The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1898-12-14
Congressional Proceedings.


Hawley OF Connecticut, chairman OF the
committee on military affairs, introduced a
bill for the reorganization OF the regular
army. Mr.. Hoar Of Massachusetts secured
the adoption of a resolution that acommit-
tee OF seven Senators be appointed by the
chair to whom shall be referred that part Of
the Presidents message which relates to
the celebration OF the centennial OF the city
OF Washington as the Capitol OF the United
States. A few minutes after the Senate
had long debate ON the subject Of the con-
firmation OF the Hawaiian commissioners.
The debate was started by Senator HOar,
who made vigorous speech against the
practice OF appointing Senators upon such
commissions. He said Senators were. when
appointed, acting under direction OF and be-
came the duly authorized agents of the
President to carry out his ideas and wishes.
The Senate then adjourned after the an
nouncement of the death of Representatives
Northway Of Ohio and Love OF Mississippi.
The House passed the ant-scalping bill
by a vote of 119 to 101. This action is the
elimination of a struggle OF ten years to
put an end to the business OF ticket scalp
ing Mr.. Updegraff Of Iowa made hot
speech in opposition to the bill. He could
not, he said, allow 30 monstrous PROPOSE
ton as this bill to pass without a word.
1t ought to be entitled bill to suppress
competition in passenger traffic. This bill
would mark the beginning OF the Republic
can party's decadence, Its passage would
impair in the minds Of the masses the hon
esty and integrity OF his party Mr.. Marsh
OF Illinois, and Mr.. Connolly OF Illinois,
both antagonized the bill in vigorous man
ner. Mr.. Hepburn in charge OF the bill re-
piled to its critics that it was not designed
to stfie competition. The announcement
of the passage of the bill was received with
applause. Representative Hull, chairman
of the House committee on military affairs
introduced a bill increasing the regular
army to approximately 100000 men. The
bill was framed at the war department and
has the approval OF the secretary OF war.
1t is not the bill framed by General Miles,
as this measure has not the high rank pro-
posed by the Miles bill and some OF the ap
pointments are open to officers OF the vol
unteers or from civil life. 1t provides for
acknowledgement and what Is considered
a sufficient increase OF major and brigadier
generals to command an army OF 100, 900 men
scattered from Porto Rico to Manila. The
artillery army is reorganized, separating
them into co asst and field artillery, but pro-
motion to be by seniority OF the whole army.
A decrease OF the enlisted men Is made so
that the army can be increased by recruits,
in case of war, to full strength. The cav
airy Is increased two regiments. The en-
listed strength lof an infantry company Is
not to exceed 145, 80 in case of war new
regiments would have to be formed, proba-
bly, all Of which would be volunteers, but
the regular army would make a substantial
first lien. The bill provides for the three
battalion formation. The staff corps are in.
creased about forty per cent and with the
exception OF the adjutant general, inspector
general and ordnance are open to appoint
ments from the volunteer or civil life.
THURSDAY, Dec. 8.-Mr. Vest stated in
the Senate his opposition to the hurried
passing OF pension bills and gave notice
that he would insist upon a quorum being
present when action was taken on such
bills Continuing he said II do not want
to be captious about this pension business
and do not want to set myself up as q re-
former, but this passing lot of pension
bills simply by reading titles and when a
quorum of the Senate ID not present has got
to be stopped" After further referring to
the methods by which pension bills are
passed by the Senate, Mr.. Vest said: 1.-THE
men of the South have sat here and per-
mitted these bills to be passed, having
some delicacy about forcing objections to
the course of procedure. Recent events
have obliterated sectionalism and we are
only the more united and are one country
and one treasury. We can, therefore, come
the word advisedly) without fear of having
our motives impugned or our words mis-
construed. We are paying out in round
figures $144,000,000 annually for pensions,
and it is our duty to find out why 1t is that,
thirty-three years after the close OF the civil
war, this thing OF pension claims shows SO
enormous sum-" The Nicaragua bill was
brought forward on the unfinished business
calendar and the Senate adjourned until
Monday
The House passed the urgent deficiency
bill to provide for the support OF the milf
tary and naval establishment. The only
| point on which an issue was raised was as to
whether the bill providing as 1t did for the
| pay of the volunteers until July 1. 1899,
might not be considered as a modification
OF the law under which the volunteers were
mustered into service. Mr.. McRae of Ar
kansas offered an amendment providing
| that Ii should not be 80 construed and
upon 1t there was general discussion as to
the advisability OF mastering the volunteers
out before the regular army was increased.
| Mr.. Cannon finally accepted the McRse