Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-02-02
The PENSION BILL.
The Measure Passed by the Senate
1T Carries $I45,ooo,oo
FIGHT ON ARMY REORGANIZATION.
The Grnrrsl Debate on the Bilt Closed and
Amendment Under the Five Minute
Rule Beeun- Evening session
for Pension Leg islaiiOn.

W hNnllIS lOu, u oil 20. OIL tiCuloI III
tere,i vas manifested in the senate
yesterday in brief speech delivered
by senator Patt. OF New York, on the
general subject OF expansion. He took
for his text the anti-expansion resolu-
ton offered by Senator Vest, of Mis-.
sonri, but in the course of his speech
merely touched upon the constitutional
question involved in the proposed de.
caration. Aftcrward the consdera
ton Of the pension appropriation bill
was resumed Senator German, OF
Maryland, desiring to submit some re-
marks upon it, After calling atten-
ton TO the large amount carried by
the measure-abou S,45, 600, 900 -Sena-
tor German said that, notwithstand-
inc the fact that II per cent of our
soldiers who had been, and were still
engaged, in the war with Spain, in
tropical countries, were suffering from
illness that would make them proper
applicants for pensions, no provision
had been made in the pending measure
for this increase in the pension roll.
Al this point Senator German was
interrupted by Senator Hale, Of Maine,
who said that he had been informed
by prominent officer from Cuba,
before June or July, at the latest, the
entire army on the island would be
down with illness.
Continuing, Mr. German said that
the war with Spain would swell the
pension roll by at least $4,000 names,
If the troops were not recalled from
the tropical cline by the LIST Of next
September.
senator Perkins. Of California, in
charge Of the measure, replied briefly
to Senator German, saying that the
committee had drawn the bill accord.
ing to the estimates furnished it by
the department, as always had been
done. Referring to the speech OF SEN
ator Butler, OF North Carolina, Thurs
day evening, Senator Gallinger, Of
New Hampshire, thought it was a
trihe late to enter now upon the dis.
cussion Of questions with respect to
the great civil conflict, that has been
decided for all time more than a third
Of century ago. The question Of
states rights had been submitted to
the arbitrament of the sword, and had
been so decided. lie expressed his sat.
isfaction that Senator Bate and Sena-
tor Pettus both distinguished confed.
crate soldiers, had spoken as they had
with reference to Senator Buffers
proposition, and the sentiment he had
expressed in his speech. The pension
bill was then passed and the senate
went into executive session on the
peace treaty.
FIGHT ON ARMY REORGANIZATION,
Washington, Jan. 2S. The oppos-
ton to the army reorganization bill
on the republican side of the house
has become so strong that yesterday
Chairman Hull, after Mr.. Henderson,
of Iowa, one of the floor leaders of the
majority, had threatened to vote to re.
commit the bill, decided it would be
wise. in order to secure its passage,
to abandon the idea of providing di.
rectly for a regular army of 100000
men. He announced on the floor that
the committee would offer amend.
ments to reduce the number NJ enlisted
men to about 60, 1000, but lodge in the
presidents discretion the authority to
increase the army to maximum of
100 O0O Bv the terms of the bill there
are to be 80 infantry regiments, of ten
companies each, with strength of
las men, and IL regiments of cavalry
of ten troops each with strength of
106 men. This discretion, if the presi-
dent should exercise it, would reduce
the number of enlisted men about
81 ,OOO and practically leave intact the
provided in the bill so
far as officers are concerned.
Mr.. Fitzgerald, of Massachusetts,
closed the general debate in opposition
to the bill and, after Mr. Hull, of
Iowa, had closed for its passage, it
was read for amendment under the |
FIVE minute rule
At five o'clock the house recessed
until eight o'clock, the evening session
being devoted to private pension legis- |