Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-02-22
FORMAL DISCUSSION BEGAN IN sen.
ATE YESTERDAY.
CoCKRELL'S NOTABLE SPEECH
NOTICE GIVEN THAT HULL-HAwLEY
BILL CANNOT PASS.
Mr. Cockrell Favors an Increase, but
Says No Great Standing Army
Shall BE Fastened Upon the
Country without Fun
Discussion.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21-Formal dis
cussion Of the Hull-Hawley army reor-
ganization bill was begun in the senate
this afternoon. Mr.. Hawley and Mr. War
ren, Republicans. supported the measure
and Mr.. Mitchell and Mr.. Cockrell, DEM
ocrats, opposed II, while Mr. Proctor Re-
publican, addressed the senate in favor Of
some amendments which he had proposed
to the bill. All the speakers are members
of the committee on military affairs. Mr.
Cockrelfs speech, though brief, was par
ticularly notable. as he spoke definitely
for the opposition to the army bill, He
declared practically in SO many words that
the Hull-Hawley bill could not become a
law at this session. He and those who
stood with him were willing to give the
president all the money and every man he
desired. but they were determined that no
great standing army should be fastened
upon the country without full and free
discussion. :!
Soon after the senate convened, Mr.. PET
tigrew, of South Dakota, presented reso-
lutions of the legislature of South Dakota,
urging the senators of that state to sup
port the treaty of peace. Commenting upon
the resolutions. Mr.. Pettigrew said that he
denied the right of the legislature to in
struct him, although he was always glad
to hear from that, body.
r. THE present legislature OF South Da-
kota," said he, lis the third since 1 was
elected senator the last time. In one a
resolution was passed indorsing the free
and unlimited coinage of silver. Both
houses of the next legislature passed a
similar resolution. The present legislature
Is In favor of the single gold standard. II
i should undertake to follow the course
laid down by the legislature, L would be
on almost every side Of almost every pub.
lie question"
he pointed out that a majority of the
legislators were not members Of successive
legislatures, and he believed that on great
national questions, they were as likely to
be wrong as right.
The conference report on the legislative,
executive and judicial appropriation bill
was agreed to.
the committee on public buildings and
grounds, presented a batch of reports
favorable to the erecting of public build
angs IN various parts ofsthe country. These
reports brought Mr.. Allen, of Nebraska, to
his feet with an inquiry as to why certain
bills which had been before the committee
for year or more had not been acted
upon. He said: This reporting of public
buildings bills is like the expert shufling
OF cards. The favored bills are placed on
the calendar in the order in which the COM
mittee desires their passage 1 make this
distinct charge: There has been no meet
ing Of the committee on public buildings
and grounds at which these bills were au-
thorized to be reported. If any. meeting of
the committee has been held, 1t was a
secret meeting. I make this statement
simply to call the attention of the senate
and country to the matter. and not be-
cause I expect any change in the methods
of the committee"
Mr.. Allen proceeded to charge that a
public building combination existed, and
that none but favored few could gain con-
sideration by the combination.
IT want to say to the senator" replied
Mr.. Quay. emphatically, that his state
ment that there is any condensation is un-
warranted and false. 1t is not, true in any
sense" 80
A message was received from the house
transmitting the bin passed by that BODY
appropriating $4,000 900, to be paid to Spain
In accordance with the terms Of the Paris
treaty. 1t was referred to the committee on
appropriations. ~a&
The postofice appropriation bill was laid
before the senate and its consideration was
resumed.
Mr.. Butler OF North Carolina, resumed
his speech OF yesterday.
Mr.. Wolcott, chairman OF the postal COM
mission. replying briefly to Mr.. Butler. de-
clared that as a matter OF fact the in
creased amount to be paid railroads for
mail transportation was not proportionate
to the increased volume of mail.
At 2 o'clock the debate closed and the
voting began. g.
Mr.. Buffers amendment reducing the
amount paid to railroads was defeated, IS
to Is
The bill was then passed. ,
Mr.. Hawiey was recognized to speak on
the army reorganization bill and as he
proceeded WIS shown very close attention.
lie said he did not see how anybody could
have voted against taking up the bill. for
1t was evident to all that something must
be done to strengthen the presidents arm.
He thought there could be no doubt that
the Spanish cortes would ratify the peace
With this proceeding concluded and the
exchange completed, the army necessarily
must be reduced to its original dimension
of 2l.ooo unless some law should be en-
Even Mr.. Cockrell was willing to con-
cede large army. For this the country
should be duly thankful, but for himself
create large forces of native troops, as pro-
posed by the Cockreli bill. He contended
that. the Filipinos were revolutionary
would Join Aguinaido within forty-eight
hours after its organization. Hence he
predicted grand and calamitous failure
of such an experiment. The president
could be trusted. The responsibilities are
ours and we should accept them before
God and the world.
Mr.. Mitchell. OF Wisconsin, also a MEM
Der of the military committee, followed Mr..
Hawiey. He criticized the Hull bill. saying
that II was not, as claimed, a reorgaIiza-
tion bill, as the only material change in
the present system was in the artillery. He
then took up various details of the bill,
outlining his objections to or arguments in
favor OF them one by one. He advocated a
change in the organization of the stan OF
the army as very necessary reform. crit
icising the committee for not inclu ling
a provision on this point. The bill was also
defective in failing TO arrange the status
OF the adjutant general toward the COM
mandine general. Mr.. Mitchell contended
that much of the discerd in the army at