The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24

officers commands. which they would
otherwise not obtain
Mr.. Cox. DEM. Tenn. a member of
h committee, supported the bill.
which. he said. woul make the army
efficient in time of war.
Mr.. Marsh. rep, Ill. also a member
of the committee. said that I'm justice
ular army. he would state that the
former bill. which provided for in
fantry companies of $50 men. met the
approval of neither. The bill did not
provide the mode and method OF mus
tering out the supernumerary officers
when hostilities ceased. Additional leg
islation would be required to accom-
lish this. or possibly the bill could be
construed as comforting this authority
on the president.
Mr.. Hull said there could be no doubt
about the construction Of the law. The
supernumeraries would be mustered
out when the war ceased.
Mr.. Bailey said he thought 1t was not
a very high compliment to the army to
be told hat the ineficiency of the army
IN the V of war was admitted. After
20 years of peace IL seemed to him hat
the plans of the army TO meet an
emergency should have been perfected.
II was strang hat an obsolete forma-
ton should ave been retained all these
years. What he was particularly in
sistent about was hat the supernumer-
airy officers and men should be mus
tered out when the wal closed.
Mr.. Dockery. dem, Mo, pressed the
same point
Mr.. Hull finally agreed to offer an
amendment which would make the Ian
guage acceptable to MIR. Bailey.
Mr.. Lacey. rep. Iowa, offered an
amendment providing that during the
time of actual war promotions for gal
lantry in the field may be made for
any vacancies In any grade In the army
without examination and without re-
gard to seniority"
Mr.. Lacey made a speech I'm support
of his amendment which aroused en-
thusiastic approval. The provision of
the bin. he said. would make promo
tons depend upon seniority and tech
nical skill. Such officers as Custer and
Sheridan. IL the war should develop
such. would be handicapped. Fighting
ability should be regarded, not ability
To pass examinations. Mr.. Lacey's
statement that General Forrest, n of
the most dashing confederate officers,
could hardly read and write, brought a
storm of protests from the confederate
veterans.
Mr.. Handy. dem, Del. supported the
amendment. Mr.. Handy offered an
amendment providing that the presi-
dent should be authorized To promote
enlisted men to the rank OF second lieu
tenants for gallantry In action.
Mr.. Sayers. dem, Texas. vigorously
opposed both amendments. He de-
ciared that, IL adopted. they would ope
the way for favoritism and the exer-
else of political influences. Both
amendments were voted down without
division.
Then. at 1855 a. m. without complet-
inc the confederation nf the hill the
house took a recess To attend the
funeral of enato Walthall. The
house reconvened after Senator Wal
thalI's funeral at 1850 p. m. and re-
sumed the consideration Of the army
reorganization bill.
Mr.. Settle. DEM. KY, offered an
amendment providing that the provis-
ion authorizing the president to accept
quotas of troops of the states az or
ganized unde the laws OF such states
shall not take away from the COVER
nors Of the respective states their
rights to determine how the quota of
the states may be furnished, whether
from the organized militia or volun-
teers.'
The amendment was defeated. An
amendment offered by Mr.. Bailey was
adopted. which provided that the army
at the end of the war should be re-
duced To a peace basis by the transfer
i'm the same arm OF the service, or hon
orable discharge. under such regula-
tons as the secretary OF war may es-
tablish." of supernumerary commits
stoned officers and men.
The amendment removed practically
all the democratic opposition to the
bill.
Mr.. King. dem. Utah. offered an
amendment which was rejected. which
provides that the act should expire by
limitation at the end of two years.
without further amendment the bill
was passed without division.
The remainder Of the day after :
o'clock was devoted to eulogies on the
life and public services of the late SEN
ator Earle of South Carolina, and as a
I further mark of respect the house, at
4:45 y. m, adjourned.