The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-09
Amendment Providing that the Bill
the Law as to Volunteers.
WARNING FROM A MISSOURIAN
SENATOR VEST PROTESTS AGAINST
HAsTY PENSION LEGISLATION.
He VIII Not Permit Passage OF Spe.
ciaI Bills Unless There Is "a QcO-
rum--New Measures.

WASHINGTON, Dec. s.-The urgent def
cheney bill to provide for the support of the
military and naval establishments was
passed by the House to-day practically with
out opposition. A fear had been expressed
that the measure might open up a pro-
longed debate on the conduct of the war;
but the Democratic members decided that
such a debate would properly come later on
the regular appropriation bills or upon the
bill for the reorganization of the army.
There was not word of criticism Of the
war during the debate. The only point
upon which an issue was raised to-day was
as to whether the BILL providing as it did
for the pay of the volunteers until July l,
1S99 might not be construed as a modifca-
tion of the law under which the volunteers
were mustered into service. Mr.. McRea, of
Arkansas, offered an amendment providing
that it should not be so construed and upon
it there was general discussion as to the
advisability of mastering the volunteers out
before the regular army was increased. Mr..
Cannon finally accepted the McRea amend
ment, and that removed the only shadow of
opposition to the bill. A number of amend
ments were adopted on the recommendation
of the appropriations committee, which re-
ceived some supplemental estimates after
the bill was prepared. The largest of these
was an item of $3000,OO0 for an emergency
fund for the War Department and $57S coo for
the Ordnance Department, increasing the
amount carried by the bill to $69, ,895 S92. The
conference report on TIE hill to render the
sureties of consuls, vice consuls and consular
agents liable for damages in suits at law
was adopted. The House adjourned over un-
til Monday to give the committees an oppor-
tunity to work without interruption.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier, premier of Canada
Lord Herschell, Sir Louis Davies and Sir
James Winter, premier of Newfoundland
members of the high commission, occupied
seats in the gallery OF the House to-day, be-
ing guests of Mr.. Dingley, the floor leader
of the majority, who is a member of the
commission. They seemed greatly interested
in the proceedings and procedure. Mr.
Dingley pointed out to them the celebrities
of the House.
When Mr.. Cannon arose to explain the ur-
gent deficiency bill, Mr.. Underwood (Dem
Ala.), interrogated him with view to Sc
curing q statement as to the disposition to
be made of the volunteer army.
Mr.. Cannon said the treaty of peace might
be ratified in January; it might not be rati-
fled for months. No one could tell what was
in front of us. We must deal with a situa-
tion. The volunteer army might be mustered
out and it's place taken by the regular
army. That was a matter for the future to
decide, but he felt confident that the treas
ury would be rich enough and Congress
wise enough to meet any emergency.
Mr. Sayres (Dem., Tex, the ranking mi
nority member of the appropriations commit
tee, gave his unqualified Endorsement to the
bill, which, he sad did not affect in any
way the legislation regarding the volunteer
or regular armies. 1t simply made appro-
priations to support the present military and
naval establishment. The bill was based on
the theory that the volunteers would con-
tinue in the service until July 1, 1899. If
they were mustered out the appropriations
would be covered back into the treasury
Mr.. McRae Dem. Ark.) said it was un-
just to the volunteers to hold them in the
service when Congress had given a solemn
pledge that they should be mustered out
as soon as the war ended. He believed it
was the purpose of the President to hold
the volunteers until large standing army
was provided
'The army on a peace footing numbers
about twenty-six thousand interposed Mr.
Cannon. Does the gentleman and his side
of the house stand ready to support bill
to increase that army to meet the necessi-
ties of the government in it's present emer-
gency and those which confront it?'
I'VE will meet that question when it
arises" replied Mr.. McRae. I'VE are op-
posed to a large standing army and we are
opposed to holding the volunteers to per-
form the duty of regulars and be used as
a club to force us to create a large standing
army Let reorganization of the army come
in the regular way
Mr. Hemenway said he could not under
stand how gentlemen could desire the mus
tering out of the volunteers until a stand
properly govern our new possessions. Ger
tainly no one would contend that twenty
six thousand men would be sufficient.
do you favor the retention of the volun-
teer army in the service until the regular
army is increased" asked Mr.. Bland.
''If an increase of the regular army is
deemed necessary" replied Mr.. Hemenway,
II do. 1 believe. if necessary, that the vol
unteers should be held iii service until their
time of enlistment expires"
Mr. Fleming declared that the volunteers
had enlisted under the promise that they
would be discharged when the war was
over. He could not understand why the
chairman of the appropriations committee
should oppose the McRae amendment,
which simply provided that nothing in the
pending bill should construe or modify the
act of April q. After further debate action
was taken on the bill as previously stated
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