The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-22
Formal Discussion Of the HuII-HaW-
ley Measure
Begun at Yesterday Afternoons Session In
Upper House Of Congress.


Desired, but Were Determined
no Standing Army Should be
Fastened Upon the Country
Without Full and Free Discus
sion.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21.-Formal
discussion of the Hull-Hawley army
reorganization bill was begun in the
Senate this afternoon. Hawley and
Warren, Republicans, supported the
measure, and Mitchell and Cockrell,
Democrats, opposed it, while Proctor,
Republican, addressed the Senate in
favor of some amendments which he
proposed to the bill. All the speakers
are members of the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs. Cockrell's speech. though
brief, was particularly notable, as he
spoke definitely for the opposition to
the army BILL He declared practically
in so many words that the Hull-Ha
ley bill could not become a law at this
session. He and those who stood with
him were willing to give the President
all the money and every man he
should desire, but they were determined
that no great standing army should be
fastened upon the country without full
and free discussion.
The Postoffice appropriation bill was
passed to-day, Butler of North Carolina
and Pettigrew of South Dakota having
concluded their speeches.
Soon after the Senate convened Pet
tigrew of South Dakota presented res
olutions from the Legislature of South
Dakota urging the Senators of that
State to support the treaty of peace.
Commenting upon the resolutions, Pet
tigrew said that he denied the right of
the Legislature to instruct him, al
though he was always glad to hear
from that body
THE present Legislature of South
Dakota" he said, lis the third since I
was elected Senator the last time. In
one resolution was passed indorsing
the free and unlimited coinage of sill
yer. Both houses of the next Legis-
lature passed a similar resolution. The
present Legislature is in favor of the
single gold standard If I should I'M
derta}xe to follow the course laid down
by the Legislature I would be on al
most every side Of almost every public
question
The conference report on the legis-
lative, executive and judicial appropri-
alton bill was agreed to-
Allison reported from the Finance
Committee a House joint session
amending the Act of June 13. 1893, by
adding to it a provision that whenever
a bond or note shall be secured by
7.fc
stamp shall be required, that being the
highest for either paper. The bill was
passed.
| Quay of Pennsylvania, Chairman of
the Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds. presented a batch of reports
favorable to the erecting of public
| buildings in various parts of the coun-
| try.
! A message was received from the
House transmitting the bill passed by
that body appropriating $50, 100000 to
be paid to Spain IN accordance with
the terms of the Paris treaty. 1t was
| referred to the Committee on Appro-
priations.
| The postoffice appropriation bin was
laid before the Senate, and its consid-
Grafton was resumed.
At 2 o'clock the debate closed and
the voting began.
| Buffers amendment reducing the
amount paid to railroads was defeated
-45 to Is.
! The bill was then passed
Hawley was recognized to speak on
the army reorganization bill, and as he
proceeded was given very close atten-
ton. He said he did not see how any
body could have voted against taking
! UP the bill, for it was evident to all
that it was necessary to do something
| to strengthen the Presidents arm. He
thought there could be no doubt that
the Spanish Cortes would ratify the
Paris treaty within the next two or
three days With this proceeding con-
Guided and the exchange completed.
the army necessarily must be reduced
to its original dimensions of % 600, I'M
less some new laws should be enacted.
| Mitchell of Wisconsin, also a MEM
Der Of the Military Committee, followed
Hawley. He criticised the Hull bill,
saying that it was not, as is claimed,
a reorganization bill, as the only MA
terial change in the present system
was in the artillery. He then took up
various details of the bill, outlining his
objections to arguments in favor Of
them, one by one
| Proctor, a member of the Military At
fairs Committee, offered his amend
ments proposed yesterday Proctor said
that If the present bill became a law
no proper reorganization of the army
could be expected for twenty-five years.
Under the present system there was a
constant scramble to get out of the
lighting branch Of the service and into
the staff, a scramble, which, he said,
was unseemly. The officer with the
strongest pull and the greatest DO
lit1cal influence was able to gain his
| point
Warren of Wyoming, member of the
Military Affairs Committee, delivered
carefully prepared speech, largely
technical in its nature, in the course Of
which he contrasted the Hull-Hawley
bill and also as the "makeshift'' offered
| by Cockrell. He felt that the Hull
| Hawley measure ought to be passed
| without delay He maintained that the
day had passed when an army OF q. 600
men was sufficient for the needs OF this
country. The seacoast Notifications
alone required 21 600, and quite as many
more men were required for army duty