The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-27
GENERAL DEBATE
ON THE ARMY BILL
Mr.. GrOsvenOr Speaks for the
Administration.
Makes a Thrust at Miles and
Praises COrbin.
White. the CoIored Member From
White, the CoIored Member From
North Carolina. Speaks for the
Retirement of His Rnce.

Almost at the eleventh hour last night
a genuine sensation was thrown into the
army bill debate in the House. Represen-
tatiye White of North Carolina, the only
colored man in the House, took the floor
in Republican time. After announcing
that he favored the bill he branched oil
into a discussion of the race question. and
for over an hour electrified the crowded
galleries with a passionate appeal for the
negro in the South. His words were not
bitter but rather sorrowful. He did not
preach enmity between the races, but
begged that a mans chance in the world
be given to the negro race.
Otherwise the day in the House passed
without the usual pyrotechnics that have
attended it on previous days. The only
other speech that seemed TO interest the
House was that of Representative Gros-
venor. and that was scarcely up to expec-
tations.
Representative Sulzer was absent in New
York all day. returning only in time TO
close the general debate for the Demo-
Gratis.
1t can be truthfully stated that the
debate so far has not increased the
trainers of the bill. The Democrats gen.
orally are opposed to any bill. while the
Republicans are divided in support OF
many measures. Whether they will
finally unite on any proposition cannot be
told until the vote is taken.
The bill will be taken up today under
the five-minute rule. Tomorrow Will be
given up to eulogies on the late Repre-
sentative Northway of Ohio. On Mon
day consideration under the i've
minute rule will be continued and on
Tuesday till 3 O'Clock when a vote will
be taken Notice has been given Of nu-
merous amendments that will be offered.
and the Democrats have substitute to
the entire bill to offer.
Opened by Mr.. Marsh.
Mr. Marsh of Illinois opened the debate.
and confined himself almost entirely to the
subject matter of the bill He defended
its provisions. except that he favored a
different organization of the staff of the
army. and objected 10 large infantry COM
papies. The latter, he said. were desired
so that. later. if Congress should decide to
reduce the army, the companies could be
reduced so as to muster out the required
number, without mastering out the officers.
He should al the proper time, offer amend
ments. leaving the size OF the army at
The discretion of the President. He vio-
lated no confidence when he said that the
-
posed amendment. The President had told
MIN that he would not enlist man or
commission an officer more than he deemed
necessary. He would also offer an amend
menJ providing that staff officers should be
detailed from the line for four years duty.
They should then return to the line and be
ineligible for staff duty again until they
had served four years in the line. He
thought that the blunders could be traced
u L. to- - -aa1--
the head OF the army. he said. was in
favor Of a detailed staff.
He was in favor Of annexation of the
Philippines whether the natives were will
ing or not. For four years We had fought
in this country to force the Southern peo-
pie to submit to the Constitution against
their viii. 1t was absurd TO say that We
could not employ force TO take and hold
the Philippines.
Mr.. Marsh was followed by Mr. Dins-
more OF Arkansas in opposition to The bill.
The latter argued against expansion and
drew a picture of the white bones OF
American volunteers bleaching on tropic
beaches beneath the rays of a torrid sun.
In the course of his remarks Mr. Dins-
more raised a laugh at the expense of Mr.
Dolliver by recalling statement made by
the latter in q speech during the Fifty-firsJ
Congress. in which he predicted the free
coinage Of silver before the close OF Presi-
dent Harrison's Administration.
Mr.. Gro-Ncnor Speaks.
General Grosvenor then took the floor in
support Of the bill. lie said that he would
not attempt 10 reply to many of the argu-
ments that had been offered. but would
simply state his own position on the bill.
He thought it quite reasonable that there
should be a wide divergence in the opin-
ions OF the members Of the House. Some
had assumed that certain policies had been
marked out by the Administration and
had inVeighed against them.
During more than one hundred years
he said we had had a standing army
Only twice had it been used except in OPP
position 10 the avowed enemies of the
Government. One Of these was in Chicago
when a Democrat of the Democrats. as
Attorney General. advised that troops be
sent 10 that city. No one really believes
that any Administration or any faction
except in case Of direct necessity, would
use troops.
1t is easy TO say continued General
Grosvenor. that we went 10 war for hui
manity and that We suddenly became i'm.
perialisis, but the facts do not justify
this. We put an absurd declaration in oui
resolutions last spring-a declaration thai
no man would today suppOrt-and yet ",
have deyiated from this declaration"