The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-28
JOHNSON AGAIN
RICHMOND's REPRESENTATIVE IN
THE HOUSE RING ONCE MORE.
He Attacks the President, and Says
He VIII right the Proposed Colo
niaI system to the Bitter End.
ARMY BILL TO BE CHANGED
IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS WILL BE
OFFERED BY MIR. HULL.
Number of Enlisted Men to BE Cut to
10000. and the President Given Au-
thority To Increase TO 100000.
TWO ELOQUENT SPEECHES
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON DE-
NOUNCEs JOHNsON's UTTERANCEs,
And MIR. Cousins RccOunts the Gallant
Deeds of American Soldiers in
Reply to Criticisms.
TWO ELOQUENT SPEECHES
REPRESENTATIVE HENDERSON DE-
NOUNCEs JOHNsON'S UTTERANCEs,
And MIR. Cousins RccOunts the Gallant
Deeds of American Soldiers in
Reply to Criticisms.


Special 10 the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Jan. 2z.-In the House
late this afternoon there occurred one of
those sudden swirls of debate which some
times eniven formal discussions in that
body and reward the patient spectators in
the galleries. The House was proceeding in
committee of the whole with consideration
of the army reorganization bill, under the
fve-minute rule-that is, with speeches lin
tied to five minutes-when somebody on the
Democratic side asked Chairman Hull, who
has the measure in charge, what need
there was for six major generals in the
army. This simple and seemingly innocuous
query started a flood tide of oratory that
flowed for nearly an hour and a half, not
ending till the coming of o'clock, the reg
ular hour of adjournment, compelled the
lowering of the flood-ga At 4:1S Henry
u. Johnson took the floor. and from that
time on till the days session ended there
was not a dull minute. He began by de-
nouncing the bill as pretending to provide
an army of $4,000 men while it set up a slid
ing scale which enabled the President to in
crease it to 100000 by the exercise of his
well-known power of elasticity" This
characterization of the President was re-
ceived with applause by Democrats
After Mr. Hull had explained that the
annual cost of an army Of 100000 men would
be less than $SS,OO00OO, instead of from
$125,0OO,OO0 to $150,OOO,00O as Mr.. Johnson as
serted, Mr.. Cannon took the floor to defend
the President from Mr.. Johnson's attack.
He said he had great respect for Mr.. john
sons ability on his feet, and that he some
times wished Mr.. Johnson's judgment was
equal to his ability. He said Mr. johnson
wanted to do what no man on the Demo-
cratic side wanted to do-not one-"with-
draw the American army from the Philip-
pines at this time.''
A voice on the Democratic side exclaimed. j.
81 would"
Mr.. Cannon exclaimed, sareastically: "Oh.
you would Stand up and let's see YOU =
Mr.. Handy, of Delaware, who was de-
feated for reelection by Republican
stood up and said: 81 would withdraw the
army Immediately"
This was greeted with derisive laughter
and jeering by the Republicans, whereat
Mr.. Handy sat down confused and red
faced. Mr.. Todd, of Michigan, another de-
feated Democrat, went to Handys relief
He, too. stood up and said he would with
draw the army, and was jeered for his
pains. Mr.. Cannon said the treaty would be
ratified ought to be ratified, and when
ratified the army and navy would stay in
the Philippines until ordered withdrawn by
Congress.
Mr.. johnson got some more time in which
he explained that though opposed to the
Spanish war yet when war came he voted
for every war measure before Congress:
that he then sunk his private opinions and
recollected only his imperiled country. He
insisted that now was the time to fight ex-
pansion, and denounced what he called the
Presidents peculiar policy"
Mr.. Johnson asked for five minutes more
time and got three allotted to him. This cur
tailment raised a laughter, which made Mr.
Walker, of Massachusetts, sneer: There's
the laugh again"
Mr.. Johnson between whom and Mr.
Walker no love is lost snapped back: eff
couldn't talk more sense in three minutes
than you can in three hours, l would desist
and never address the House again.
Mr.. Johnson's remarks were bitterly
against expansion Referring to Porto Rico
in reply to a question. he said the people
of that island wanted to come to us but
that If in the future they became dissatis-
fled and wanted their independence he for
one would vote to give it to them. This re-
mark was construed by those who heard
as being dangerously near justifying the
doctrine of secession.