The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-09
DEMOCRATS DEFER /
Not Yet Time to Open on the
Conduct of the War.
URGENT DEFICIENCY BILL
Passed by the House With
Almost No Opposition.
URGENT DEFICIENCY BILL

of the military and naval establishments,
was passed by the house today. practic-
ally without opposition. 4 fear had been
expressed that the measure might open up
a prolonged debate upon the conouct OF
the war but the Democratic leaders de-
cided that such a debate would properly
come later upon the regular appropriation
bills, or upon the bill for the reorganlza-
ton OF the army. There was not woru
OF criticism OF the war during the debate.
The only point upon which an issue was
raised today was as 10 whether the Dill,
providing as It did, for the pay OF the
volunteers until July /. 1899. might not be
construed as a modification OF the law I'M
der which the volunteers were mustered
into service. Mr.. McRae of Arkansas Of
fered an amendment providing that II
should not be so construed, and upon II
there was a general discussion as to the
advisability OF mastering the volunteers
out before the regular army was increased.
Mr. Cannon finally accepted the McRae
amendment, and that removed the only
shadow of opposition to the bill. A nu:H-
Der of amendments were adopted upon the
mittee, which received some supplemental
estimates afr the bill was prepared The
largest Of these was an item of s., 000, 600
for an emergency fund for the war depart
ment and S57S 600 for the ordnance depart
ment. increasing the amount carried by the
bill to $50. 49,, S92. The conference report
upon the bill to render the sureties OF
consuls vice cOnsuls and consular agents
liable for damages in suits at law, was
adopted. The house adjourned over until
Monday to give the committees an oppor-
tunity to work without interruption.
COMPLIMENT TO BRITISHERS.
Sir Wilfried Laurer. premier of Canada;
Lord Herschell, Lord Louis Davies and
Mr. James Winter, premier OF Newfound-
land, members OF the high commission, oc-
cupied seats in the gallery of the house to-
day, being the guests of Mr.. Dingley, the
floor leader of the majority, who is mem
Der of the commission. They seemed to be
greatly interested in the proceedings and
procedure. Mr.. Dingley pointed out to them
the celebrities of the house.
URGENT DEFICIENCY BILL
On motion of Chairman Cannon, OF the
appropriations committee. the house went
into committee of the whole Immediately
after the reading of the journal. to con-
slider the urgent deficiency bill for the sup
port of the military and naval establish
ments during the six months beginning
January l, 1899.
Mr. Underwood Dem.) Of Alabama in
terrogated Mr.. Cannon with view to re-
ce:ving a statement as to the DISPOSITION
to he made of the volunteer army.
Mr.. Cannon said the treaty of peace
might be ratified in January. or it mi-ht
not be ratified for months. No one could
tell hat was in front of us. We must deal
with a situation. The volunteer army
might be mustered out and its place taken
by the regular army. That was a matter
for the future to decide. but he felt con-
fident that the treasury would be rich
enough. and congress wise enough, TO meet
any emergency.
ATTITUDE OF SOUTHERNERS.
Mr.. Sayers Dem. )of Texas. the ranking
minority member of the appropriations
committee, gave his unqualified indorse-
ment of the bill, which. he said. did not
affect in any way the legislation regarding
the volunteer or regular armies. II sim
ply made appropriations TO support the
present naval and military establishments.
The bill was based on the theory that the
volunteers would continue in the service
until July /. 1899. II they were mustered
out the appropriations would be covered
back into the treasury.
Mr.. livingston CDem) OF Georgia ex-
pressed the opinion that the law under
which the volunteers were mustered into
service was subject to double construc-
ton as 10 the time when they should be
mustered out. and believed that IL the
president was disposed to keep the volun-
teers in the service until the regular army
had been reorgsnized. this bill appropriat-
ing money for their payment would
strengthen his hands.
Mr. McRae CDem.) II Arkansas gave no
tee that at the proper time he would offer
an amendment declaring that nothing in
the pending bill should construe, extend or
modify section of the act OF April p.
creating The volunteer army. He said he
would not have pressed this amendment
had IL not been for the presidents dsclar-
alton in his message that he would muster
out the volunteer army as soon as the
regular establishment was increased Il
was unjust 20 the volunteers 10 hold them
IN the service when congress had given
a solemn pledge that they should be mus
tered out as soon as the war ended He
believed 1t was the purpose of the preSi-
dent to hold the volunteers Until a large
standing army was provided
the army on a peace footing numbers
but e5eo" interposed Mr.. Cannon Does
the gentleman and his side Of the house
stand ready 20 support bill 20 increase
THAI army 70 meet the necessities % the
government in is present emergency and
those which confront it?'
we viii meet that question when f
arises" replied Mr. McRae. We are op-
posed 20 large standing army. and We
are opposed 20 holding the volunteers 20
perform the duty OF The regulars and be
used as a club 20 force Is 20 create
large standing army. Lei reorganization
OF TIE army come IN the regular way
NJ Cox DEM OF Tennessee coatsn6ed
thai under The law TIE volunteers we're e.
;.tle5 % theIr discharge the mo-neu; hos
tfties ceased. He supported the AcRse
amendment IS did Mr.. Bland.
Nj Hemeaway said be could no. Under
stand how gentlemen co1id desire TIE mus
ter.nz OF; of me volunteers Until 2 stand
TX army Eas provided large enough %
properly govern our rex possession Ger
calmly TO ore would contend that =. 80
msn would bs sufficient
DO you favor the retention % The vol
urtee- army in The service urtl he rezs-
ar army IS imprsss-S--- asked NJ. Band
II AZ Increase - re regular army =