The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1898-04-07
IN THE HOUSE.
Great Disappointment That the
Message Was Not Received.

Message Was Not Received.
WASHINGTON, April 6. - After
waiting patiently in the galleries and
corridors of the House for hours many
of them from 8 o'clock until shortly
before ) o'clock this afternoon the
thousands who had come to hear the
Presidents message turned away
weary and disguised at the delay. New
er was there such disappointment ct
the delay. The members felt it even
more keenly than the spectators, and
for two hours afterwards they stood
about the Hobbies discussing the latest
phase of the situation. The news of
the proposed armistice which came on
the heels of the announcement that
General Lee had cabled for delay re-
ceived quite as much attention as the
request of Lee.
The debate in progress in the House
over the army reorganization bill at
tracted little or no attention. It was
completely overshadowed by the more
absorbing question. Considerable OPP
position to the bill developed. on the
grounds that its provisions for an eX-
tension of the regular army in time of
war to 104,CG0 men would be inmicaI
to the National Guard and the volun-
teer forces. upon which the country
had heretofore relied in time of stress.
There will be a strong effort to recon-
nit the bill tomorrow
HOUSE PROCEEDINGS
AS the hands of the clock pointed to
II, Speaker Reed pushed his way
through the baize doors leading from
the lobby to the House and assembled
yX-h acly Of ha
gavel the great multitude was hushed.
The members and many of the specta-
tors in the galleries rose and stood
with bowed head as the blind Chap
lain of the House delivered an invoca-
ton for the Divine aid in this days
deliberations.
There was a general understanding
on the floor soon after the House as
sembled that the message would not
be sent to Congress probably until 3
O'Clock, and the members settled in
their seats to await with what patience
they could for it to appear. In the
packed galleries this fact was not
known, and they mOmentarily expected
its appearance.
| AS the families of many Of the mem
bers could not obtain admission to the
could entertain a request that the
members be permitted to bring their
families upon the floor
The Speaker answered in the mega
tive. The rules strictly prohibited him
from entertaining such a request.
1t having been arranged that the
army reorganization bill should be
special order for to-day (not to in
re- no =
tee on Foreign Affairs) the Speaker
recognized Hull. Chairman of the Mill
tary Affairs Committee, to call it up.
A wrangle followed as to whether the
bill should be considered in committee
of the whole or in the House, and as
to the limits of the debate
The galleries watched these prelim-
inaries impatiently, but with interest
as the leaders on both sides, Dingley
and Bailey and others, participated in
the sparring.
1t was finally agreed that the bill
should be considered in the House, but
all efforts to arrange a limit upon the
debate failed on the account of the OBJ
lection of Marsh (R.) of Illinois, who
is one of the most bellicose members
upon the floor
Hull, in a dispassionate statement,
explained the features and purposes of
the bill and the advantages of the pro-
posed battalion formation, which have
been fully covered in the Associated
Press dispatches.
The present formation, he said, was
absolutely obsolete and it would be
murder to order the army of the United
States to so into battle under the pres
ent law. The character of modern fire.
arms made all open formation absolute
ly necessary.
Myers of Illinois followed Hull. He
Endorsed the main features of the bill,
but expressed his opinion that no Cap
tain could handle a company of go
men under the new formation.
The debate drifted along with con-
siderable range, many members par
ticipating.
Lacey of Iowa aroused the first out
burst of applause from members and
galleries when he said that he regretted
that war seemed inevitable, but that
one good thing would come OF it, The
regiment of the State of Georgia would
vie with that of the State of Iowa to
see which should be in the front rank
of battle and stay longest. The coming
war would cement with blood and iron
the States of the Union.
Robbins (R.) of Georgia opposed the
bill because he believed it was mimi
cal to the volunteer service of the
United States. In time of war the vol
unteer forces, he thought, ought to do
the fighting. The regular army should
not be increased, as was proposed in
this bill
When the report was circulated and
confirmed that there was to be no mes
sage there was an exodus of Disguised
people from the galleries and the men,
bers deserted the floor to discuss the
latest phase of the situation in the lob
bies Interest in the debate on the
army bill almost ceased, and it drifted
along in desultory fashion.
The main argument used against the
bill was that in case of war the Ma
tional Guard and volunteer forces could
supply the troops necessary above the
regular army of 10000. This was met
with the contention that as one-quarter
of the expanded regiments would be
regulars. that they would be ready for
real service in a much shorter time
than the volunteer forces could be. An
amendment was offered to reduce the
size of the companies from go to 300
At 2 o'clock, without action on the
bill, the House adjourned.