The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-28
ARMY BILL TO BE MODIFIED.
AMENDMENTS PREPARED TO RE-
DUCE STRENGTH TO 10000.

Chairman Hull Concludes II Is Wise
to Abandon the Fight for an Army
of 1OO,OOO-Mny BE Left in Presi-
dents Discretion to Increase the
Strength-,'ohnsOn Wants No Ma
chinery for Forging a Colonial
System.
Washington, Jan. 27.-The opposition to
the army reorganization bill on the Re
publican side of the House has become so
strong that to-day Chairman Hull, after
Mr.. Henderson of Iowa, one of the floor
leaders of the majority, had threatened to
be wise, in order to insure its passage, to
abandon the idea of providing directly for
a regular army of 100000 men.
Mr.. Hull announced on the floor that
the committee would offer amendments to
reduce the number of enlisted men to
about 10000, but lodge in the Presidents
discretion the authority TO increase the
army to a maximum of 100000
These amendments have been prepared.
They provide that the President may in
his discretion enlist only sixty men in the
infantry companies and sixty in the cav
airy troops. BY the terms of the bill
there are to be thirty infantry regiments
of ten companies each, with strength of
145 men, and twelve regiments of cavalry
of ten troops each, with a strength of lO6
men. This discretion, if the President
would exercise it, would reduce the num-
ber of enlisted men about $1,000, and prac-
ticaIly leave intact the organizat ton pro-
vided for in the bill, so far as officers are
concerned. How far the proposed modih-
cations will suit the opposition remains
to be seen.
johnson Takes Part.
Mr.. johnson of Indiana also took prom
fnent part in the fight to-day after the
genral debate closed declaring that the
purpose of the bill was to have an army
of 100 900 either by direct authority or the
exercise of the Presidents discretion, and
he declared his purpose to fight to the
bitter end the machinery which was being
forged for colonial system
Mr.. Henderson, IN the course of the de-
bate declared his belief in the unwisdom
of annexing the Philippines Mr.. Johnson
said the vital mistake was made when the
President instructed the peace commits
sioners to demand the cesson of the Phil
ippines.
The whole debate to-day was spirited
and so intense was the struggles when the
bin was taken up for amendment under
the five minute rule that the first section
had not been completed when the House
recessed at 5 o clock
No Lieutenant General.
The first vote was taken on the com,
mittee amendment to increase the num-
Der of chaplains from thirty to forty and
it was carried 6S to 3S.
On motion of Mr.. Lacey the provision
for lieutenant general was stricken out.
A number of other amendments were Of
fered, but were not adopted.
After ffty-nine private pension bills had
been passed tonight, Mr.. Ray, Republi-
can, of New York, made the point of no
quorum 20 prevent final action on a bill
to pension Lettia Tyler Sample, daugh-
ter of eX-President Tyler, at the rate of
$50 per month. The Senate passed a bill
to pension her at this rate. The House
bin was for $40, but when the House to-
night restored il to $50 against the COM
nittee recommenda ton, Mr.. Ray prevent
ed final action by raising the point OF no
quorum.