The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-02-24
President Reiterates Statement
Calling Extra Session if Army
Bill Is Not Passed.
COMMITTEE
Appointed by Chairman of House
Caucus-Military Court Of
Inquiry in Session.
Special Correspondence of The Gazette.

Washington. Feb. 21.-President NC
Kinley and five members of. his cabinet
made a trip to Boston last week to at
tend the annual dinner Of the Home
Market club, but before leaving WASH
inpton he took occasion to disabuse the
minds Of the democratic senators who
professed to think that he was only
blufing when he said that unless the
senate passed the Hull army bill he
would call an extra session OF the next
congress, by reiterating that statement.
President Mckinley does not desire an
extra session Of congress and no man
has done more to try to avoid one, but
legislation for the increase and reorgan-
ization Of the regular army is absolute
" necessary. The Hull bill for that
purpose has been passed by the house
and there is plenty of time for the SEN
ate to pass it. If it fails to do SO, and
an extra session is made necessary. the
responsibility therefore will belong to
the democratic senators who are bland
ed together to prevent vote on the bill
by the senate.
There was quite a livey debate in the
house over the Hepburn canal bill,
which was offered as an amendment to
the sundry civil bill. Representative
Hopkins of Illinois, who was in the
chair, ruled it out Oh a point of order
and when an appeal was taken from
his ruling the house voted to sustain
the ruling.
Owing to the snow blockade Of the
railroads, all the members of the mill
tary court of inquiry ordered to meet
in Washington to look into the en-
balmed beef charges Of General Miles
were not able to reach the city in time
to organize on Wednesday, as ordered.
The court has now gotten to work.
The senate has passed the bill admit
ting Oscar W. Deignan Of Iowa, one of
the Merrimac heroes, to the naval acad-
envy as a cadet.
There is some talk about President
Mckinley being somewhat embarrassed
by the McEnery resolution, which was
adopted by the senate by a vote OF 26 to
20 last week, should the house adopt
the resolution, but there isn't the
slightest reason for it. Had President
Mckinley felt any interest in preventing
the adoption Of the resolution by the
senate BIZ could have easily done So,
as sixteen of the t%wenty-six who voted
for it were republicans. The Iesolu-
tion doesn't amount to a row Of pins
and would probably never have been
adopted had not promises been made
by individual senators to Senator Nc
Emery previous to taking the vote on
the treaty of peace. Even if the reso-
luton was a law, which it is not likely
to be, there is nothing in it to embar-
rass anybody nor to influence the pol
icy Of this government towards the
Philippines; it would be complied
with if we disposed Of the islands at
any time, and it would not be violated
if we held them until the crack of
doom. President Mckinley. has no
reason to feel other than indifferent to-
wards the resolution.
By the first vote he cast in the senate
Vice President Hobart had the pleasure
OF defeating the proposition Of Senator
Bacon that the United States pledge
itself to surn the government of the
Philippines over to the natives as soon
as they shall have established a stable
and independent government. The
senate tied on the proposition, 20 to 20,
and Mr.. Hobart cast the deciding vote
against the mischief making PROPOSE.
ton. Four republicans supported the
Bacon proposition-Hale, Hoar, Per,
kins and Quay; also two populists-
Jones Of Nevada and Pettigrew. while
only two democrats-McEnery anc
Morgan-voted against it. Senators
Kyle, Teller and Stewart also vote6
against it.
In accordance with the action of thu
recent house caucus General Gros
venor, chairman of the caucus. hal
! named the following representative
who have been elected to the next house
as members of the committee Of clever
charged with the duty of preparing
financial bill and reporting it to a eau
Gus of the republicans Of the e
house, which will be called soon afte
the next congress meets, whether tn
meeting be in extra or regular session
Henderson of Iowa. Payne of New
York, Dalzell Of Pennsylvania. Over
street Of Indiana, Curtis of Kansas
lowering Of Massachusetts, Loud O
California, Hawley Of Texas. Babcocl
OF Wisconsin, Morris of Minnesota an,
Kerr Of Ohio. 1t would have bee,
difficult to name q stronger oommitte
or one that would be more represent
ative Of the party and the country
Any bill agreed to by this committee !
likely to be endorsed by the M,
In turn BY the party at large.
President Mckinley has nominate'
Gen. Naycs r. Miller, whoae gallan
leadership st the cspture Of Iloilo sew
sral days ago thrilled the country, I
10 . hsigadisr general In the reguia
army. He WAS colonel of the Third nj
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