The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-02-03
THE ARMY BILL.
II Passes in the House by a Vote OF
1913 to 125.
The President Has Authority to Reduce the
Size of Infantry Companies and Cavalry
Troop, To GO Men Each, Thus Fixing
the Maximum at $4,000.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-The bill to re-
organize and increase the standing
army to about 100, 600 men, but giving
the president authority to reduce the
size of infantry companies and cavalry
troops to 60 men each, thus fixing q
minimum of about 80, 600 enlisted men,
passed the house Tuesday by vote ot
l6S to 125. This was the result of 3
week of hard and often picturesque
fighting on the floor, during the prog
ress of which the opposition
compelled those in charge of the
measure to give this discretionary
authority to the president and to make
other notifications, among which were
a reduction of 331 in the number of
staff officers. In consequence of these
notifications, the republican OPPOSE
ton practically vanished and on the
final vote but six republicans voted
against the bill, Messrs. Barber, Oh
Maryland; Connolly, of Illinois; Loud,
of California; johnson, of Indiana;
McEwan, of New Jersey, and, Wads-
worth, of New York. This repuE
lican DETECTION was, however, al
most offset by five members Oh
the political opposition who voted
in favor of the bill. Messrs. Berry, OF
Kentucky; Mcclellan, of New York;
McAleer, of Pennsylvania; TAYLOR, of
Alabama, democrats; and Skinner,
populist, North Carolina. The gal
leries were crowded throughout the
day, and every member who could pos
sibly be there was on the floor to record
his vote on the final roll call. The
programme Tuesday included pro
vision for two hours of general debate,
which was to be occupied by Messrs,
Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, and Hopkins,
of Illinois, in closing for the ma
jority, and Messrs. Bailey, of Texas,
and Settle, of Kentucky, for the oppo-
sition. But this programme was
smashed owing to the failure to COM
plete the bill under the five minute
rule before 3 o'clock, the hour set for
the vote. Among the important
amendments adopted before the vote
was taken was one to exclude the APP
pointment of civilians to positions in
the engineer corps, one to abolish
canteens and the sale of liquor in
camps, and one to strike out the pro-
vision for additional pay for commands
serving in the West Indies, Philippines
and Alaska. The amendment of Mr..
Cummings, of New York, to prohibit
the use of troops in the several states
TO suppress riots, ETC., except upon the
application of the states, was defeated
by a large majority. The motion to
recommit, with instructions to re-
port back the minority substi-
tute, only commanded two repub-
1ican votes and was lost-117 to
100 The bill as passed provides in
addition to the general officers and
staff departments for IL regiments of
cavalry of - troops each, IA coast bat
teries, "a field batteries, 80 regiments
of infantry of 10 companies each, a
corps of engineers and one regiment Cd
engineers, an ordnance department
and a signal corps, the latter
with 625 enlisted men. 1t also
gives the president discretion
to recruit the organizations
serving in Cuba, Porto Rico and the
islands of the Pacific in whole or in
part from the inhabitants thereof.
Before the house adjourned Tuesday,
the river and harbor bill was formally
called up in order to make it the unfn-
ished business in the committee of the
whole.
WASHINGTON, Feb. because the
army reorganization bill received such
a handsome majority in the house
similar treatment in the senate is in
no wise indicated. As a matter OF
fact, it is only the most optimistic
friends of the measure who expect il
to become a law, at least
without radical modification. There
is growing belief that the whole
question of reorganizing and enlarg
ing the army will be left for the mex
congress, and at this session there will
be adopted some sort of a resolution
continuing the army under it's wal
time organization, which raises 1T
maximum to about 90, 600.
Granting Extra Pay.
WAcuINcroN Eab "A I'LL 1909
passed at the opening of the senate's