Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-24
THE ARMY BILL
Fight Over 1t Began in the House
Today.
CLOSE ASSOCIATION WITH THE TREATY
Anti-Expansionists VIII Gain Moth
ing by Its Defeat.
l FALSE IMPRESSION

The fight over the army bill began in the
House today. The opposition there is
strong, but not strong enough to defeat the
measure. Possibly with some amendments
the bill will be passed by the House at the
close of the fifteen hours debate. Its
prospects in the Senate, however, are not
bright. In the Senate minority is power
ful, and at a time SO near the close of the
Congress almost irresistible IL determined.
The opponents to large standing army,
who are strong in the Senate have decided
that the Hull bill or any measure similar
to it shall not pass the Senate.
If the administration will accept such
a compromise in the way of a temporary
provision for the army as the opposition
dictate there will be some sort of legisla-
ton for the army at this session; other
wise the prospects are that there will be
an obstruction that cannot be overcome
in the short time left to this Congress.
Association With the Treaty.
The association between the army bill
and the ratification of the treaty is closer
than appears on the surface. The real
fight is over the army bill. A considerable
portion of the opposition to the ratification
of the treaty is based on objection to the
maintenance of a large army that would
ippines without a declaration of purpose
at some time to relinquish the possession.
On the other hand, the permanent in
crease of the army is deemed by the adj
ninistration to be a necessity scarcely less
urgent than the ratification of the treaty.
The ratification of the treaty without ade-
quate provisions being made for the army
would be regarded as producing situation
extremely dangerous, If not utterly unten-
able
In the absence of legislation for the army,
the administration would probably be in a
better position to carry out its policy if
the treaty is not acted on than it would be
with the treaty ratified and no provision
made for the army. The ratification of the
treaty and the legislation for the army go
together.
No Gain to Anti-EXpansiOnists
If the treaty is not ratified the anti-ex-
pansionists will really not gain anything,
as the possession of the islands by this
government will continue and the war tech
nically being still in existence, the Presi-
dent will retain the powers he has been
exercising since the war began. When
Congress has expired, on the 4th of March,
II the treaty has not been ratified and the
army legislation has failed, the President
will have absolute authority to maintain
out military status and to hold military
possession of the islands. But in reducing
the President to the necessity of eXerciS-
ing his military authority, responsibility is
assumed by the opposition in Congress for
trouble that may follow.
A False Impression on the Natives
1t is realized by those who are not blind
ed by their opposition to expansion that
the fight over the army bill and the ex-
IRENE opposition to the treaty NANTES ted
in the Senate is making a false impression
among the natives OF the Philippines, and
may lead to a conflict initiated by Agui-
naldo. There is liable to be bloodshed in
the Philippines. and a situation may de-
YeIop as consequence of the delay in
ratifying the treaty, which will force the
president to more extreme policy than is
now contemplated.