The Portland daily press., 1898-04-07
rum. Upon his motion the Senate then
at five o'clock ad journed.

A DISAPPOINTED ASSEMBLY,
Members of House and Spectators Dis
| gusted at Failure of Presidents Message
| to Appear.
Washington, April 6.-After waiting
patiently in the galleries and corridors
of the House for hours many OF them
from O'Clock this morning until shortly
before O'Clock this afternoon, the thou
sands who had come to hear the Presi-
denis Cuban message turned away weary
and disguised at the delay. Never before
was there such disappointment at the
Capitol. The members felt it even more
keenly than the spectators and Tor Two
hours afterwards they stood about the
Hobbies discussing the latest phase OF the
situation. The news Of the proposed
armistice which came on the heels OF the
announcement that Gen. Lee had caDled
for delay, received quite as much atten-
tion as the request of Lee. The debate
in progress in The House over the army
reorganization bill, attracted little at
tention. 1t was completely. oyershadowed
by the more absorbing question. Con-
siderable opposition to the bill developed
on the ground that its provision Ior an
extension of the regular army In time OF
war to 104, 900 would be inlmical to the
national guard and the volunteer forces
upon which the country had heretofore
relied in time of stress. There will be q
strong effort to recommit the bill tomor-
row.
AS the hands of the clock pointed to II,
Speaker Reed pushed his way through
the green baize doors leading from the
lobby of the House and assembled the
rostrum. With two whacks OF the gayel
the great multitude was hushed. The
members and many of the spectators in
the gallery arose and stood with bowed
head as the blind chaplain delivered
solemn invocation for the Divine aid in
this days deliberations.
There was general understanding on
the floor soon after the House assembled
that the message would not be sent to
Congress probably until 8 O'Clock. AS
the families of many Of the members
could not obtain admission to the gale
ries, Mr. Bailey asked If the Speaker
hers be permitted to bring their families
upon the floor.
Thu Speaker answered tnsthe negative
The rules strictly prohibited him from
entertaining such request.
It : having been arranged last Friday
that the army reorganization Dill snoulo
be special order for today mot to m
terfere with report from the committee
snHforeign affairs) the Speaker recognized
Mr.. Hull, chairmangof the military affairs
committee, to call it up. A wrangle fol-
lowed as to whether the bill should be
considered in the committee of the whole
or in the House andssas to limits OF the
debate. 1t was finally agreed that the
biil should be considered in the House,
-, o@Fo TO a limit fb4
debate failed, lowing to the objection OF
Mr.. Marsh, Republican of Illinois, who
is one of the most bellicose members upon
the floor.
hMr. Hull, in calm, dispassionate state
ment explained the features and pur-.
poses of the bill and disadvantages of
the proposed three battalion formation
which have been fully covered in the AS
sociatedss Press dispatches.
While Mr.. Hull was speaking the report
was quietly spread through the House
that the message would be sent to the
House at 2so'clock.
MIR. Marsh, Republican of Illinois, fol
lowed Mr. Hull. He endorsed the main
features of the BILL
Mr. Lacey, Republican of Louisiana,
aroused the first outburst of applause
from members and galleries when he
said that he regretted that war seemed
inevitable, but that one good thing
would come out of it, The regiments
of the state of Georgia would via with
that of Iowa to see which should be in
the front rank of battle and stay longest
The coming war would cement with
blood and iron the states of the Union.
Mr. Robbins. Republican of Pennsyl.
vania, opposed the bill.
The main argument used against the
bill was that in case of war the national
guard and volunteer forces could supply
the troops necessary above the regular
army of 10000. This was met with the
contention that as one quarter OF the
expanded arguments would he regulars,
they would be ready for real service in a
much shorter time than the volunteer
forces could be. An amendment was
offered to reduce the size of the companies
from $50 to 200 At o'clock, without
action on the bill the House adjourned.