The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-19
IURP|E on EAR REVENUE.
GOOD PROGRESS MADE WITH TME
BILL IN THE SENATE.
Bay 0uartefmasteFv ouppaies
Wfshsst AAveTfising fer Bias-
Army O0cers On yoiunfeer STAIR.

WASHINGTON. May 1.-The feature
OF tocayss session Of the senate was the
speech OF Turrae OF Indiana Upon the war
revenue measure He strongly coatended
that a bond Issue was unnecessary. that
al the funds required for the prosecution
OF the war could be raised through the
proposed inheritance tax. By the tar On
corporations, by the coinage Of the silver
sssgns0rage. 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
SS1ote.9so an amoun, In excess Of the es-
tsrnatsa sum necessary for the conduct OF
the war.
Considerable progress was made in the
reading of the bill, which included. natur-
ally. the consideration Of the amendments
proposed by the committee Through the
Influence OF German. OF Maryland the i'm
prisonuent 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 suapending
certain parts OF the existing law relating
10 the purchase Of supplies By the war de-
partment was adopted. The bill promoting
Officers Of the regular army to STAN 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
Rawley. went into seere. session today on
the quartermastsrs' bill, Hawley read a
letter from Gen. FiagIer. chief OF the btI-
reau OF ordance. requesting that author
ity 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 it was
an Official acknowledgement of the fact
that there are still many articles to be Sc
cured for the equipment Of the army, and
that expedition Is considered necessary in
securing them. The reading OF the letter
led 10 brief discussion Of the status of
the military expedition TO the Philippines.
Senator Lodge made brief speech on
this point. expressing the hope that IL the
passage Of the bill would expedite in any
wise the movement of this force 1t wouA
be put through without any further deial
whatever. He referred to the hattie of
Manila ak 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 elapse before troops
sufficient to enable US to follow the Eav-t
victory with an attack upon the Spanish
land forces at Manila had even been put
IN readiness to start upon their mission.
Senator German repeated his criticism,
serted by the conferees. but said he would
net place any barrier in the way OF action
upon the report. There was no division
on the acceptance of the report
A house bill. reported by the committee
on claims. was passed. directing the pay
ment to Samuel Mckee. of Kentucky, of
81 rs for expenses incurred by him In a
contest for his seat In the Fort!eth con-
gress.
A bin providing that officers in the reg
ular army should ts eligible to STAFF APP
pointments In the volunteer army, and
that governors, with the consent OK the
president. may appoint officers OF the reg
ular army tn the grade OF field officers In
organizations in the volunteer army In the
District Of Columbia and Indian territory
was passed.
Hawiey called UP the report Of the con-
ferees on the bill suspending the action OF
certain existing laws relating to the pur-
chase OF supplies By the quartermaster's
department OF the army. He explained
that the senate conferees had abandoned
their amendment repeating section 5.7o2 o.
the Revised Statutes. and had inserted tho
following:
THAT during the existing war the bu-
reau OF ordnance OF the war department is
authorized 10 purchase. without adver-
t!sement, such ordnance and ordnance
stores as are needed for immediate use,
stores are TO be manufactured to make
contracts without advertisements for such
stores. TO be delivered 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.
Hawley replied that the provision con-
n r3rz nystx
such power as il now necessary for him in
the circumstances.
THE projectiies and guns and other sup
plies which we must have" said Hawley,
with some heat, ARE not to be had IN
every toy shop. Only three or four con-
Germs In the country make them. The
chief of ordnance knows exactly what he
has TO pay for them. and without adver-
Using for proposals. l could give the SEN
ator t3ormanl some Information on this
point. but do nat think it Is proper 10 do
so In open session"
You need rot call for a secret session
or my account" said German. but /
would Ike 10 know how sweeping this pro-
vision is
We'll" retorted Hawley, there is just
this about Il. II you have not an honest
chief OF ordnance. have him turned out
and put In another man. II IL 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 ~ 1877 the
senate went into secret session. Discus
sing the question in secret session for
half an hour. the report on the quarter
masters bill was agreed 10.
The senate resumed open session az 1915
y. III. and began the consideration of the
war revenue measure.
Turp.e OF Indiana, In addressing the sen
ate. said that the differences were differ
ances only in method. There was no Diff
ference as to the purpose of supplying al
the means and the men TO the govern
Gnent 10 carry on this war. Turpie said
the pending bil! carried a provision for a
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