Evening star., 1898-07-08
ADJUTANT GENERALS RANK
Senate Passes the Bill Promoting General
Corbin.
Attack on the Measure rs a Piece of
Favoritism, but it is Passed
Without Division.

The Senate, late yesterday afternoon.
passed a bill comforting upon Adjutant
General Corbin the rank, pay and allow
ances of a majcr general. When rnani-
nous consent was asked by Nj. SeweI
IN. j. for consideration of the BILL Mt.
Pettus {Ala.) objected. However, by
vote the Senate decided to consider the
bill. Mr.. Pettus sharply criticised the
measure and charged that General Corhir
had been rapidly promoted by reason of
political favo-itism. This charge brought
several Senators TO their feet, amcng
WHOM were Messrs. Bate. Pasco and b.
cor. democrats all of whom testified to
Gen. CorGin's distinguished ability and
special fitness for the position he occupies.
Mcssrs. SeweIl, Hale and Foraker paid
high tributes to Gen. Corbin, warmly eulo-
gizing him for the splendid record he has
made both on the field of battle and in the
position he now holds. There was 10 di-
vision on the vote by which the bill was
passed.
After the Stars report. of the Senate pro-
ceedings. was closed yesterday Mr.. Alli-
son called uD the House resolution pro-
riding fo- the adjournment of Congress at
= o clock today and had 1t referred 20 :he
committee on appropriations.
Mr.. Allen (Neb.) and Mr.. Hawley (Conn.)
thought it impossible that Congress could
dispose of necessary business and adjourn
today.
Mr. Hawley called attention to the large
number of combinations that ought to be
made in justice to the appointees and eX
pressed the hope that no adjournment
would be taken until they had been Gispos-
ed OF and until all conference reports had
been agreed 10.
Mr., Sewell On. j. called up the bill fixing
the rank Of the adjutant general of The
army as that of major general.
Mr.. Peltus (Ala-) objected to eonsidera-
ton of the bill
On motion OF Mr.. seweII, the Senate by
vote took up the measure. Mr.. Pettus at
tackled the measure, declaring it was
piece of political favoritism and was
wrong TO many other officers now in the
field.
Mr.. Bate CTenn) defended the bill and de-
Tended General Corbin, the present adju-
tant general, paying high tribute 20 Cen
erai Corbin's executive ability.
Mr.. Sewell said no man had demonstrat-
ed more fully than had General Corbin his
distinguis he'd ability and his entire WORTH
ness lGr the promotion the pending meas
ure would give him.
In reply to the charge of Mr.. Pettus that
General Corbin was political favorite and
had profited thereby Mr.. Foraker said he
was unwilling that such statement should
stand uncontradicted- He pointed out that
General Corbin had won the honors that
had come to him by meritorious services.
His promotion had been earned step by
step, and his entire record was gallant anu
heroic. He had served eleven full years on
the plains fighting Indians, and long
before that had won distinguished honors
in the civil war.
Mr.. Pettus interrupted Mr.. Foraker with
the remark that he supposed General Cor
bin was great because he came from Ohio.
1t is not necessary" retorred Mir. For
aker hotiy, for me to answer the fiEgs
of the senator from Alabama az General
Corbin except to say that 1t is entirely uE-
warranted in this Senate. General Corbn
has record that the senator has no right
to sneer at. OF course, that he came from
Ohio has nothing whatever to DO with this
bill The senator knows that No apology
will ever be made because he came from
Ohio and especially hone to the senator
from Alabama, who has manifested so
much heat in this discussion"
Mr.. Morgan (Aia.) thought the general
idea of the bill. that the adjutanc general
should be a major general. was Sood one,
but he believed the President ought to
Mr. Morgan said that while no doubt Gen,
Corbin was deserving officer, This was a
piece of personal favoritsm and senators
were now engaging in returning favors.
Il have no doubt" he continued, that
General Corbn has rendered acts of con-
spicuous service, which some of our friends
on this floor appreciate very highly, for We
have handed down the names of almost
every distinguished man on this floor
among the commissioned officers of the
army. and General Corbin has had a part
in that. 1 thank him for 1t. 1 am sorry
did not have somebody to put in. What
are doing here except returning conDIf-
menrs to a gentleman who mas had the
opportunity, and exercised 1t very gracious
ly, of comforting titles and commissions
upon our sonsT
The bill passed without amendment. At
4:40 pm. the Senate went into executive
session, and at 6:12 adjourned.