Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-24
.PR0CTOR'S SPEECH.
The Senator Depicts the Awful lis
cry and Woe in Cuba.
A BILL TO REONCAyIzE THE ARMY.
The Chairman NJ the House COMMITTEES
Want the Army Brought Up To lO4,-
OOO--Army Headquarters 10 Re-
INA In ut Omaha.

VVV-h army ueHuQu6rCeTS W Ab0-
main at Omaha.
WASHINGTON, March lS-The senate
yesterday passei the following bills
Granting a right OF wav through the
Indian territory to the Nebraska, Kan
sas 4 Gulf Railway company; to pro
hibit railroad companies from charg.
ing more than three cents q mile fol
carrying passengers through the In.
dian territory, fine Of not more than
$500 or less than $500 is imposed
for each offense; to correct the mill
tary record Of Perry j. Knoles; to pay
to Stewart college NOW the South
western university, located at Clarks-
vile, Tenn, S25,Ol9 for damage done
by union troops during the war; to
authorize the erection OF statue OF
the late President Lincoln at Gettys-
burg, Pa. to cost $50, 1000, the statute
to be erected by a commission COM
posed Of the secretary Of war, the COM
mander Of the army, the governor OF
Pennsylvania and the commander OF
the G. A. R.
Senator Proctor, Of Vermont, who
returned last Sunday from an extend
ed trip TO and through the island of
Cuba, in the afternoon made Q long
statement to the senate Of his observa.
lions on the island. From many view
points the statement was remark.
able. 1t had evidently been most
carefully prepared. Every element
Of sensationalism had been studi-
ously eliminated from it, and,
except so far as the facts re.
cited were sensational, 1t bore not
the slightest evidence Of an effort to
arouse the public mind, already keenly
alive to the condition Of affairs on the
island. He depicted the misery and
woe on the island from disease and
starvation and said that autonomy
WAS an utter failure and the Spaniards
could only hold what their army sat
upon. Senator Proctor, after he had
finished his address, was heartily con-
graduated by many Of his colleagues
Senator Stewart gave notice Of an
amendment he will offer to the naval
appropriation bill, providing for the
construction Of IL coast defense moni.
tors Of the type Of Puritan, Monterey
and Terror, and appropriating $780,
900 with which to begin the work.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, March 1S.-The largest
measure of preparation yet made by
the war department to meet the con-
tingences OF the future has just been
completed. Mr.. Hull, OF Iowa, chair
man of the house committee on mill
tary affairs, introduced a bill re-
the army and placing it
on war footing for the full strength
of 100000 men. Before taking the
step he did, he consulted with
the president and Secretary of War
Alger. The bill was put forward.
not as an emergency measure-which
it really is--but as regular measure
which ought to be passed anyway. 1t
really averts, however, a call for vol
unteers, which would have been nee
essary soon. The intention IL to util-
lie the state guard, already organized,
for filling out the skeleton regiments,
thus putting the army on war foot
ing at once. The bill has been care
fully gone over by the war depart
ment and Chairman Hull will urge it
The house in committee Of the whole
the post office appropria-
tion bill under the five-minute rule.
Mr.. Wheeler, of Alabama, introduced
the following joint resolution:
Resolved, That joint committee consisting
1f five members of the senate, to be appointed
by the vice president. and five members OF the
house, to be appointed by the speaker be Gre
ated to report without delay to the two houses
IN address to the government Of Spain, declar-
ing In firm and diplomatic language that Amer
cans and American interests In Cuba must be
and that the atrocities now being
oerpetrated In that island must cease.
Resolved, That the executive be requested
70 Immediately transmit this address to the
government Of Spain by such methods as may
leem most advisable, together with letter OF
Endorsement and approval Of his action on the
part Of congress
ARMY DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS.
WASHINGTON, March lS.-Senators
Baker and Harris and Representatives
Frederick and Curtis, Of Kansas, called
1t the war department yesterday to
,rge the removal Of the headquarters
II the new department Of Missouri
rom Omaha to Leavenworth. They
Jaw Secretary Alger, but that gentle.
nan informed them that the depart.
nent had decided not to make any fur
her change. 1t is said that Gen. Miles
s quietly heading movement to re-
move the headquarters to St. Louis.
used to be stationed there, and
considers St. Louis socially" superior
% any Of the big Missouri towns. In
he meantime, Assistant Secretary Of
Var Meiklejohn is working to keep
he headquarters at Omaha, as he is
himself from Nebraska and, therefore,
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