The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-02-02
PASSED THE ARMY BILL
Went Through the House By
a Vote Of I6S to r25.
PRESIDENT GIVEN MUCH POWER.
To Can mt Any Time Reduce the Army
From 100000 to About $4,000. Accord.
ing TO nu Amendment Adopted Other
Amendments Not Passed.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 1.-The bill to re.
army TO about 100000 men, but giving
the president authority to reduce the
size of infantry companies and cavnlry
troops to 60 men each. thus fixing n
minimum of about 10000 enlisted men,
passed the house by vote OF l6S TO
l25. This was the result of about Il
week of hard and often picturesque
fighting ON the floor, during the prog.
ress OF which the opposition compelled
those in charge OF the measure TO give
this discretionary authority TO the
president and to make other mOdifiga.
tions, among which were reduction
Of 33l in the number OF staff officers.
In consequence of these notifications
the Republican opposition practically
vanished aud on the final vote but six
Republicans voted against the bill,
Messrs. Barber (Md.), Connolly Oils. },
Loud (Cal. }, johnson Qnd.), McEwan
IN j. and Wadsworth IN. ". THIS
Republican detection was, however,
almost Offset by five members OF the
political opposition who voted III favor
of the bill, Messrs. Berry (ky.), NC.
Clellan IN. ", MoAlecr (Pa.), Tavlor
(Ala.), Democrats, and Skinner (Pop
n. o.. The galleries were crowd d
throughout the day and every member
who could possibly be there was on the
floor to record his vote on the final roll.
call.
The program included provision for
about two hours Of general debate,
which was to be occupied BY Messrs.
Daizell (Pa } and hopkins 1lls.) in
closing for the majority and Messrs.
Bailey (TeX.) and Settle Ky. for the
opposition. But this program wa,
smashed owing TO the failure to com.
plete the bill under the five minute rule
before O'Clock, the hour set Tor tn,
vote. Among the important amend
ments adopted before the vote was
taken was one to exclude the appoint.
ment Of ciTili ms 20 positions IN the Ell
glneer corps, one TO abolish canteen
and the sale of liquor in camps aud OH
to strike out the provision ior additfoua
pay for commands serving IN the West
Indies, the Philippines and Alaska.
The amendment OF Mr.. Cumming
IN. y. }, to prohibit the use of troops II
the several states To suppress riots, etc.
except upon the appL cation of the
states. was defeated by large majority.
The motion TO recommlt, with lnstruc.
tions to report back the minority suUsJi.
tute, only commanded two Republican
votes, and was lost-l11 to 10. In,
bill as passed provided in addition &c
the general officers and staff depart
ments for IL regiments of cavalry of /.
troops each, l44 coast batteries, "A field
bait cries, 80 regiments of infantry OF
II companies each, corps of eng neers
and | regiment of engineers, an ord
nance departm mt and signal corps,
the latter with 62j enlisted men. II
also gave the president discretion to re.
crult the organizations serving in Cuba
Porto Rico and the islands OF the Pacific
IN whole or in part from the inhabIt
ans thereof.
Before the house adjourned, the river
and harbor bill was formally called uI
in order to make it the unfinished bust
ness i'll the committee of the whole.