Evening star., 1898-12-16
THE SENATE ON THE ARMY
Passage Of the Military Deficiency
Bill.
Disc cussfOn of Our Attitude Toward
the Cubans md the INhabitaMts
of the Philippines.

o'clock yesterday afternoon, after recess
to allow members to attend the funeral of
the late Mrs. Bright, Mr.. Cockrell continued
his speech on the urgent deficiency BILL
saying that the Spaniards would soon be
out of Cuba, and that as the object of the
war was to get the Spaniards out of that
island, there was no longer any reason for
maintaining large force under arms. The
Cubans were perfectly capable of maintain
ing republican form of government, and
they should have the right TO do so. He
said that Spain could not cede the Philip
pines because she did not possess them
The United States did not want troops to
fight the Filipinos. and could not do so
without declaration of war.
Replying, Mr. Hale said he had no doubt
that the rank and file of the army abroad
had a great desire to return home and he
expressed the opinion that they should be
allowed to do He argued that there
was no menace of war unless it was with
the Fflipinos, and the only danger there
was in our attacking them. 1t was true
that the duty devolved upon the govern
ment of the United States of maintaining
peace and quiet in Cuba for the present
until the Cubans could establish a govern
ment of their own. He hoped this would
not be long. In response TO questions from
Mr.. Allen, Mr.. Hale expressed the opinion
that affairs would soon take such shape
mat the services of the volunteers could be
dispensed with. He thought that within
the next six months $1,000 or 6o,9o1 soldiers
could be mustered out. But This was a
matter which should be left largely to the
administration. He understood it was the
intention to keep about 2o0D men in the
Philippines.
Mr.. Germans View.
Mr.. German said he had advocated an
amendment 10 the bill which would provide
in y.ft Sow
army to from 1000 10 10000 men by July /
next, but owing to the representations of
the army authorities he would reserve his
amendment until the army bill should come
before the Senate. In this connection he
paid high tribute to Adjutant General
'orbln and then proceeded to warn the
country against the encroachmentS of the
military element. Naturally the army Off
Ger wanted to preserve his own importance
and maintain his employment. but this was
no reason why private citizen should
not zealously guard his own rights. Mr..
German conceded that some increase of
the army he necessary. but he did not want
to encourage the idea that we should keep
a sufficient number of men under arms to
mold i'll Sublugation outlying countries with
whose people We have no common ties He
thought coaling stations necessary for the
extension of our trade but announced him
self as opposed to undue expansion by
means of conquest.
MIR. AiiisOn's Position
Mr.. Allison expressed svmpathy with the
desire to have a large number of the yoluu
teers mustered out, but it must not be for
gotten that under tho law the necessity
existed for the immediate reduction of the
regular army from 30 800 to 5000 men
He called attention to the Importance of ii
Sutflc.ent force to maintain our coast fortif-
cations, saying that General Miles had
expressed the opinion that from IA 800 to
lG,eoO men would be necessary for this pur-
pose. In view of these and other facts he
consldered 1t wise to follow the wishes of
the President and the military authorities
IN this matter. He was sure there was no
purpose 10 Keep the extra force longer than
absolutely necessary. The fact must not be
IoSt Slght or that our affairs in Cuba were
in Il transitional state, and under the cir
cumstances, with a large number of Span
iardS left in the island no,..lng was SO
probable as disturbances. We had agreed
TO malnt ain order in Cuba during the unset
tied period, and while he hoped this period
would not long continue he lor one would
not consent to so reduce our forces as not
TO be able to make good our pledges.
Natives i'm the ..rmy.
Replying to a suggestion, Mr.. Allison said
the President had no power to muster into
our army the natives of any of the various
islands unless it should be done by taking
them into our regular army organizations
He suggested legislation authorizing the
utliIH'lioh OF d IdfSe percentage of the
loca! forces in the outlying islands The
problem was one, however, for the commit
tee on military affairs, and had no place on
an Appropriation bill, and he hoped the
present bill would be left intact
Mr.. Money said his experience had not
been the same that of other senators
who had found regimantal and company
officers unwilling to assist their men to get
out of the army service. but on the con-
tfary, they We're generally anxious to aid
them He thought married men should gen.
orally BE- relieved from the service
Mr.. Sewell said the War Department had
for the past several months been gradually
wedding out soldiers for discharge, and
that many thousands had thus been re-
lieved from this duty. He had no doubt
that even without legislation $1,000 men
would be released within the next SIX
months
The Bill Passed.
The urgent deficiency bill was then
passed.
At the instance of Mr.. Harris, the Senate
adopted a resolution calling upon the Presi-
dent for information as to the status of the
report Of th5 Nicaragua commission
in