The San Francisco call., 1898-12-16
QUESTION OF VOLUNTEERS
SPIRITED DEBATE AS TO KEEP
 ING THEM IN SERVICE.
Postponement of the Vote on the Mo- tion to Delay Consideration of the Nicaragua
 Canal Bill.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.-The urgent deficiency appropriation bill making provision for the army and navy for the next six 1ths displaced tke Nicara- gra canal bill in the Senate to-day, pre- venting cen the taking of vote on the question of postponement until after the holidays, as had been intended. The deficiency bill was passed after a spirited discussion. turning principally on the point of keeping the volunteer soldiers the servic'
 The Senate, upon converting to-day. de- cided to take a recess from 1:30 until 3:30 O clock In order to permit Senators to at tend the funeral of Mrs Bright wife of the Sergeant-at-aT arms.
 vest gave brief explanation, the pur- port or which was that he had received a letter from Attorney General Griggs denying that at banquet in New York ne had, as quoted. expressed the opinion that the legislation made fer half-deyel- oped colonies could not reasonably be ex- pected 10 meet the demands of the great est nation in the world.
 Mofgan presented a memorial from the National Board of Trade favorable 10 le construction of the Nicaraguan canal. asking that 1t be printed in the Congress sional Record. Allen objected. and Mor- gan accepted the action of Allen as an ef fort to obstruCt legislation for the canal and 10 prevent the country securing in
 
 Allen resented this, saving he was fa NoTable 10 the canal on general princi- pies, though advocating Government own cost s100 ,0OA0OO 1'O
 Without determining the mooted point raised by Allen the Senate. at Hale's re- quest, took up the urgent deficiency
 Cockrell addressed the Senate in re- gard to the mastering out of the yolun- teer soldiers, large majority of whom. n TAd lN.a many of whom were making sacrifices bv remaining in the service. On the other hand the officers, who were finding the service more profitable than the priVates had in many cases refused to forward an pHcauOns for discharge. He thought that Tn such cases o4e War Department should e&erclse some discretion in the interest of the private and be more lenient with inc enlisted men. CoCkrell SaiI very few soldiers would be required in Cuba and Port0 RICO, or, for that matter in the Philippines, where, he said. our footing was very insecure. He said this country'S occupation there was most meager. and ing with one foot on the land and the other on the bay, and that there was no prTb6aoiiity T6a s of of va war in that direction. soon be out of Cuba. and as the Obiect of the war was to get the Spanfards out or that island there was no longer any der arms. ~ , Replying, Hale said he had no doubt that the rank and file of the army abroad he expressed the opinion that they shouId be allowed to do so. He argued that there was no menace of war unless it was ger there was in our attacking them. If was true that the duty deVolyed unon tba Government of the United States of main talnlng peace and quiet in Cuba for the present until the Cubans could establish a Government of their own. He hoped this would not be long. In response to 0DeSf10nG al opinion that affairs would soon take such shape that the services of the volunteers could be dispensed with
 German said he had advocated an amendment to the bill which would pro Diide. In explicit I6a terms; for the reduction owing to the representations of the army authorities he would reserve his amend, ment until the army bill should come be- paid a high tribute to Adjutant General Corbin. and then he proceeded to warn the country against the encroachments of the military element. Naturally the army officer wanted to preserve his own importance and maintain his employment but this was no reason why the private own rights He thought coaling stations necessary for the extension of our trade but announced himself as opposed to un, due expansion by means of conquest
 Allison expressed sympathy with the desire to have large number of volun- tied period, and while he hoped this De riod would not long continue he, for one. would not consent to reduce our forces as not be able to make good our pledges
 Sewell said the War Department had for the past several months been gradu- ally wedding out soldiers for discharge. and that many thousands had thus been relieved from this duty. He had no doubt that even without legislation 50 GOO men months.
 The, urgent def ency bill was then passed.
 At the instance of Harris the Senate adopted resolution calling upon the President for information as to the status of the report of the Nicaragua commits sion.
 The Senate then went into executive session and at 5:03 p. m. aGJourned until Monday.
 l0IICE 0IIIHKi nhNOEN