Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-02-02
ARMY REoRG BILL
PASSES THE HOUSE.
6 REPUBLICANS VOTE NO
This Detection Onset by Democrats
Who Support Majority Action
Vigorous Minority Reports on Cur
rency and Subsidy Bills Senate
Debates the Peace Treaty,

army to about 100000 men, but giving
size of infantry companies and cavalry
troops to 80 men each, thus fixing the
minimum at $4,000 enlisted men,
passed the house by a vote of 16S to
l2S. This was the result OF a week of
hard and often picturesque lighting on
the floor in which the opposition com
PEELED those in charge OF the measure
to give this discretionary measure to
the president and make notifications,
among which was the reduction of SSl
in the number of staff officers. In
consequence of the notifications, the
republican opposition practically van
ished and on the final roll-call but i
republicans voted against the bill, as
follows; Messrs. Barber (MdD, Con-
nelly Qlll, Loud (CalD, Johnson
(lndD, McEwan IN. j. and Wads-
worth IN. W. This republican detection
however, was almost offset by five
members of the political opposition
who voted in favor of the bill as fol
lows: MessrS. Berry (Ky), Mcclellan
IN. W, McAleer CPa.) and Taylor
tAla), democrats, and Skinner (pop,
n. CO., The program for the day in
cluded a provision for two hours gen
eral debate, which was to be occupied
by MeSSrs. Dal2ell, (Pa) and Hopkins
(lll,) in closing for the majority, and
by MeSsrs. Bailey (TeXD and Settle
(ky) for the opposition. But this
program was smashed owing TO the
failure to complete the bill under the
five minute rule before 3 p. IN. the
hour set for the vote. Among the I'M
portant amendments ADOPTED before
the vote was taken was one TO exclude
the appointment of civilians to posi-
tions in the engineering corps; one to
abolish canteens and the sale of liquor
in camps; and one to strike out the
provision for additional pay for com
mandS serving in the West Indies,
Philippines and Alaska. The
amendment of Mr.. Cummings
IN " to prohibit the use
of troops in the several states 20
suppress riots, etc, except upon the APP
plcation of the states. was defeated by
a large majority. A motion to recon-
nit with instructions to report back
the minority substitute only command
ed two republican votes and was lost,
III to 10. The bill as passed pro-
vides, in addition to the general of
fcers and staff departments, for twelve
regiments of cavalry of ~ troops each,
1i4 coast batteries, "a field batteries,
80 regiments of infantry of II compan-
les each corps of engineers and one
regiment of engineers, an ordnance
department and signal corps. The lat
ter will have CPS enlisted men. 1t also
gives the president the discretion to
recruit the organizations serving in
Cuba, Porto Rico and the islands of
the Pacific. in whole or in part, from
the inhabitants thereof.
Before the house adjourned the river
and harbor bill, carrying $4,000, 900,
was formally called up in order to
make it unfinished business in com
committee of the whole.
The minority report on the Hanna
Payne shipping bill was filed. 1t
was prepared by Mr.. Handy dem,
Del) and is a severe arraignment of
the measure and those who receive
bounties under it. The report says in
part; This bill was prepared by
committee of ship owners and ship
builders, representing gentlemen who
would receive the bounty which the
bill proposes to give from the public
treasury. The bill provides for boun-
ties which once granted cannot there
after be taken away. BY careful and
conservative estimate, we find the gov
eminent will be obliged by contracts
likely to be entered into during the
first year under this bill to pay boun-
ties amounting to more than $l65 000,-
900, and this includes only the ship
ping now in sight The shipping
which must be built will cost probably
not less than 100000. The lion S
share will go to the International Nav
igation company which will receive
more than $57 100000. The man who
builds an ocean steamer will be palu
bountes in 20 years amounting to
twice the cost of the boat 1t is i'm
possible TO give bounty to everybody
and to all forms of industry, and II is
manifestly unequal and unjust to tax
farmers, carpenters, blacksmiths, ma
sons, merchants, railroad men, miners
and woodsmen OF the country to pay
bounty to the ship owners for every
mile that they sail upon the sea. To
build a great merchant marine the
shackles should be taken off. Every
thing needed in the building and
equipping of ship should be admitted
free"
The minority report on the Hill bill
recently reported from the committee
on coinage, weights and measures, was
submitted. The report says: THE
bill will make a radical change in the
whole currency system and work
serious and, 1t is believed, disastrous
contraction OF our money volume and
destroy the whole of the silver coinage.
The bill fixes absolutely and unquali-
Gadlv a.. Ell