The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-12-16
MUSTER OUT VOLUNTEERS.
THE DEMOCRATTc SENATORS RAISE
THIS As A PARTY CRY.
Coelks~ll lnsisss That the Country
Does Not Need Any Enlarged
Army, - All the Country Wants

WASHINGTON. Dec 1.-THE urgent
deficiency appropriation bsI. making pro-
vision fer the army and navy for the next
six months, dispiace the Nicaragua canal
bin In the senate today, preventing even
the taking OF a vote on the Question OF
posrponsmsnr until after the holidays, aS
had been intended The deficiency biz was
passed after q SORTED discussion turning
principally on the poiat Of keeping the vol
untee- soldiers "a the service.
The sena.e decf1ed upon convening to-
day to take . recess from 1.3o until $50.
in order 10 permit the senator's to attend
the funeral OF Mrs. Bright, wife OF the
serxeAnt-at-arms.
Vest made a brief personal exclamation.
the purfsorf of (which was that ne had re-
ceived a letter from Attorney General
Griggs, denying that at a banquet in New
York he had. as quoted. expressed the
opinion that the constitution made for thir-
teen half developed colonies could not rea-
sonably be expected TO meet the demands
Of the greatest nation in tie world.
Morgan presented . memorial from the
National Board of Trade favorable to the
construction OK the Nicaragua canal, ask
ing that the document be printed in the
Congressional Record.
Allen objected. and the objection pro-
voksd a limited discussion on the voting
rules of the senate. as well az the wisdom
of the constr uction OF the canal
Morgan accepted the objection as On ef-
fort to ohssruet legislation on the cana.
and prevent the country securing informa-
Allen resented this importation. saying
he was favorable TO the canal on general
principles. though advocating government
ownership. He predicted the canal would
Without determining the mooted point
raised by Mr.. Allen, the senate, at Mr..
Hale's request, took up, the urgency de-
nciency appropriation bill
Mr.. CockreIl addressed the senate In re-
gard to the mastering out of the volunteer
soldiers. large majority OF whom, he
said, wanted to be mustered out and many
of whom were making sacrifices by remain
ing IN the service. On the other hand, the
officers. who were finding the service more
profitable than the privates. had In many
cases refused to forward applications for
discharge. He thought that In such cases
the war department should exercise some
discretion in the interest Of the private and
be more ieTlient with the enlisted men.
Mr.. Cockrell said very few soldiers would
he required in Cuba and Porto Rico or, for
that matter in the Philippines. where, he
said our footing was very insecure. He
said this country's occupation there was
most meager and described our attitude
as that OF standing with one foot on the
land and the other on the bay, and that
there was no probability Of war in that
direction.
The Spaniards, Mr.. Cocakrell said. would
soon be out OF Cuba, and as the object Of
island there was no longer any reason for
maintaining a large fore under arms
Replying, Mr.. Hale said he had no doubt
that the rank and file Of the army abroad
expressed the opinion that they should be
allowed to do so. He argued that there was
no menace OF war. unless 1t was with the
Fil!pinos. and the only danger there was in
our attacking them. 1t was true that the
duty devolved upon the government Of the
United States Of maintaining peace and
t1Sae fr-
bans could establish a government of their
own. He hoped this would not be long In
response to questions from Allen. Haze ex-
take such share that the services Of the
volunteers could be dispensed with.
German sad he had advocated an amend
ment to the bill which would provide in ex-
piicit terms for the reduction OF from Is 600
10 $1,000 by July / next, but owing to the
representations Of the army authorities,
he would reserve his amendment until the
army bill should come before the senate.
In this connection he paia n.gn tribute to
Adtt. Cen Corbin. and then he proceeded
10 warn the country against the eneroach-
ments OF the military element Naturally
the army officer wanted to preserve his own
Importance and maintain his employment
but this was no reason why the private cit
lien should not jealousy guard his own
rights. He thought coaling stations neces-
sary for the extension OF our trade. but an
nouncea himself as oprosen 10 undue ex-
pans3on by means of conquest.
MI. Alilsnn expressed sympathy With the
desire to have large number OF yolun-
teers mustered out.
We had agreed to maintain order In Cuba
during the unsettled period. and while he
hoped this period would not long continue
he, for one, would not consent TO so reduce
our forces as not to Es able to make good
our pledges.
Mr.. Sewell said the war department had
for the past several months been gradually
wedding out soldiers for discharge, and
that many thousands had thus been re-
lieved from this duty. He had no doubt
that even without legislation $1,000 men
would be released within the next six
months.
The urgent deficiency bill was then
passed.
At the instance OF Mr.. Harris, the senate
adopted resolution calling upon the presi-
dent for information as TO the status OF
the report OF the Nicaragua canal COM
mission.
The senate then went into executive ses-
sion. and at :u3 p. m. adjourned until Mon
day.