The news & observer., 1898-03-08
TO PROTECT THE COASTS
PROVIDES TWO ADDITIONAL
ARTILLERY REGIMENTS.
BAILEY HAS SHARP TILTS WITH REED
The Attitude Of Spain is War, and this COun-
try Musl be Prepared for Any Emer-
gency Was the Sentiment Of
the House.

Washington, u. c., March THE
spirit of patriotism was rampant i'll the
House today, and by almost an unani-
nous vote the Hawley bill providing
for two additional regiments of artillery
was passed under suspension of the
rules. No effort was made to obstruct
header, pleaded for more time than the
forty minutes allowed under the rule
and because it was refused after the bill
had been passed he inaugurated a
fihbuster against District of Columbia
legislation that continued all day. Mr..
Bailey desired to speak in favor of the
bill. but could not get time. During the
day he had several sharp tilts with
Speaker Reed.
Most of the time in favor of the bill
was consumed in one minute speeches.
Mr. Hull and two Republicans refrained
from referring to any emergency but
some of the Democrats who spoke did
and Mr.. Williams. of Mississippi, re-
ferrcd directly to probable war with
Spain. Every expression construed into
a reference to the support of the gov
ernment in Il possible crisis was received
with applause.
Mr. Hull. in opening the debate, eX-
plaincd briefly the necessity for these
men TO man the coast defcnacS of the
country BY July ]. he said. 24I big
guns and 31:3S.. mortars would bc mount
cd. I76 in all. These guns required Is
men each 10 handle, aitd in time of war
sixty. There were but 4,025 artillery
men. all told. in the service. The guns
empIaced July /, would require 1000
regardless of any exigency that might
arise. Even if no cxigency arose these
men. he insisted. would be necessary
to care for the Notifications and guns
upon which we were expending millions
of dollars. The charge that this bill
was an attempt to increase the standing
army. to be used possibly to avOerawe
the cities. he said, he considered too
frivolous to discuss.
Mr.. Cox. in opposing the bin said he
would vote as chcerfully as amy man in
the House for this bill, if il were need
ed for the national defense as q war
measure. but he argued that the presi-
dent. as Commander in chief of the
army had authority TO detail men
from the other branches of the service
the cavalry and infantry, and that such
details could man and care for the
coast. defences without increasing per
mapently the standing army
Mr.. Bclknap, Republican. IllinOis),
a son Of ex-Secretary of War Belknap,
and Mcclellan, democrat, of New
York;. son of General Mcclellan,
both warmly advocated the passage of
the bill in brief speeches, and Mr.. Hay,
democrat, Virginia), created the first
open enthusiasm by declaring himself
in favor of taking every step necessary
now to prepare for the emergency which
confronts the country.
Mr.. Jones. Democrat, Virginia), the
other Democrat who opposed the bill.
insisted that the hill was not n war
measure. as it had been recommended
for several years. He claimed that it
made IL radical change in the line of
promotion. He thought if an emergency
existed the present artillery regiments
should be recruited up to their full
strength. -Four Thousand men could thus
be added TO that branch Of the service
without creating two additional regi-
ments.
AIr. Shafroth, Republican. Colorado,
caused a round Of applause when he
expressed his regret that q single voice
shonld be raised against such n bill at
such time. There was no denying the
fact that our foreign relations with
Spain were on the eve of a rupture
War ought to be ayerted if possible but
we ought to prepare ut once, he said,
for every emergency.
Mr.. Williams, democrat, MississippD
said that while HIS voice was now, as
ever for peace it seemed absolutely GER
tain that Spain was forcing us into war
to extricate the reigning family from
the desperate straits into which she
was placed by her futile attempts to
subjugatc Cuba.
Mr.. Lewis. democrat, WaShington)
attempted to offer AN amendment prohib-
iting the use Of these two regiments
TO suppress strikes.
The bill was then passed without re-
vision.
The great chorus Of ayes was Offset by
three voices on the minority side
Messrs. Cox. democrat. Tenneasstie): !:
Jones, democrat, Virginia., and Todd
(F'usionist, Michigan.
At $40 O'Clock p. H., the House ad-
journed.