The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-01-31
Mr.. KITCHIN'S SPEECH
HE TOOK STRONG GROUND
AGAINST ARMY INCREASE.
DlsT0RrlNG THE MEANING OF THE flag
Germany's Flag Taken Down from Above Paris
Without Dishonor, and Our Own Re-
moved from Mexico. Danger
in Taking Phiiipoines,
in Taking Philippines,

Washington, Jan. 30.-The House put
to-day. and tonight when it adjourned
13 of the 20 pages had been completed.
The committee amendments giving the
President discretionary power to reduce
the size of the infantry companies and
cavalry troops to GO men each were
adopted, and also a series of amendments
to reduce the officers of the staff 331.
A substitute was adopted for the section
providing for promotions which was
designed to equalize promotions. A fight
was made to reduce the age limit for
officers to be appointed to the various
staff departments from so to 80, but it
failed. An amendment was, however.
adopted to require a mental and moral
as well as a physical examination for
such appointees Much of the time to-
day was occupied in short speeches on
the general proposition to increase the
army and annex the Philippines, and
there were several lively personal con-
troversies The House viii meet to-
morrow at IL and whatever time re-
mains before o'clock after the bill is
completed under the five minute rule
will be devoted to general debate The
heavy weights on both sides will close.
The final vote is to be taken at 3 o'clock.
The House adjourned this afternoon at
5:55 o'clock p. m.
KITCHENS SOUND SPEECH.
Washington. Jan. 30.-lSpecial.) l.)-One
of the best speeches Of the many short
ones which have been made y@anst the
bill providing for the permanent II
crease of the regular acmy was that
of Congressman Kitchin. The young
Congressman from North Carolina has
taken an excellent position in the es-
timation Of his Democratic colleagues
and the good impression which he has
made heretofore was strengthened by
his common sense utterances upon tins
very important question.
He took strong ground against Amy
increase which he held was of coTrse
the real purpose of this reorganization
bill and went at some length into lea
sons for opposition to what he termed
the imperialistic policy of the admins
tration.
"Scornine the misrepresentation of
victories of our army and navy and
responsible to the descendants of the
first proclaimers of American l;narty fol
my conduct, | shall vote against in
creasing the standing army of ne Uni
ted States from thirty thousand to ono
hundred thousand men in time 1f peace.
He referred touchingly to the memo
ries which clustered around the Ala
if
eloauent words of the sacrifices madt
by North Carolina in me rece1t wal
with Spain when brave Bagley fell al
Cardenas and Shipp on the Hill of Sal
Juan. He said no man could feel greater
honor for the heroes of the war than he
but he did not believe it was honest tC
the people to take advantage of the en-
thusiasm created by the var 20 put
through bill providing for a permanent
standing army which could oaly be
heavy burden to the Taxpayers aDC
which might be menace to the Eber
ties of the people.
Referring to the claim that it is wron:
to withdraw the flag from any poiI
where it has once flown, he pointed
out that Germany's flag nad been takei
down from the capital OF France with
ont dishonor, that the Engli n Eat
Withdrawn from Washington aud tE
Americans from Mexico without any dis
honor being attached to their flag by thi
act. He contended that the meaning 0
the flag would be perverted and distorte'
if it were to be kept flying i'll the PM
ippines as symbol Of despotic govern
ment forced upon the inhabitants
these islands without their consent.
MY knowledge of the innate power
of my country" continued Mr.. Kitchin
''forbds my aid TO this unnecessary eX
pense for military purposes in tim
of peace. 1t would mean an ncreas
from twenty-five millions to one himdre'
millions annually, this latter sum bcin,
sufficient to buy, as shown by the tn,
books, three Congressional districts sGci
as | have the honor to represent"
He did not think that the voiuntcer
should be kept in if they did n9t wan
to remain, but that they should be re
placed by men recruited for garrison pur
poses. He held that the real darge
lies in the acquisition of the Philippine
and that if the people thoroughly under
stood the matter, wave of protes
would come from the fl ms and shops
the fields, the mines and the Offices o
this land that would compel a patriot
executive to change the course whicl
the President seems TO have taken upol
this great question. Concluding b
said:
''.The Old King OF Israel In \ monen
of information yielded TO temptation