The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-08
ARTILLERY BILL PASSED.
Quick Work in the HOuse-''YOung Mr..
Bailey" SqueIched.


WASHINGTON, March THE spirit of
patriotism was rampant in the House to-
day and by almost unanimous vote the
Hawley bill providing for two addi-
tional regiments of artillery was passed
under suspension of the rules. No effort
was made to obstruct action, but Mr..
Bailey, the Democratic leader, pleaded for
more time than the forty minutes allowed
under the rule and, because it was refused,
after the bill had been passed he inaugu-
rated a filibuster against District of Column
bia legislation that continued all day. Mr..
Bailey desired to speak in favor of the bill,
but could not get time.
Mr.. Hull, in opening the debate, explained
briefly the necessity for these men to man
the coast defenses of the country. BY July
l. he said, 244 big guns and 232 mortars
would be mounted, 476 in all. These guns
require eighteen men each to handle them,
and in time of war sixty. There were but
4,025 artillerymen all told in the service.
The guns emplaced July 1 would require
1000, regardless of any exigency that might
arise. Even if no exigency arose these
men, he insisted, would be necessary to care
for the Notifications and guns on which we
were expanding millions of dollars. The
charge that the bill was an attempt to in
crease the standing army to be used pos
sibly to overawe the cities he said, he con-
sidered too frivolous to discuss.
Mr.. Cox, in opposing the BILL said he
would vote as cheerfully as any man in
the House for this bill, if it were needed for
the national defense as war measure but
he argued that the President, as COM
mander in chief of the army, had authority
to detail 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 perma-
nently the standing army.
Mr.. BelknaD CRep., In), a son of ex-
Secretary of War Belknap, and Mr.. Nc
Clellan Dem, N. Y.) son of General Nc
Clelan, both warmly advocated the passage
of the bill in brief speeches, and Mr.. Hay
(Dem. Va.) created the first open enthu-t
siasm by declaring himself in favor of TAX
ing every step necessary now to prepare
for the emergency which confronts the
country.
Mr.. Jones Dem., Va.). the other DEM
ocrat who opposed the bill, insisted that the
bill was not a war measure, as it had been
recommended for several years.
Mr. Shafrotb a Colorado sllverite, caused
a round of applause when he expressed his
regret that a single voice should be raised
against such a bill at such a time. There
was no denying the fact that our foreign
relations with Spain were on the eve of
rupture War ought to be averted if posi-
BILE, but we ought to prepare at once, he
said, for every emergency.
Mr.. Williams CDem., Miss) said that
while his voice was now as ever for peace,
it seemed absolutely certain that Spain
was forcing us into war to extricate the
reigning family from the desperate straits
into which it was placed by her futile at
tempts to subjugate Cuba. He had been
for Cuban belligerency and Cuban indie
tendance, and if war was to come as "a re-
suit of our sympathy for those who were
struggling for their freedom, he would not
refuse to give his vote to any measure de-
signed to prepare US TO meet the enemy.
and Mr.. Bailey, who had not been able to
get the floor, asked for unanimous consent
for three minutes. Mr. Hepburn Qtep., Ia.,)
objected.
nlr Lewis Dem., Wash.) attempted to
offer an amendment prohibiting the use of
these two regiments to suppress strikes.
The bill was then passed without division.
The great chorus of ayes was offset by
three voices on the minority side-Messrs.
Cox (Dem., TENN, Jones Dem., Va.), and
District of Columbia business was then
taken up, and Mr. Bailey, as a method of
resenting the refusal to accord him the
privilege of addressing the House on the
artillery bill, inaugUrated filibuster. Roll
call followed roll call for two hours. When
the confusion on the floor became such that
order was called for and the speaker re-
quested all members to take their seats.
Mr.. Bailey retained his place on the floor.
Again the speaker requested members to
take their seats. II take my seat" said
Mr.. Bailey as he finally sat down, be
cause the rules of the House require it,"
1.-THE speaker exercises no authority eX-
cept that conferred by the rules said the
speaker HE holds no other authority and
he expects rome"
There were several exchanges after that,
after one of which Mr. Bailey, to the ac-
compartment OF Republican Jeers and Dem
be ''badgered by the speaker. Then turn
ing to the Republican side in response to
their jeers, he added THAT demonstration
either indicates lack of decency or lack
of sense and / suspect both
AT 5:4e p. m. the House adjourned.