The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-02-15
THE ARMY BILL PASSES.
Reorganization Measure Adopted by
the House by a Vote Of l66 to 1885,
FORCE IS TO BE 100000 MEf'

Authority Is Left to the President to Re-
tluce the Number to $4,000 IN His Dis.
,cretion-Amendme Abolish Army
>Canteens and Prohibit the Appoint
anent of Civilians to the Engineer Corps
WASHINGTON, D. C. (SpeciaD.-The bill
TO reorganize and increase the standing
army to about 100, 900 men, but leaving tho
President authority to reduce the size OF
Infantry companies and cavalry troops to
sixty men each, thus fixing a minimum OF
about $4,000 enlisted men, passed the
House on Tuesday by vote OF 166 to 126.
This was the result OF week OF hard
and often picturesque fighting on tho floor,
during the progress OF which the oppo-
sition compelled those in charge o.
tho measure to give this discretionary
authority to the President and to
make other notifications, amons
which was q reduction OF S91 in the
number OF staff officers. In consequence
OF the m notifications, on the final vote bur
six Republicans voted against the bill.
Messrs. Barber (Md.), Connolly Ill.) Loud
KCa!.) johnson Gnd. }. McEwan IN. j. and
Madsworth On. ~. This Republican defec-
tion was, however, almost Offset by fvo
members Of the political opposition who
voted in favor OF the bill, Messrs. Berry
.Ny.), Mcclellan On. W, McAleer (Penn.),
Taylor (Ala.), Democrats, and. Skinner,
Popalist.
! The feature of the general debate, Of
which there was considerable, even under
1he five-minute rule, was the controversy
3etween Mr.. Cummings, OF New York, and
Hr. Cannon, Of Illinois, over the formers
proposed amendment forbiddinG the
>dsa OF the army to quell strikes or riots
except upon the appeal Of the Governor
of the State in which the disorder
occurs. Mr.. Cummings said that organized
labor opposed IN increase OF the army for
the reason that 1t feared 1t would be used
unconstitutionally to oppress 1t. Mr.. Cam
non retorted severely, saying that Mr.. Cum
mings, by assuming tc put labor In the at
tltude OF opposing the enforcement OF peaca
and order, did not represent, but slandered
labor.
- The Army Bill as finally passed. is radi-
. caliy changed from that'originally reported
to the House. The most important changes
are:
1. Abolishing tho arbitrary clause neces-
stating the enlistment Of 10000 men and
leaving to the President the option to in
crease above so 900.
Q. Eliminating the proposed grade OF
lieutenant-generala and providing for only
six maj ajor-generals and twelve brigadier-
generals.
! s. Abolishing the army canteen by pro-
-viding that no, officer or enlisted man shall
% detailed to serve liquor In any post or
camp Of tho army, or to sell Intoxicating
liquors.
4. Reducing the age limit under which
civilians may be appointed to the staff
from fifty years to forty and requiring all
civilian appointees to pass mental and
physical examination to determine their
fitness for positions.
s., Prohibiting civilian appointments in
the engineer corps and requiring oil va
cancles to be filled by appointment OF West
Point graduates.
d. 6. Eliminating that clause. OF the bill
which sought 10 give officers and soldiers
serving in Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philip
pines additional pay Of twenty-five per CEN
tan for their several grades.
The staff officers we're also reduced by
nearly 400 from the number reported BY the
committee.
On tho minimum basis provided for, the
new standing army will cost at least S70,-
800 900 annually, 1t will consist OF . staff
and line of about three thousand officers,
twelve regiments OF cavalry, thirty regi-
ments OF infantry, one corps OF artillery,
mnde up Of J44 seacoast batteries and
fwenty-four field batteries.
| The bill also gives tho President discre-
ffon to recruit the organizations serving in
Cuba, Porto Rico and the Islands OF the
Pacific in whole or In part from the in
habitants thereof.