The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-26

Of forty-fve years shall be appointed as a
field officer in said force Volunteer force),
officers Of the regular army excepted"
Mr.. Allen addressed the Senate in opposi-
ton to the general features of the bill. he
was surprised that Mr.. Cockrell could give
his sanction to such a measure. III there
ever was a hideOus skeleton. a m0nstrosity,
q deformity in legislation, this bill is one, "
he declared. 1T Is warped, dis1ointed. dis
located. 1t lacks science, IL lacks conference,
it lacks good sense. / am not concerned in
this delightful fight now going on between
the secretary OF war and the general COM
mandin the army. ] honor General Miles
in that dght. Every Intelligent man In the
country believes that our army was fed on
trash and that a large percentage Of sick
ness and mortality in the army was due to
the food given to the soldiers"
DEWEY AND SCHLEY.
Passing from the army troubles Mr.. Allen
adverted to some in the navy. He regarded
It as a glorious thing that Admiral Dewey
had the presence of mind to cut the cable
between him and Washington. and that it
was fortunate for Dewey he was in position
to sever connection with Washington.
Then. too" said mr.. Allen, I'VE have the
controversy over the two rear admirals in
the navy. Whether the man who fought the
battle resulting in the destruction Of Ger
Neras feet and won it shall have the laurels
ot victory or whether they shall go TO a man
VINO Was ten miles away seems a subject
49,. - 49, 80 ~ -
me american people, 10000, 0O of honest
hearts ana souls, Will always believe that
0cnIey was the hero OF that battle and won
that battle, and l am not detracting any
thing from the service Of Admiral SamD-
son, who, IL he had been there, would have
acquitted himself nODly. This seems to be
q game or battledoTe and shuttlecock, and
over IN the Navy Department they are
shedding more ink than blood"
IL snail not be said of me-" said MI.
SorMan, That l would hamper the admin
tSlIauoh IN any respect. 1t shall have all
Ihe men ana all the money to dispose OF the
conditions at hand II may need. 1T seems 10
me IN doing that il it be only to suppress
lnsurrection in the Philippines, the execu-
i've ought not 70 ask US Ia the closing hours
or q snort session of Congress for such q
measure as this. The President ought not
10 ask US for greater power than was ac-
corded to him in the war with Spain. II is
not proper that the executive should ask for
me suppression OF a larger force than was
gwen the President of the United States
Mneh we were at war with England, at war
with Spain, at war with Mexico"
Mr. German said that If one proviso were
contained In the bill TO the effect that at
the expiration of two years the army should
again be reduced to a peace footing of 1900
men ne would agree 10 1t. But whatever
the conditions may be, he continued, with
the acceptance OF the proviso l suggest you
VIII have an army of 100, eco men until four
months after the term Of President Nc
Alnley snail nave expired. The measure
VIII give him greater power than a Presi-
dent mas ever had. 1t is a tender of greater
power than was ever made IN similar cir
cumstances." Mr.. German said that what
he should insist upon until his voice should
cease to be heard in the Senate was that
Congress be permitted to deal with the
question deliberately and with ample time
Tor its consideration.
AFRAID OF a BIG ARMY.
Mr.. Hawley had asked who was afraid
OF a large standing army.
In reply Mr.. German said that every
State in the Union was afraid of it. He
(Gorman) was afraid Of it himself. Such
an institution was contrary to the spirit
Of our affairs. He recalled the time when
in 1876 troops We're summoned to Washing
ton at the time of the Hayes-Tflden con-
troversy. Il remember the quiet intimida-
ton of the presence of the troops" said
Mr.. German. He had great personal respect
Tor Mr. Mckinley and had no criticism ex-
cept that in his good nature he mad per-
Hltted weakness and inetficiency in the de-
partments. Weakness, say repeated the
senator; time alone can reveal whether
there had been anything worse He was
asked, TO nave confidence in The chief execu-
tive, but he could not forget that human
nature was weak. He computed thai for
next year the expenditure on acd4 of thu
army and navy would aggregated $3.50. on coo.
greater than the total eXpenditn res of the
government from 1871 to 1876. He predicted
a deficiency of $3.50, 900. 600. Then there must
DC san increase of the direct taxation or
more bonds or certificates. Even now |
near tnat the secretary Of the treasury is
ment obligations" Continuing. he said fhe
ohiy question was that OF making q perma-
nent increase requiring the action of all
Drancnes OF the government to discontinue.
MI. truman asked II the Philippine rebel
non could not be put down by volunteers.
ana Mr.. German said he saw no reason WHY
y should not be. But this was not the de-
sire. The wish was to have more shoulder
straps and more men to wear them. Insig-
nlncant as were the achievements of the
army, comparatively in the Spanish war
Lnere had been more appointments of officers
IN the army, of more men than had received
such advancement during the first year of
the rebellion with all the South in arms.
N.Syer were brigadier generals so thick in
washington. There were a significant num-
pei OF them alone to suppress an ordinary
rebellion. Mr.. German declared that under
the present head of the army a proper or
fected.
Mr.. Tillman Interrupted Mr.. German. saw
ing: Then there is nothing in the bill to
prevent a recurrence of the embalmed beef
scandal?'
Mr.. German passed off the question
lightly saying he knew little about 1t.
MI. T1llman: None of us know ANYTHING
about It yet, perhaps, but there is so much
or II IN the air We can smell it."
4 Know this replied Mr.. German. 1.-THE
secretary or war is g much-abused man. He
IS not responsible for the department i'm
which the scandal originated, a department
IN which officers are appointed for life"
Mr.. German, in conclusion, made an an
peal to the Senate TO fix the number of men
and the amount Of money necessary to meet
present exigencies and both would be given
them II only a time limit We're placed on
The call. If this suggestion of his was re-