The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-02-02
In the HOuHe.


The third day Of the debate upon
the bin for the reorganization and In.
crease of the regular army passed
without interest. Its feature was an
hours speech by Mr.. Grosvenor Of
Ohio. whose utterances. rightly or
wrongly. are frequently supposed 10
reflect the views of the president. Mr.
Grosvenor declared most emphatlcally
that the present situation In the Phil
ippines was due to the opposition IN
this country to the ratification Of the
peace treaty. He announced that the
future OF the islands was a matter for
congress to decide, and that for the
president to announce a policy would
be for him to usurp the authority Of
congress. The other speakers Were
Messrs. Bromwell of Ohio, Stewart OF
New Jersey, Tongue of Oregon in sup
port of the bill; DinsmOre of Arkansas.
lett of Illinois, McRae Of Arkansas,
Sims of Tennessee in opposition to il,
and Mr.. Marsh OF Illinois In favor Of
the bill with certain notifications.
Washington, Jan. 2S-The opposition
to the army reorganization bill on the
Republican side Of the house has be-
come SO strong that yesterday Chair.
man Hull, after Mr.. Henderson Of
Iowa, one of the floor leaders Of the
majority, had threatened to vote to ne
commit the bill, decided il would be
wise, in order To secure it's passage, 10
abandon their aim of providing direct
ly for regular army Of 100000. He
announced on the floor that the com.
mittee would offer amendments to re-
duce the number of enlisted men 10
about 10000, but lodge in the presi-
dents discretion the authority to in
crease the army to n maximum OF
100000. These amendments have
been prepared.
Mr. Johnson os Indiana, who took
prominent part in the fight, after the
general debate closed declared that
the purpose OF the bill was To have an
army of 100000 either by direct au
thOrity or the exercise of the pres
idents discretion, and he declared his
purpose to fight to the bitter end the
machinery which was being forged for
colonial system. Mr. Henderson, III
| the course OF the debate declared his
belief In the unwisdom of annexing
the Philippines. Mr.. johnson said the
| vital mistake was made when the
president instructed the commission to
demand the cession Of the Philippines.
The whole debate was spirited and so
intense was the struggle when the bill
was taken up for amendment under
the minute rule that the first sec
ton had not been completed when the
/ house recessed at 3 O'clock
The Senate.
Particular interest was manifesto
in the senate yesterday in a orief
speech delivered by Senator L. T.
Platt, New York, on the general sub
ject Of expansion. Mr. Plat took for
his text the anti-expansion resolution
offered by Mr.. Vest, but in the. course
CT his speech merely touched upon the
! constitutional question involved in the
proposed declaration. He spoke in
clear, resonant voice, and not only be
cause this was the first speech he has
delivered in the senate since his re-
turn to the body, but also because the
address was thoughtful and we'll
considered statement, he was accorded
the undivided attention OF his col
leagues on the floor and a large audi
ence in the galleries. A pleasing,
though quiet, vein of humor ran
through tue speech, sharply pointing
MS statements. He took strong
J ground for the ratification of the pend
ing treaty of peace.
n resolution was offered by Mr.. Sui
IVAN OF Mississippi declaring that the
ratification Of the treaty should moi
commit the government TO colonial
policy.
Inc pension appropriation bill, the
second OF the general appropriation
measures, was passed after some de-
| bate.
! Late In the afternoon eulogies Were
pronounced on the late Representative
Cook OF Illinois, addresses being made
by Senators Cullom, Allison, yelling
ton and Mason.
New Seige Gun.
| WASHINGTON Yam sbO-TvuA fY,l1 gDO<k