Evening star., 1899-01-31
Spirited Discussion of the Army Bill
in the House,
USE OF TROOPS TO QUELL RIOTS
Rejection of Representative Cum
ings Amendment.
CANTEENS TO BE ABOLISHED

me army TeofESlillZd' non blli'
The opposition before the session opened
had practically abandoned hope of beirg
abb. 10 compass either the 5efeat-or the re-
c"mmittal of the bill.
When the House resumed york on the
bill today section II, relating to the pay lie
partment. had been reached. The number
of paymaster generals. with the rank of
colonel provided in the bill was reduced
from four to three; with the rank of lieu
tenant colonel, from eight To five. and pay
masters with the rank If major from forty
seven 10 thirty-five. The age limit for ap-
pointments in this depar, ment was reduced
from fifty to forty.
In the corps Of engineers the number of
c0lorels was reduced from ten TO eight:
Lieutenant co!one!s twenty to sixteen: ma
jrTs. thirty-six to thirty: captains. forty
one to thiTty-five: first HeGtenants. fifty
70 forty. and second lieutenants. fifty to
forty.
Civilian Engineers.
Mr. Brou.weIl (Ohio) moved to strike out
the provision authorizing the appointment
"f engineers from civil life. The engineer
corps was the crack corps Of the army. he
said and Should be restricted 10 graduates
from West Point So high was it held in
the estimation Of the government that no
bond was required of engineer officers. al
though they disbursed millions of dollars.
The amendment was supported by Mr..
Walker tMass.). but opposed by Mr.. Marsh
tiilb. who favored the appointment of Off
GERS from civil life. Mr.. Marsh pointed out
that the great engine scheme OF Fads was
secuted by the regular army officers II
was entirely proper. he cOntended, that
bright young engine ering geniuseS in civil
life, who had not been able TO secure West
Point appointments, should have a chance.
Mr. Lacey Ga.) argued that the exclusion
Of civilians would he in the direction of
frr1g- q Vfg~h ,li-
tinctly an engineer school.
Mr.. DOckeTy (Mo.) said the best results
In government work had always been OBJ
tanned fTt N army engineers
Use of Troops for Queiiing Riots.
Mr. Cannon 1IlD directed attention to
The amendment Mr.. Cummings IN. " yes
r-rl4y gave notice he would offer to pre-
vent the use Of United States troops
posse comitatus or in putting down strikes
riots except upon the written apDlica-
Jion Of the governor of the state. That
amendment. said Mr.. Cannon. proposed to
put il out OF the power of the Pres dent.
he Constitution TO the contrary nOtwith-
standing, to enforce the law within the
territory of any state unless the governor
appealed for help. 1t was the duty of the
President to enforce the law, said Mr.. Can
non, who then recalled the Chicago riots
during the last administration and the dis
Ii4tch into Illinois without the assent OF
nit=d States troops to suppress the riots
That action of Pres.d dent Cleveland had been
indOrs-d by the Senate of the United States
and th4 people everywhere. Had the pro-
posed amendment been law the President
would have been prevented from enforcing
he law. The federal authority was and
should be supreme
Mr. Cummings Replies.
MIR. Cummings replied to Mr.. Cannon.
There was no question, he said that or
ganized labor. through the American Fed
r!atiOn of Labor and the Knights of Labor
had condemned this effort to increase the
syanding army TO 10000 men.
There was no question that the reason for
-Hsir action was the fear that this standing
cypress Them. Now he continued If
tnu do mean tp do il say So. if YOU don't
adopt this prUNiSO."
Th' gentleman from Illinois Ee said had
E-teri-d to the action of Governor Altgeid
u1- he mad iail=d to refer TO Gov. John NJ
Palmer. who had denounced the action of
he President for sending troops into the
~ia'r over the protest of the governor and
numbering hrr citizens. The gentleman
-ays President ClevelaHd's s action was sane
TONED by the Senate and the people. Why
had the people. if that was the case got rid
OF MIN soon they We're able? The
President compelled 10 execute the
laws Congress enacted. Congress had the
lpw-r To enact this provision. The United
Tor contempt had been promoted within a
Few months Everything indicated that the
army was TO be used to OppreSs labor if
opportunity offered or if corporate wealth
demanded It.
H- not a lawyer or a banker he was
trades union man. a member Of Typo
graphical Union No. g. What lie desired
was that the members Of the House should
so ~ record upon his Amendments.
american Citizens First"
Mr. Cannon. replying said that before
men were lawyers or bankers or printers
they Were American citizens. and the law
"f the land. Ike the grace Of God. covered
all applause The one green spot in the
record Of President Cleveland nad been
f'at when he saw the law delied. not by
I'onr. bu; by ldwbreakers he had kept his
oath and had seen that II was enforced
Mr.. Cannon aroused tumultuous applause
v hen he declared that Mr. Cummings in
--ekiig 10 make labor the abettor OF law
b-"aking slandered labor. He denounced
u ~ cheap demagogUery.
Mr. cummings said he hOnored President
Mckinley because he was unlike Mr. C1evs-
"a nj. When recently during the riots Gov
'ru"r Tanner declined TO order out the
militia 1t was the duty of President Me
klutey 70 order out the army. according to
rh- argument Of the gentleman from IIli-
H'.s- But h" had left the case In the hands
oi ,Tovrrnor Tanner and the people honor
81 tLlEl IDE II
Mr. BromwelTs amendment was adopted
- 10 ~.
Mr.. Hull gave notice that he would de
lHand Il separate vote on this amendment
r. the House.
fo Abolish Army sCanteens.'
Mr. johnson IN. d. offered the follow
Ing amendment to abolish canteens: That
II" officer or private soldier shall ne detailed
10 sell intoxicating drinks. as bar tender
o. otherwise. in any post exchange or can
teen UDr shall any other person be re-
quired or allowed to sell such liquors in
any encampment OF fort or on any premises
use-l Tor military purposes by the United
STats-'
This amendment was indorsed he said
bN almost all the generals in the army
h" had expressed opinions except General
IsSan- He said the amendment was in
liz" with the experience Of our army in
Euhst Ind the Philippines and in line with
me experience OF the British army in India
Experimentation had shown in the case of
the British army. he said, that where alb
,i!nencr vas imposed there was greater
efficiency He quoted General WoIseley
General Kitchener and other British off,
ctEs, and referred TO the roluminorIs me-
iuorltls In favor Of the amendment pre-
sentcd bY Christian and reform assccia-
Jipn@.
MI simpson (kan.1 pointed out what he