The times., 1898-06-29

appointment of eight additional majors
and twelve captains 10 serve during the
war and for one year thereafter. 1t was
passed and sent to conference, having
been amended.
The House bill to increase the force or
the ordnance department was next taken
up. 1t provides that the department
shall consist of one chief with the rank
and pay of brigadier seeral, four colo
neis, five lieutenant cooneis. twelve
ma jors, twenty-four captains and twenty
first lieutenantS--a total of sixty-six, an
increase Of twelve over the present force.
The increase will be made by the assign
ment of first lieutenants to the corps.
Mr.. Hay and other Democrats protested
against any permanent increase of the
Army. saying they were willing TO vote
everything deemed necessary for the war.
but the legislation ought 10 stop with
that
Mr. Hull replied that the great extern
sion of coast defenses and enlargement
of ordnance manufactures made the per-
manent increase necessary All amend
ments proposing TO limit the increase to
the duration of the war were rejected
and the bill was passed as reported
Some of the Democrats protested
agains. every bill making permanent in
crease. but their protests were disregard-s
ed and other bills were passed as follows:
The Senate bill making the engineer
corps consist Of one brigadier general.
seven colonels. fourteen lieutenant colo
nels. -twenty-eight majors, thirty-five
captains, thirty first lieutenants, twelve
second leutenants and the battalion of
engineers. an increase of officers over
the present force of eighteen. 1t was ex-
planned that the increase would be made
by assignments from West Point of the
second lieutenants. and therefore not re-
ally enlarge the army.
The House bill to provide for a tempo
rary increase in the Inspector Generals s
Department. This increase is only for
the period of the war.
The House bill providing that the pay
OF volunteer troops shall begin from the
date on which their names are enrolled
in the service in pursuance of a call from
the President.
Mr.. Hull struck a snag in calling up the
bill to authorize the President to appoint
military storekeeper. In response TO
questions he said he would be entirely
frank: that the object of the bill was 10
enable the President to appoint Charley
Loeffier, the doorkeeper of the Presidents 5
office at the White House He said
Loeftler had been on duty at the White
House since the first term of President
Grant: that he served in the regular ar
my under Robert e Lee before the war
and he made a gallant record during the
war; that-he would get $500 a year the
same that he gets now.
Mr.. Simpson objected that the change
would make Loeffier eligible for the re-
tired list
Mr. Hull admitted that it would
Mr.. Handy. of Delaware. was very ag-
gressive in his opposition to the bill In
the course of his remarks he stirred up
Gen. Grosvenor by refer. ing 10 the latter s
recent unwarranted and untruthful at
tack on the Democrats. Gen. Grosvenor
had kept remarkably quiet, for him He
jumped TO HIS feet and inquired why Mr..
Handy had kept so silent during the pas
sage of the bill for the benefit of his
relative" He referred to the bill for the
Inspector Generals Department. Gen.
Breckenridge is an uncle OF Mr. Handy
The latter resorted hotly that his relative
got no benefit whatever, in any shape or
manner. from the bill
The bill for Capt. Loeffier passed by a
vote of 6S yeas to IL nays but Mr.
Handy made the point of no quorum. and
it was too late in the day to recall the
absentees.
Gen Grosvenor entered a motion to re-
consider the vote by which the Inspector
Generals bill was passed He took this
method of striking at Mr.. Handy but the
House will scarcely go to the extreme of
reconsidering bill urged by the War De-
: partment to crafty personal spleen.
With the Loeffler bill pending the
House adjourned until y o'clock today
Many Democrats heartily favor the
Loeffler bill. and it viii probably be
passed today.