The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-19
TURP|E on WAR REVENUE.
GOOD PROGRESS MADE WITH THE
BILL IN THE SENATE.
Bay Quartermasscrs' supplies
Wfthoat Advertising for BIDS
Army O0rers ON yeiunteer stsRs.

NAsiiS0IoN, May B.-The feature
OF todays session OF the senate was the
speech OF Tuypie OF Indiana upon the war
revenue measure. He strongly commended
mat bond Issue was unnecessary; that
ali the funds required for the prosecution
OF the war could be raised through the
proposed inheritance tax. by the tax on
corporations by the coinage OF the silver
se.gniorage. and by the Issue of legal ten
der notes. These four means OF Obtaining
money would yield to the government dur
ing the next year. he maintained, fully
s3se,.o.sa. an amount In excess OF the e.
umated sum necessary for the conduct Of
the war.
Considerable progress was made in the
reading OF he bill. which included, natur-
ally. the consideration OF the amendments
proposed by the committee. Through the
influence OF German of Maryland the I'm
prisonment penalty WAS stricken out of
some OF the sections relating TO violations
OF the stamp tax.
After an extended debate, part OF which
occurred in secret legislative session. the
conference report on the bill suspending
certain parts OF the existing law relating
10 the purchase of supplies by the war de-
partfnent was adopted. The bill promoting
officers OF the regular army to staff APP
pointments in the volunteer army without
losing their rank or place In the regular
service was passed
When the senate, on motion OF Senator
Hawley, went into secret session today on
the auartermasters' bill, Hawley read a
letter from Gen. F'lagler. chief OF the bu-
reau of ordance. requesting that author
lily be given for the purchase of ordnance
without waiting to advertise saying that
such delay might at times be Of very seri-
Gus consequences. The letter was not
notable In any respect, except that II was
an official acknowledgment of the fact
that there are stlll many articles TO he Sc
rod ff<~ 10
that expedition is considered necessary In
securing them. The reading Of the letter
Jed 20 a brief discussion OF the status of
the military expedition to the Philippines.
Senator Lodge made brief speech on
this point. expressing the hope that II the
passage Of the bill would expedite in any
wise the movement of this force. il wouA
be put through without any further delay
whatever. He referred to the battle OF
Manila as the most notable naval triumph
OF the world because OF its remarkable one
sidedness. and expressed surprise and dis
appointment that eighteen days should
have been allowed to ella pse before troops
sufficient TO enable lis to follow the naval
victory with an attack upon the spanish
land forces at Manila had even been put
in read'ne<s TO start upon their mission.
Senator German repeated his criticism.
made In open session. of the provision in
serted by the conferees. but said he would
upon the report. There was no division
on the acceptance eff the report.
A house BILL reported by the committee
on claims. was passed, directing the pay
ment TO Samuel Mckee. OF Kentucky, of
Hits for expenses incurred by him In
contest for his seat in the Fortieth con-
gress.
A bill providing that officers In the reg
ular army should be eligible TO STAFF ap-
pointments in the volunteer army, and
that governors with the consent of the
president. may appoint officers Of the reg
ular army in the grade of field officers In
organizations In the volunteer army in the
District Of Columbia and Indian territory
was passed
Hawley called up the report Of the con-
ferees on the bill suspendng the action Of
certain existing laws relating to the pur-
chase of supplies by the auartermaster's
department Of the army. He explained
that the senate eonferees had abandoned
their amendment repeating section a7a9 of
the Revised Statutes. and had inserted the
following:
THAT during the existing war the bu-
reau of ordnance Of the war department is
authorized to purchase. without adver-
Gsement. such ordnance and ordnance
stores as are needed for immediate USE
and when such ordnance or ordnance
stores are to be manufactured to make
contracts without advertisements for such
stores. to be delivered as rapidly as manu-
featured"
German of Maryland inquired Of Hawley
whether the provision inserted by the con-
ferees conferred upon the chief Of ordnance
unlimited authority TO contract for sup
plies one or two years hence.
Hawlsy replied that the provision con-
ferred upon the chief OF ordnance only
such power as is now necessary for him In
the circumstances
M
plies which We must have said Hawley,
with some heat. ''are not 10 be had in
every toy shop Only three or four con-
Germs In the country make them The
chef of ordnance knows exactly what he
has to pay for them, and without adver-
Using for proposals. / could give the SEN
ator 0sorman) some information on this
point. but 10 not think 1t is proper TO do
so in open session
You need not call for a secret session
on my account" said German. ''but I
would Ike 10 know how sweeping this pro-
vision Is"
We'll" retorted Hawley. there IS Just
This about II. II you have not an honest
chief OF ordnance. have him turned out
and put in another man. 1t is essential
that he have the authority conferred upon
him by this provision. | call for a secret
executive session, Mr.. President
The call was sustained, and At i2;27 the
SSh5&e Went INTO secret stssSipf- DISCUS
sing the question in secret session for
half an hour. the report on the quarter
masters bill was agreed to.
The senate resumed open session al I2.l5
=, n, and began the consideration OF the
war revenue measure.
Turpse OF Indiana, in addressing the SEN
ate, said that the differences were differ
8ncss only In method. There was no d:f-
ference as 10 the purpose of supplying all
the ans and the men TO the govern
ment 10 carry on this war Turpie said
the pending bill carried n provision for a
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