The Portland daily press., 1899-02-27

--Jerry simpsons Pun.
Washington, February 25-After two
hours devoted to the consideration of bills
on the calendar today, the Senate at l
O'Clock began the consideration of the
compromise army re-organi nization bill
whi,h had been agreed upon by the MEM
bers of the military affairs committee.
Until short time before the measure
was taken up 10 was supposed IL would
be passed today without serious Difficult
ty, but when IL was learned by some Sem
ators that the bill provided for a perma-
nent increase in the standing army, OBJ
jections were heard and IL became evi-
dent that the measure would have to run
the gauntlet of sharp criticism. Mr..
German, Democrat OF Mary land, desired
that no authorization Of a permanent In
crease in the army should be given and
prepared an amendment as follows:
That each and every provision of this
act shall continue In force until July l.,
1901, and on and after this date the off,
GERS and men, including general officers
and staff officers, shall be restored to
rank and numbers as provided for by
law prior to April /. 1898, except the ca
dets appointed prior to July /, 1901. and
except as provided for in the act to au-
thorlze two additional regiments Of artil-
lery, approved March S, ts9s."
No argeement 10 vote on the bill had
been reached when the Senate adjourned.
at the conclusion of the reading Of
the bill, Mr.. German of Maryland sug-
gested to Mr.. Hawley the desirability of
permitting the bill to go over until Mon
day. Mr.. Hawley said he could not con
sent. The necessities of the case we've
well underst rod by the Senator We
have bill here" said he, (which has
been given the careful considerations of
the military committee. the war depart
ment and the President. We have come
harmoniously TO a conclusion. Nobody
has surrendered, nobody is humilisted.
There has been some Indignation, some
criticism on both sides. 10 put this mat
ter over wouli take two days out of the
seven yet remaining of this session. My
Judgment is the Senate is as we'll pre-
pared TO vote on this bill today as on
Monday.
Mr. Carter. a member of the military
affairs committee. thought that if time
on Monday could be fixed for IA vote on
the bill. it might be we'll to permit 1t to
gp oTer. He suggested that O'Clock on
Monday would be IL good time, and asked
unanimous consent to vote then.
Mr.. Allen, of Nebraska objected.
MIR. Cockreli, a member of the military
affairs committee, discussed at length
the features of the bill. "This measure, 4"
fully. / endorse 1t as it lie right. just
proper and necessary. 1t will settle for
years to come the standing army con-
troversy."
Further along in his analysis of the
bill, MI. Cockrell said the increased army
provided for by this bill was perfectly
justatiable and absolutely es sentisl.'
In response to question by MIR. Vest,
he said that the army, after 1901, would
lie reduced to 3s, 400 and that would be
required TO take care of the coast forth
tcations In conclusion Mr.. Cookrell
said; IF we have bill here that will
adjust the army controversy for years to
come, We ought to accept it, 1t Is not
prodigal of the peopl's money. have
been on several commissions and com.
mittees for the reorganization of the army
and l believe honestly and conscientious
y that this is the best measure present
ed TO Congress for regulating the army
since l entered this chamber in 1877. l
DON'T believe you will ever get better
bill. On the contrary, If the bin fails,
my judgment is that what come here
after will not be SO good for the coun-
try. l believe the bill is
RIGHT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD
and man and / am willing TO take all
responsibility for it.
Mr.. Hawley in charge of the bin, offered
an amendment providing. that when
vacancy shall occur in the Office of store
keeper in the quartermaster s department,
or ordnance department through death.
retirement or otherwise, the Office shall
cease to exist 1t was agreed to- Mr..
Hawley offered another amendment pro-
viding that no person who has
pdSstu lne age VI ~ years SHALL DO dp-
pointed as Held officer in said force 1.-THE
volunteer foroe) officers of the regular
army excepted.
Mr.. Pettigrew suggested an amendment
to the amendment excepting also officers
and enlisted men who served in the war
with Spain.
Pending action upon the amendment,
Mr. Allen of Nebraska addressed the
Senate in opposition to the general feat.
ures of the bill He was surprised that
Mr.. Cockrell could give his sanction to
such measure. ''If there ever was a
hideous skeleton, a monstrosity, de-
formation in legislation, this bill is
one. 1t is warped, disjointed, dislocated.
1t lacks science; 1t lacks conference; IL
lacks good sense. Commenting on
section of the bill, which gives to
cooks the pay and allowances of ssrgeants
of infantry, MIR. Allen said irop ically
that 1t evidently required a higher