Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-24
SECOND ARMY BILL.
THE REORGANIZATION MEASURE
PASSED by THE HOUSE.
FUNERAL OF SENATOR WALYHALL.
This Takes Place fn the senate
Chnmber-.iu senate Business sus.
pended for the Dny-Ofher Con.
gressiopnl Notes.

House to-day passed the army reorgani-
cation bill, at the urgent request Of the
President and Secretary OF War. but tho
Senate did not remain In session. as ex
pected. and the bill will not go TO the
President until next week. Some fear
was expressed on the Democratic side
| that the bill might increase the regular
army I'm time Of peace. but an amendment
! prepared by Mr.. Bailey. which removed
! all doubt on this score. was accepted
| by Mr.. Hun, and tho bill passed by a
| unanimous vote
The bill reorgaHizes the army into ths
| three-battalion formation, and authorizes
| the twenty-five regiments OF the in
fantry Of the s.rvice TO be recruited no
TO total of 3l.SD enlisted men 1t gives
eighty-four inste al Of 100 privates 60 each
infantry company. II authorizes the To-
cruitment of the ten regiments for tho
cavalry arm OF the service 10 A total OF
l2.V0 enlisted men. the seven regiments
of the artillery arm of the service TO Is. a5T
men. and the engineer battalion OF FIVE
companies UP TO 1852 enlisted men. includ-
mg two non-commissoned officers. which
makes a total for these four arms OF
the service. when at its maximum
strength, OF 6l.0l0.
The increase Of officers provided for in
the bin is
First twenty-five majors. az provided
IN the first section of the bill These
majors are 10 be a permanent addition
10 the commissioned officers % the regu-
lar army.
Second, one hundred and fifty commits
stoned officers, 10 provide Tor the two
infantry companies in the third bat
talon OF each of the twenty-five regi-
ments of infantry.
Third, eghty-four second lieutenants.
being one for each of the eighty-four
batteries of artillery, when recruited TO
war strength. The second lieutsnants
are only TO be added In the discretion Of
the President but assuming that tho
extra lieutenant is necessary. and will
De commissioned foy each battery OF
dItIleiS IL makes a total OF commis>
stoned officers in excess OF the present
number authorized by law OF $50 OF
thls number, as above stated. twenty
IiVe are majors Of the permanent army,
for the second battalion and the other
zi5 officers IL IL provided I'm the last see.
ton of the bil. shall. on the conclusion
or hostllitles, be either absorbed by nh.
ing any vacancies existing i'm the other
companies OF the service. or by an hon.
orable discharge, as may be deemed ne
cessaiy 10 reduce the commissioned Of
hcers Of the army to the number pro-
Vlded lor by the hrst section OF the act.
QUOTAS FROM THE STATES.
The following important proviso was
offered by the committee as an amend.
ment:
PROVIDED, that I'm the event of a call
by the President for either volunteers
or the militia of the country, the Presi-
dent Is authorized To accept the quotas
OF the troops of the various States and
territories including the District of Co.
iumbia as organized under the laws OF
the states and Territories, including the
District Of Columbia.
Inc debate on the bill was spirited. MIR.
Underwood DemocraD, OF Alabama. .vigo.
rously Opposing the measure.
Al Hoo A. NJ, without completing tho
consideration Of the bill, the House TOOK
recess. In order TO attend the funeral
Of Senator Walthal.
Ihe House convened after Senator Wal.
thalFs funeral, at 1886 r. NJ. and resume,
the consideration of the army reorganizn
ton bill
An amendment offered bv Mr. Railov
was adopted. which provided thar tb,,
army at the end OF the war. should ba
reduced TO peace basis by the "transfer
IN the same arm Of the service. or honor
aDle ulscharge under such regulations az
the secretary of War may establish" OF
supernumerary commissioned officers and
men.
without further amendment. the bin
was then passed. without division.
EULOGIES ON SENATOR EARLE
Inc remainder OF the day was devoted
10 the eulogies upon the life and public
services Of the late Senator Earle. or
south Carolina, the following mombers
paying tribute 10 his memory: Messrs
Ellott tDemOcraD. Of South Carolina.
Hamilton uiepubican). Of Michigan, Terry
DemocraD. of Arkansas: Talbert (Deno-
cfaU, OF South Carolina; Lanhan (Demo-
crap' OF Texas; Barrows Republcam. OF
massachusetts,; Stokes DemocraD OF
south Carolina; Norton OemocraD. or
south Carolina; and Lattimer DomocraD.
OF South Carolina
AS further remark Of respect IN,
House at AS j. NJ, adjourned until
Monday.
CAPITOL ~ MOURNING.
lne nations Capitol WAS drapod IN
mourning to-day. Flags on the great
marble pile were at half-mast and
through the Senate wing OF the magnin-
cent structure evidences OF grief, and sazA
ness were at every hand.
AT noon the Senate was called 10 order.
to pay tribute Of respect 20 Hon. Ed
ward Cary Walthall. late Senator from
Mississippi, who died Thursday after
noon.
The remains OF Senator Walthau were
conveyed 10 the Capitol last evening. ana
lay In state In the marble room OF the
Senate until o'clock to-day. when they
were placed i'm the Senate chamber. In thu
area in front Of the Vice Presidents
desk.
Senator WalthalPs desk and chair on
the main aisle were draped In black. The
casket was covered with superb noraI
Promptly az noon Vice-Presldent Ho-
barts gavel fell, calling the Senate Ia
order. The senators occupied seats on
the left Of the chamber while members
Of the House OF Representatives occupled
seats on the right OF the chamber. The
diplomatic corps, headed by its dean. S.r
Julian Pauncefote, occupied seats imme-
iately in front OF the members OF the
House OF Representatives. The justices
n the Supreme Court and President Me-
I<inley and six members OF his Cabinet
Secretary Long and Postmaster General
smith being unable 70 be present). were
also attendants az the ceremonies. De-
,upying seats In front OF the Joint Conn
nttee OF Arrangements were the MEM
)ers ana immediate relatives OF Senator
Walthalrs family
BUSINESS SUSPENDED.
After an invocation By Rev j. r. MIL
)urn. the blind chaplain of the Senate.
he Vice-President announced that busi-
less would be suspended for the day. Tho
services were conducted by Rev Dr. Me-
Kim. rector OF Epiphany Protestant Epis-
opal church. of this city and Bishop
Thompson. OF Holly Springs. Miss
AT the conclusion OF the beautiful fune-