The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-17
Notin So Brief a Time


Mr.. Cockreu of Missouri, speaking for the
other five members of the military affairs
committee presented a statement in the ma
ture of minority report. He agreed with
Mr.. Hawley that the reorganization OF the
army was a project of the highest import
ance. The proper reorganization OF the
army, he maintained, could not be effected
in so brief a time as would be allowed be-
fore this congress adjourned. He declared
that he and those for whom he spoke were
opposed to unnecessarily large increase IN
the army. He regarded the authority given
the president by the bill reported to reduce
the army to 59, 975 men as virtual confess
ion that that number would be sufhcient
Mr.. Cockrel said that he and those who
believed with him had no desire, DISPOSE
ton or intention to withhold from the pres
ident all the men and money he might nee1.
He referred to the action of himself ana MS
associates in upholding the hands OF the
president pricr to and during the war with
Spain, and alluded to the s5O,00O,O09 appro-
priation as an unprecedented act.
He said that he was willing to have bill
enacted which he declared would afford the
president ample power The Dill ne pro-
posed provided that within a blank number
of DAYS the volunteers now in the service
must be mustered out and discharged. That
the president be authorized to enroll a mil
itary force of So 900 men in the Islands OF
Cuba, Porto Rico, and the Phlhppines,
these troops to be Differed as the president
NAV direct. restricted in the service as to
their respective islands and not to be con-
sidered a part of the permanent mlhtafy
establishment.
such an act Mr. Cockrell said, would con-
tinue the military establishment at ABOUT
62 900, and in addition would afford the pres
ident an additional force of 5000 men from
the various islands. This force would De
absolutely at the disposal of the president
until peaceful conditions were restored In
the various new possessions of the United
States.
1--WE offer" said Mr.. Cockrell, 'every-
thing in reason; everything that Will en-
able the president to establish order; every
thing for the establishment of order and
protection to life and property is in the BILL
which 1 offer"
Postoffice Appropri on Bill
Consideration was then begun of the post
office appropriation bill. Practically the
only obstacle encountered by the bill was
the committee amendment providing FOR
special facilities on the trunk lines from
New York and Washington to Atlanta and
New Orleans and from Kansas CITY, MO,
to Newton, Kan.
Mr.. Wolcott, of Colorado, strongly OPP
posed the appropriations for this special
serv ce, declaring that they indicated only
the influence certain railroads had over
congress.
7.
of Georgia; Mr. Morgan, of Alabama, and
others supported the amendment. In oppo-
sition to the amendment Mr.. Bate, Mr..
Lodge and others addressed the senate.
In closing the debate, Mr.. Quay, in charge
of the bill, sad that during the extended
debate the same old straw had been
threshed for years. He strongly defended
the appropriation and hoped the commit
tees action would be sustained.
The amendment, which appropriates S171,-
23S for special mail facilities from New
York and Washington to Atlanta and New
Orleans was then agreed to-2 to TO-
The amendment appropr ating $4,000 for
special mail facilities between Kansas City
and Newton, Kan, was also agreed to.
Mr.. Turley, of Tennessee. presented the
credentials of Hon. William b. Bate. elected
a senator from his state for the term of
six years from March a. 1899.
At the conclusion of the postoffce appro-
priation bill 1t was allowed to go over until
Saturday morning.
A bill providing an additional circuit judge
in the Third judicial circuit was passed
Mr.. Hawiev gave notice that at the first
opportunity tomorrow he would call up for
consideration the army Reorganization
biE.
The senate then, at Fps p. M. went into
e--oc-'+'rN session, and ten minutes later
adjourned.