absolutely GER
| tain that Spain was forcing US into
| war to extricate the reigning family
! from the desperate straits into which
| she was placed by her futile attempts
| to subjugate Cuba. He had been for
| Cuban belligerency and Cuban indie
| pendence, and if war was to come as
| a result of our sympathy 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 debate expired at this
! time. and Mr. Bailey. who had not
| been able to get the floor asked
FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT
/ for three minutes. Mr.. Hepburn
/ (Rep., Iowa. objected.
| Mr.. Lewis (Dem, Wash attempted
! to offer an amendment prohibiting the
use of these two regiments to suppress
| strikes,
| The bill was then passed without di-
| vision.
| The great chorus Of ayes was Offset
| by three voices on the minority side.
| Messrs. Cox (Dem, Tenn.,). Jones
! (Dem.. Va.,} and Todd Gus, Mich)N
| District Of Columbia business was
| then taken up, and Mr.. Bailey, as a
method of resenting the refusal to ac-
| cord him the privilege of addressing
| the House on the artillery bill. inaug-
| urated ilihuster. Roll call followed
| roll call for two hours When the con
| fusion on the floor became such that
order was called for the Speaker re-
| quested all members to take their
| seats. Mr.. Bailey retained his place
| on the floor. Again the Speaker re-
| quested 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
| except that conferred by the rules"
| said the Speaker. "He holds no other
| authority end he expects none"
| There were several exchanges after
| that, in one of which Mr. Bailey. tc
the accompaniment of Republican
/ jeers and Democratic applause. declar-
| ed that he could not be "badgered'
| by the Speaker Then turning to the
/ Republican side. in response to their