The Portland daily press., 1898-12-16
CANAL BILL DISPLACED.
Vote On POstponelnent Even, Impos.
sihle Before Holidays.
ARMY AND NAVY DEFICIENCY AP-
Preparation BILL PASSED.

Army Question--Senator Hale Urges
That No Troops Are Needed i'm the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Passes Pension
Bill.
Washington, December Is, The urgent
deficiency appropriation bill, making pro-
vision for the rmy and navy for the next
six months, displaced the Nicaragua canal
bill in the Senate today, preventing even
the taking of a vote on the question of
postponement until after the holidays as
had been intended. The deficiency bill
was passed after spirited discussion
turning principally on the point of keep.
ing the volunteer soldiers In the service.
The Senate decided to take a recess
from !. SO to 3 80 O'Clock in order to per-
nit Senators TO attend the funeral of Mrs.
Bright, wife of the sergeant-at.arms OF
the Senate. Mr.. Vest made brief per-
sonal explanation of his reference to q
speech attribut d to Attorney General
Griggs in the Senator's speech last Mon
day. In that speech sale to have been
made at a banquet in NeS York, the At
torney General was quoted as expressing
the opinion that the constitution MAJ
for thirteen half developed colonies could
not reasonably be expected to meet the
demands of the greatest nation IN the
world.
Mr.. Vest said he had received letter
from Mr.. Griggs saying he had never
Il Il Uns co
found the expression in several news
papers and in phamphlet printed py
reputable Chicago lawyer and had no
doubt of it's geuuineness. However, tne
att ,rney generals d sclaimer was
sufficient and MI. Vest said he was
pleased TO be able to set himself right De-
fore the Senate
MIR. Platt OF Connenticut gave notice
that he would address the Senate next
Monday on the right of the government
of the United States to acquire territory.
Mr. Morgan presented Ii memoir Al from
the National Board of Trade favorable to
the construction of the Nicaragua canal,
asking that he document be printed IN
the Congressional Record.
Mr.. Allen objected; the obj Ct on proved
the basis Of an animated ulsc sslon IN
yolving The rules of the Sani t5 as we'll as
he wisdom OF the construction OF the
canal mr.. Morgan accepted The objection
as an effort to obstruet the Legislation LOT
the canal and prevent this country
securing information on the subject. MIR
A lien resented this imputation, saying
ths.f he was favorable to tue canal on gen.
eral principies though advocating gov
ernment ownership. He predicted that
the canal would cost 500, 0U0,0
Without determining the nooted point
raised by Mr.. Allen the Senate at Mir.
Hale's request took up for consideration
The urgent deficiency appropriation Mr.
Corkersll addressed the Senate i'll regard
to the mastering out of the volunteer
SOLDIERS He said that large majority of
the volunteers wanted to tie mustered out
and that many of them we're making
sacrifices by remaining In the service. De
thought that in such cases the war de-
paI tment should exercise some discretion
IN the interests OF The private.
OWE HAVE NO WAR TO MAKE
on the Philippines. Mr.. Cockerell said,
'sand can make no attempt to subJugate
them unless Congress first makes a dscla-
ration of war, which it is not likely to do
Until that is done there eau be no efforts
to subjueate those people who are living
in peace in their country and there can
therefore he no effects of the United
States maintaining d large standing army
as these islands.
1 v hen Mr.. Cockrell concluded the SEN
ate took recess unsil 80 m
When the Senate re-assembled, Mr.
CockreIl continued his speech on the
urgent aeucisncy bill, saying that the
Spaniards would on be out of Cuba,
when there would be longer any eason
for maintaining large force under arms.
The Cubans were perfectly capable OF
maintaining republican form of govern
ment. Spain could not cede the Philip
pinea because she did not possess them
and the United States did not want
troops to fight the Filipinos and could not
40 so without declaration of war.
Replying MIR. Hale said he had no
doubt that the rank and file of the arm
abroad had great
DESIRE TO RETURN HOME
and he expressed the opinion that they
should be allowed to do SO. He argued
that there was no menace of war unless it
was with the Filipinos, and the only
danger there W in our attacking them.
1t was true that the duty deyolyed upon
the government of the United States O.
maini aiming peace and quiet in Cuba, Tor
the the present, until the CubaDs could
establish a government of their own, He
hoped this Would not be long. In re-
Spouse to questions from Mr.. Allen, Mr.
Hale expressed the opinion that aft iirs
would soon take such shape that the ser
vices OF the volunteers could be dispensed
with. He thought that within the next
six months $4,000 or 60 900 soldiers could
be MUSTERED out. but this W IS a matter
viii should be loft largely to the admin
istration. be understood it was the in
tention to keep shout 10000 men in the
Phiiil pines.
Mr.. 0orman said he had advocated an
amendment to the bill which would pro
yiue in inexplici5 terms for the reduction
OF the army by from 5000 to $4,000 men
by July next, ut owing TO the rePressn-
tations OF the army author ties he Would
reserve his amendment until the army
bill should come before the Senate. He
paid high tribute to Adjutant General
Corbin and then proceeded to warn the
country against the enoroachment is of the
military element. Naturally the army
officer wanted to preserve his own i'm
Dol tance and maintain his employment
but this was no reason why the private
citizen should not zealously guard his
own rights. MIR. German conceded that