The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-01
Army Bill Goes to the Senate
After a Long Discussion.
IT WAS A HARD FIGHT
Important Amendments Made - Berry
States His Objections to the
Treaty-Lively Tilt Between
Bacon and Platt.

the president authority to reduce the
size of infantry companies and cavalry
troops to 60 men each, thus fixing a
minimum of about so, 900 enlisted men,
passed the house to-day by vote of
1853 to 1875. This was the result of a
week of hard and often picturesque
fighting on the floor, during the prog
ress of which the opposition compell-
ed those in charge of the measure to
give this discretionary authority to the
president and to make other modifica-
tions, among which were a reduction
OF 331 in the number of staff officers.
In consequence of these notifications
the republican opposition practically
vanished, and on the final vote but six
republicans voted against the BILL
Messrs. Barber of Maryland, Connolly
of Illinois, Loud of California, John
son of Indiana, McEwan of New Jersey
and Wadsworth of New York. This re-
publican detection was, however. al
most offset by five members of the
political opposition who voted I'm favor
of the bill, Messrs. Berry of Kentucky
Mcclellan of New York, McAleer of
Pennsylvania, Taylor of Ala bama, DEM
ocrats, and Skinner. pop N. C.
"a& The galleries were crowded through
out the day and every member who
could possibly be there was on the
floor to record his vote on the final
roll call. The programme to-day in
cluded provision for two hours of gen
eral debate, which was to be occupied
by Messrs. Dalzell of Pennsylvania and
Hopkins of Illinois, in closing for the
majority, and Messrs. Bailey of Texas
and Settle of Kentucky for the opposi-
ton. But this programme was smash
ed, owing to the failure to complete
the debate under the five-minute rule
< In1
vote Among the important amend
nents adopted before the vote was
taken to-day was one to exclude the
appointment of civilians to positions in
the engineer corps, one to abolish can
teens and the sale of liquor in camps
and one to strike out the provision for
additional pay for commands serving
in the West Indies and Philippines and
Alaska. The amendment of Mr. Cum
innings OF New York to prohibit the use
of troops in the several states to sup
press riots, etc, except upon the appli-
cation Of the states, was defeated by
a large majority. The motion to re-
commit with instructions to report back
the minority substitute only command
ed two republican votes and was. lost,
III to l7o. The bill as passed, provides
IN addition to the general officers and
staff departments, for - regiments of
cavalry of IL troops each, 144 coast
batteries, "a field batteries, 80 regiments
of Infantry of - companies each,
corps of engineers and one regiment of
engineers, an ordnance department., q
signal corps the latter with 625 en-
listed men. 1t also gives the president
discretion to recruit the organizations
serving in Cuba, Porto Rico and the
islands of the Pacific in whole or in
part from the inha thereof. Be
lore the house adjourned to-day the
ldver and harbor bill was formally
Vailed up in order to make it the I'M
finished business in the committee of
the whole.
When the house resumed work on the
army reorganization bill to-day, Sec
ton IL, relating to the pay department,
had been reached. The number of pay
master generals with rank of colonel
provided in the bill was reduced from
four to three; with the rank of lieuten-
ant colonel from eight to five, and pay
masters with rank of major from As TO
&c. The age limit for appointments in
this department was reduced from so
to 49,
In the corps of engineers the number
of colonies We're reduced from 10 to
8; lieutenant colonies, 20 to 16: majors,
S6 to 30; captains, Al to So: first lieuten-
ants. SO to 40, and second lieutenants
so to 40.
Mr.. Cromwell, rep, N. Y, moved to
strike out the provision authorizing the
appointment of engineers from civil
life. The amendment was supported by
Mr.. Walker, rep, Mass, but opposed
by Mr.. Marsh, rep. Ills. who favored
the appointment of officers from civil,
life
Mr.. Dockery, dem, Mo, said the best
results in government work ha i always
been obtained from army engineers.
Mr. Cannon, rep, Ills, directed at
tention to the amendment of Mr.. Cum
mings. DEM, N. Y, who yesterday gave
notice he would offer an amendment
to prevent the use of United States
troops as posse comitatus, or in putting
down strikes or riots, except upon the
written application of the governor OF
the state. That amendment, said Mir.
Cannon. proposed to put out of the
power of the president. the constitution
to the contrary Notwithstanding, to en-
force the law within the territory of
any state unless the governor appealed
for help. 1t was the duty of the pres
ident to enforce the law, said Mr.. Can
non who then recalled the Chicago
riots during the last administration and
the dispatch into Illinois without the as
sent of the governor and against his
protest, of United States troops to |
suppress the riots. That action of Pres |
ident Cleveland had been Endorsed by
the senate of the United States and the |
people everywhere.
Mr. Cummings replied to Mr. Can
non. There was no question, he said |
but that organized labor through the
American Federation of Labor and the
knights of Labor, had condemned the
effort to increase the standing army to
100000. There was no question that the
reason for their action was the fact
that the standing army might be used
to suppress them
Now he continued, eff you do mean
to do it, say SO; if you do not. adopt
this provision"
The gentleman from Illinois, said Mr..
Cummings, had referred to the action
of Governor Altged, but he failed to
refer to General Palmer, who had de-
nounced the action of the president for
sending troops into the state over the
protest of the governor and numbering
her citizens. The gentleman says Pres
ident Clevelands action was sanctioned
by the senate and the people. Why had