The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-17
Democrats Offer a Substitute For
the Hull Bill.
PROVIDES ENOUGH MEN
BUT NO PERMANENT INCREASE
IN REGULAR ARMY.
Present Force of Regulars Continued
at $4,000 For Two Years, and the
Enlistment of $4,000 Islanders
For Service In the Colonies-Meets
All Needs.

Washington, Feb. 16.-The army re-
organization bill was reported to the
senate today, and Mr.. Hawley Comm,
chairman of the military affairs COM
mittee, gave notice that he would move
to proceed TO it's consideration at the
earliest possible time. The navy per-
sonnel bill was taken up and read, but
no effort was made to proceed further
with its consideration. The military
academy appropriation bill was passeu-
The postoffice Appropriation Dill was
under confederation during the greater
part of the afternoon, but was not dls-
posed of finally.
Mr.. Cockrell of Missouri, speaking for
the five Democratic members or the
military committee, presented Writ
ten statement in the nature of minor
ity report. He agreed with Mr.. HaWley
that the reorganization of the army was
a project OF the highest Importance.
The proper reorganization OF the army,
he maintained, could not be erected
in so brief a time as would be allowed
before this congress adjourned. he de-
clared that he and those Tor Wnom ne
spoke were opposed to an unnecessarily
large increase in the army. He re-
garded the authority given the presl-
dent by the bill reported TO reduce t1e
army to $3.50 men as virtual con-
fession that that number would be SUI
ficient.
Mr.. Cockrell said that he and those
who believed with him had no desire,
disposition or intention to withhold
from the president all the men and
money he might need. He referred to
the action of himself and his assocl-
ates in unfolding the hands of the
president prior to and during the war
with Spain, and alluded TO the S50,0OO,-
600 appropriation as an unprecedented
act"
He then said he was willing to have
a bill enacted which, he declared, would
afford the president ample power The
bill he proposed provided that within
q blank number of days the volunteer
force now in the service be mustered
out and discharged; that the act OF
April 26, 1898, be continued in fun force
till July l, 1891, and that the president
be authorized to enroll a military force
of 81, 900 men in the islands of Cuba,
Porto Rico and the Philippines; these
troops to be officered as the president
may direct, and restricted in service to
their respective islands and not to be
considered a part of the permanent MIL
itary establishment. Such an act, Mr.
Cockrell said, would continue the mil
itary establishment at about bZ,UUO men
and in addition would afford the presi-
dent an additional force of $4,000 men
from the various islands. This force
would be absolutely at the disposal of
the president until peaceful conditions
were restored in the various new pos
sessions of the United States.
I'VE Offer said Mr.. Cockrell, in con-
clusion, everything in reason. Every
thing that will enable the president to
establish order, everything for the es-
life and property is in the bill which 1
Offer
Mr. Mantle of Montana presented the !
credentials of William A. Clark, and |
Mr.. Turley of Tennessee presented the |
credentials of Hon. William b. Bate, !
each elected as senator from his state |
for the term of six years from March !
4, 1899.
At the conclusion of the reading of
the post Office appropriation bill it was |
allowed to go over until Saturday |
morning.
A bill providing for an additional cir |
cult judge in the Third judicial circuit |
was passed.
Mr.. Hawley gave notice that at the
first opportunity tomorrow he would |
call up for consideration the army re- |
organization bill.
Mr.. Carter, adverting to his effort |
last evening to secure a reading of the |
bill providing for a code of laws for |
Alaska, said the committee on terri |
tories had agreed, on account of the |
brief time at its disposal, to strike out |
all after page 24S Of the bill and pre-
sent only the criminal code. He said |
it was highly important that the GRIM
inal code should be enacted at the pres
ent session and he asked the unanimous
that the formal reading of the
measure take place before adjourn
ment.
Mr.. Caffery of Louisiana objected.
The senate then, at 5:25 pm, went
into executive session and at 5:35 ad-
journed.