The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-08
ARTILLERY BILL PASSED.
Few Opponents Declared the Increase
Contemplated to BE Unnecessary.


Few Opponents Declared the Increase
Contemplated to BE Unnecessary.
Washington. March S.--There was an
absence OF sensationalism from the
house debate on the bill TO increase the
army by two regiments of artillery. Mr..
Cox. the ranking Democratic member OF
the military affairs committee. opposed
the measure and, as he controlled the
time on his side of the house he yielded
half of il TO Mr.. Jones. who also an
tagonized it, Mr.. Bailey, the Demo-
cratic leader, was shut out, and when he
asked unanimous consent TO address the
house for three minutes ii was refused.
Mr.. Hull, in opening the debate. ex-
planned briefly the necessity for these
men to man the coast defenses of the
country. BY July l. he said, PA big guns
and 232 motars would be mounted. 476
in all. These guns required Is men each
to handle them, and In time of war so.
There were but 1925 artillerymen all told
in the service. The guns emplaced July
/ would require 1000 men regardless OF
any exigency that might arise. Even
II no exigency arose these men, he in
sisted, 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 overawe the cities, he
said, he considered too frivolous to dis
cuss.
Mr.. Cox said he would vote as cheer
fully as any man In the house for this
bill IL IL were needed for the national
defense as war measure, but he urged
that the president. as commander-in-
chief OF the army. had authority to de-
tail men from the other branches OF the
service. the cavalry and infantry. and
that such details could man and care for
the coast defenses without increasing
permanently the standing army.
Mr.. Hay Dem. Na.) created the first
open enthusiasm by declaring himself
I'm favor of taking every step necessary
now to prepare for the emergency which
confronted the country.
Mr.. Shafroth (Colo.) caused round OF
applause when he expressed regret that
n single voice should be raised against
such a bill at such "A time. There was
no denying the fact that our relations
with Spain were on tho eve Of rupture.
War ought TO be averted II possible. but
We ought 90 prepare at once for every
emergency.
Mr.. Willicms CDem.. Miss) said that
while his oice was now as ever for
peace. IL eeemed absolutely certain that
Spain was forcing us into war to extri-
cate the reignIpg family and herself
from the desperate straits i'm which she
was placed by her futile attempts to
subjugate Cuba. If war was TO come az
a result of our sympathy for those who
we're struggling for freedom he would not
refuse 10 give his vote TO any measure
designed to prepare us TO meet the
enemy.
The time for debate expired and Mr..
Bailey. who had not been able TO get the
floor. asked for unanimous consent for
three minutes. Mr.. Hepburn objected.
Mr.. Lewis attempted. without succerR.
10 offer an amendment prohibiting the
use Of these two regiments 60 suppress
strikes. The bill was then passed with
cut division. The great chorus OF ayes
was Offset by three voices on the mi
nority side-Nessrs. Cox. Jones and
Todd Fusionist. Mich. }.
District OF Columbia business was
then taken up. and Mr.. Bailey, as n
method OF resenting tho refusal TO ac-
cord him the privilege OF addressing the
house, insugurated q nlibuster. Roll