The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-31
Final Vote on Army
Bill 10 Be Taken.
HART DAYS WORK.
Many Short Speeches on
the Philippine Question.

Washington, Jan. So.-The House put
Ia & hard days work on the army bill
To-Day, and tonight, when it adjourned
u CT 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 20 90 men each. were
| adopted, and also a series Of amend
rnents 70 reduce the officers Of the
staff S31. A substitute was adopted for
the section providing for promotions.
which is designed 10 equalize promo
lions. fight was made TO reduce the
age limit for officers TO be appointed to
the various staff departments from 20
10 90. but it failed. An amendment was
however, adopted TO require a mental
ana moral as well as physical ex-
animation for SUCH appointees. Much
Of the time today was occupied in short
speeches on the general proposition to
increase the army and annex the Phil
lppines. and there We're several livalv
personal controversies. The House
VIII meet tomorrow at II clock. and
Whatever time remains before 1l,raa
CLOCK after the bill is cornnIere5 mn,
ger the nye-m minute rule will be devoted
70 general debate. The heaYyweights
on Doth sides viii close. The final vote
Is 70 pc taken at 3 O'Clock
Al the opening OF the session of the
House, Mr.. Hopkins republican af II
Hnois reported the census bin ana
save notice that he would call il up
next Monday
The House then resumed. the -consifi-
eFaIlon Of the army reorganization bin
Inc nrst amendment today was that
q which the committee had given no
llce, authorizing the president to enlist
only % men IN cavalry rroe5, and "a
IN an infantry company AIr. Marsh
republican, Of Illinois, who offered The
anlenoLnent, said that this would re-
oace the enlisted force 10 50 600 if the
president exercised the discretion II
conferred upon him
The exact form Of each amendment
as as follows: Provided the ,,l.as-
1oent. in his discretion. may enlist onI,-
~ men IN troop Of cavalry or reduce
the number Of enlisted men in a -7sl1,,,7
Of cavalry TO not less Than 50 Ia h. n,-
Bsh1zeo. 50 far as on-connlissioned
t1LIleers are concerned. under regula-
Ions OF the war department
MI Hay tdem0cratl Of Virginia. of
I ne minority Of the committee nro-
es[ed TO the House that II was i'm
possIgle 70 perfect bin on the floor of
the mouse. He would offer an amend
nient,- ne said, TO have the bin provide
TOT only 90 men in an infantry con9.,a-
~ OF cavalry troop, but give the
president discretion 70 increase he
number to Jas and 100 respectively. this
ulScEetlon, however, only 10 be exer-
elsed IN sine Of war
MI De A r.TF10nd (7ars7or-rs "a - A. rs-
II objected to the amendment on the
ground that the discretionary newer
WIS 10 De exercised in the wrong dj
fectlon The bill, he commended. shonld
pfoyJde. for only $1,000 men. and tba
president should take the resp0nsfF,flirt,
u increasing il 10 100. 600. Il should not
proYlqe for 100000 and give the preei3-
~4iscrs-i ion to reduce it
Mt. 94arshss amendment relative tn
ms, cavalry TROOPS was adoDted-lO5 to
Mr. johnson, republican. of IBdi-
ana denounced what lie termed the
attempt to befOg the issue and place
the opponents of the bill in false no
sltlen The effect Of the bill was. he
sald. TO mislead Ihe people. Its Uur-
Ie5se Vas 70 create an army Of 100 900
ne committee amendments were
adopted as the reading of the bill pro
ceeded.
II 4
mai there was an epidemic Of hygterfa
IN the House and thar a member not
selzed with the maiddy could not get
nearing. The democrats ha6 been
IN laNef Of war to free a peoplh. The
republicans were now anxious for
war TO enslave people. The republic
cans Jeered when h drew a picture or
the snilltarism OF the future.
Mr.. Berry (dem) Of kpafucky an
honhced himself amid an outbreak Of
applause on the REPUBLICAN side in favor.
o the retention Of every foot
q territory we had acquired as
a result Of the var with Spain
Buj want to say right here.
continued Nj. Berry thai l never
want 10 see the Philippines represented
ON this floor
What would YOU do with them,
asked Mr. Mcguire tlem.) Of CalifoT-
MIA.
7 would keep Them Under our con-
lrol and protection as we will Cuba
themselves"
Nh. Hui offered tae amendment Civ
ing the president the discretion Ia re
duce the number Of enlisted men in in
fantry companies from I45 10 50. and
II was agreed to. Mr.. Griffin (rep.) of
Wisconsin offered a substitute for sec
ton 3 which had been agreed 10 bv
the .committee. 1t vas DESIGNED a
equa1ize promotions. 10 this an amend
ment was offered TO authorize in time
Of war the employment Of retired Off
GERS on other thaa active duty. The
substitute and amendment were
adopted.
Mr.. Cummings (dam.) New York. said
he hoped the treaty would be ratified
and that then the president would NOT
fly congress what he intended to do
He gave notice that ne would offer an
amendment providing that none of the
troops authorized in this bill shoilId
be used as a posse colnmitatus or In
putting down strikes or riots except