Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-02-23
ARMY INCREASE BILL
1t Is Reported to the Senate by the
Military Committee.
SENATOR COCKRELL'S STATEMENT.
Appropriation for Fast Mall from Kan
sss City to Newton. kSn.-The o20,-
100000 for Spain stricken Out
OF the sundry Civii Bill.

Washington, Feb. l7.-The army re
organization bill was reported to the
senate yesterday and Mr.. Hawley, Of
Connecticut chairman OF the military
affairs committee, gave notice that he
would move to proceed to Its consider
alton at the earliest possible time.
The naval personnel bill was taken up
and read, but no effort made to pro-
coed further with its consideration.
The military academy appropriation
bill was passed. The post Office ap-
preparation bill was under considera.
ton during the greater part OF the
afternoon, but was not disposed Of
finally.
Senator Cockrell, Of Missouri, speak.
ing for the democrats of the military
affairs committee on the army reor.
ganization bill. presented written
statement in the nature of minority
report lie agreed with Senator Haw-
ley that the reorganization Of the
army was a project Of the highest i'm.
portance. The proper reorganization
Of the army, he main tanned, could not
be effected in so brief time as would
be allowed before this congress ad-
journed. He declared that he and those
for whom he spoke were opposed to
an unnecessarily large increase in
the army lie regarded the authority
given the president by the bill report
ed to reduce the army to $3.50 men as
virtual confession that that number
would be sufficient. He said that he
and those who believed with him had
no desire, disposition or intention to
withhold from the president all the
men and money he might need. He
referred to the action of himself and
his associates in unfolding the hands
OF the president prior and during the
war with Spain and alluded to the
$50, 600, 900 appropriation as an "un-
precedented act He then said
that he was willing to have bill
enacted which, he declared, would
afford the president ample power.
The bill he proposed provided that,
within blank number of days, the
volunteer force now in the service be
mustered out and discharged; that the
act of April 26, 1898, be continued in
full force till July /, 1901; and that
the president be authorized to enroll
military force OF $4,000 men in the
islands of Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Philippines these troops to be Off
cered as the president may direct, re-
strictcd in service to their respective
islands and not to be con.
sdered part of the permanent
military establishment Such an
act Mr. Cockrell said. would
continue the military establishment
at about 81, 900 men, and, in addition,
would afford the president an addi-
tional force of $4,000 men from the
various islands. This force would be
absolutely at the disposal of the presi-
dent until peaceful conditions were
restored in the various new posses
SONS of the United States. "We
Offer said Senator Cockrell, in con-
cusion, everything in reason, every
thing that will enable the president
to establish order. Everything for
the establishment Of order and protec-
ton to life and property is in the bill
which offer
A house bill setting apart certain
tract Of land containing ten acres in
Oklahoma to the Stella Friends acad-
envy and church association was passed.
Senator Cockrel succeeded in get
ting the appropriation for the fast
mail from Kansas City to Newton,
Kan, reinstated in the post office APP
preparation bill, 1t will now 20 back
to the house and after non.concurrence
there will be submitted to confer
ence committee from both houses.
MONEY FOR SPAIN STRICKEN OUT.
Washington, Feb. 1.-Two very SEN
sational and unexpected things hap.
pened in the house yesterday during
the consideration of the sundry civil
bill. The paragraph carrying the
appropriation of $4,000, 900 for pay.
ment to Spain under the terms
of the peace treaty was stricken
out upon u point of order made
by Mr. Wheeler, Kentucky demo-
crat, who declared that he opposed the
appropriation on principle and would
resort to any technicality to defeat it,
The point OF order was debated for
hours, its determination Ringing upon
the question OF whether the rattica.
ton Of the treaty by the senate and
It's signing by the president vitalized
it without the action Of the Spanish
cortes. Warrant OF law was necessary
TO make the appropriation in order
Mr.. Hopkins. republican, OF Illinois,
who was in the chair, sustained the
point of order against 1t, and, upon an
appeal, his decision was sustained--i49
to 50.
After the sundry civil bill had been
completed and reported to the house,
Mr.. Hepburn, Of Iowa, the champion
of the Nicaragua canal bill, moved to
recommit it with instructions to re.
port it back with the canal bill incor.
porated in it, This was an unexpected
move, as it was generally understood
that Mr.. Hepburn had abandoned all