The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-28
MANY AMENDMENTS
TO THE ARMY BILL
The Minimum Force TO Be
Fifty Thousand.
Clause Providing for Lieutenant
General Stricken Out.
Chairman Cannon. OF the tppropria-
lions Committee FnNors All
Necessary Expenditures.


of 10000 men, which the President may
increase. if he thinks circumstances re-
ouire il. 20 OO,uoo If troops are needed
in the Philippines or elsewhere, the Presi-
dent can enlist them UP TO that limit. If
he withdravs from the islands. he can
automatically reduce the army 10 the mini
mum.
Assurances were given on the floor yes
te.day that the President would not enlist
any larger force than might be rendered
necessary by the .xfgencios OF the situa-
zion as time passed On.
The fact that this intended amendment
was offered by the Republicans was taken
as evidence that the defeat OF the bill vas
feared But few minutes later, when
Mr. Hay of Virginia, for the minority, Of
fered an amendment practically efnbodying
the substitute bill 10 be offered by the
Democrats. il was voted down 90 TO a.
This vote was so small that ii can hardly
be- considered as conclusive test on the
ultimate fate of the bill, but IT Is, never
theleSs an evidence Of the trend OF opln-
ion now that the majority has agreed that
the army need not be over 10000 men uh-
less the President thinks a greater force
necessary.
4 number of less important amendments
were adopted. Among others, the provision
for a lieutenant general was stricken out.
Mr. Henderson speaks.
owing to interruptions of various kinds
during the past three days, an hour and
A half of The fifteen hours of daytime de-
bate allowed still remained unused when
the House met yesterday. 4 number OF
speeches were made on the genera! lines OF
the earlier debate, the only one OF note
being that of MIR. Henderson of Iowa. He
said that he was not in favor OF the bill
as it stood, but he appreciated the need
Of an army that could be called upon i'm
mediately. and was in favor OF passing il
with some notifications. If the bill were
sent back TO the committee with instrrc-
tons TO make the maximum peace Ioot-
ing G0e00 he would vote for it After
stating his position, Mr.. Henderson fired
broadside at the kickers.
The cheapest kind OF politicians are
kickers," he said. Some people kick at
everything They kick at the President,
al the army al the staff, at General Miles,
such talk is the cheapest and easiest
stuff. Anyone, no matter how low. can
abuse another. no matter how high.
Until the Treaty vas ratified the Presi-
dent must hold what the arms OF the
United States had won. What he would
recommend then General Henderson did
not know,
Il will state frankly 10 the House. he
said that for my part | entertain grave
doubts of the wisdom OF the acquisition
81 the Philippines by the United states.
II YOU ask me whether | favor forcing a
government on the Filipinos against their
will. ! answer No.
But that. be continued, was a question
for the future. At present the FRESHMEN
could do nothing but maintain order. lie
nd IN
clio or any other delegate as pretended
delegate from the islands.
General Henderson's remarks created
sensation and led TO the change in the bill
announced by Representative Marsh i lew
minutes later.
Mr. Grow Of Pennsylvania and MI
Prince OF Illinois supported the bill
Boandin-. Biue-Eycd Bob
Mr.. Cousins OF Iowa said that the in
crease Of the army did not wholly depend
UPON the war. Before that begun an in
crease was necessary to defend the coun-
try and to prevent internal disorders. 1t
was the universal verdict of history that
il was necessary to use force lot only
against savages, hut against so-calied c.E-
Iized men who wished to be dsorderly.
Mr.. Cousins then read statistics showing
the large cost Of transpoItat. on for troops
ghich he said would have been saved had
there been more Troops on the ground.
There Was now left only eighteen min
ufes OF time TO the Democrats and flye
minutes To The Republicans. Mr.. Su,zer
yielded his eighteen minutes TO Represen-
tatiye Fitzgerald, who spoke IN opposi-
lion TO the bill. Then Representative
Marsh called attention 10 the fact that ne
had given notice yesterday that he
II sarn9nluqpptg. stat
ed. for reasons satisfactory TO himse f,
he should not offer these. Instead he
would offer one, permitting the army
TO be from SO 600 10 10000, IN the ms
erection OF the President.
Representative Hull closed the debate
briefly. He said that in deciding upon the
number Of men provided, the Committee
on Military Affairs had NOT depended upol
its own Judgment, but had taken official
figures submitted by military commits
sions and by generals. There were now
20 coo men in or on the way to. the
philippines. The needs there had been
greatly increased b. the discussions oil
The subject in the United States which
led the Filipinos to think that the coun-
try was divided. He approved of tbs
amendment proposed by Representative
Marsh. paying a high tribute 10 President
Mckinley.
This concession by the Republicans is
understood TO be an effort to insure the
passage Of the bill. which Is thought tc
be seriously Imperfect
When the reading Of the bill was com
menced il was at once evident that debate
would practically be conducted under tho
fve-rninute rule. Mr.. Shafroth of Col
orsldo. speaking on the first committee
amendment, said that when Mr.. Hull
stated that JOG, 900 men might not be re-
quired and proposed that the number
should DE left TO the President, he argued
against the bill altogether. If the condi-
tions were uncertain and temporary vo!un-
reers and not regulars should be supplied.
Mr. Brucker of Michigan said that every
argument for the bill had been dissipated
by the arguments Of the friends of the
measure. The temporary occupancy of the
colonies now proposed did not warrant such
an increase in the army.
The committee amendments to The first
paragraph provided for an increase of ten
chaplains and the striking out of the pro-
vision for chief of the Record and Pen
sion Office, and were adopted.
Representative Hay, in behalf OF the mi
nority, then offered an amendment pro-
vding that all troops, over 10000. enlisted
under the bill should be used only in the
islands and should be mustered out within
two years II the exigencies OF the service
should permit
This was considered test question
foreshadowing, in all probability, the fate
of the bill, and was warmly argued on
both sides Mr.. Hull of Iowa and Mr.
Cannon of Illinois opposed the amend
ment while Mr.. Hay of Virginia, Mr.
Williams of Mississippi, and Mr.. Cochran
af Missouri supported il. The discussion