The San Francisco call., 1899-02-26

WASHINGTON, rep. Zo.-AIler l"o
hours devoted to the consideration OF
bills on the calendar to-day, the SEN
ate at o'clock began the consideration
of the compromise army reorganization
bill. Until a short time before the mea-
sure was taken up it was supposed it
would be passed to-day without serious
difficulty, but when it was learned by
some Senators that the bill provided
for permanent increase in the stand
ing army objections were heard, and 1t
became evident that the measure would
have to run the gauntlet of sharp
criticism.
German Cd of Maryland declared
that no authorization of a permanent
increase should be given, and prepared
an amendment as follows:
That each and every provision of
this act shall continue in force until
July /, 1901, and on and after this date
the officers and men, including general
officers and staff officers, shall be re-
stored to rank and numbers as provided
for by law prior to April /, 1898, except
the cadets appointed prior to July l,
1901, and except as provided for in the
act 10 authorize two additional regi-
1898"
Speeches in support of the bill were
delivered by Hawley of Connecticut,
CockrelI of Missouri, Carter of Mon
tana, and Smith of New Jersey, and
against it by German of Maryland and
Allen of Nebraska.
CockreIl who has consistently op
posed a large standing army, gave the
pending measure his unequ1vocal and
unqualified support, declaring it was
the best army measure ever submitted
to Congress. No agreement TO vote on
the bill had been reached when the
Senate adjourned.
Hawley. chairman of the Military Al
fairs Committee, called up the compro-
mise army reorganization bill.
At the conclusion of the reading or the
bill, German of Maryland suggested to
Hawley the desirability of permitting the
bill to go over to Monday.
Allison of Iowa suggested that time
agreed upon at this time, Some effort
was made to fix an hour Monday Tor
vote, but without success.
CockreIl OF Missouri, member OF the
Military Affairs Committee, discussed at
length the features OF the measure. M ms
measure said he. has been examined
very carefully l indorse it because 1t Is
right. just, proper and necessary. 1t set.
ties for years to come the standlflg army
E'nrther along in his analysis of the bill,
0rovided for by the bill was perfectly
iustffable and absolutely essential
In response to question by vest, ne
eaid thai the army after 1901 would be re-
duced to IS, 400. and that NUMBER Woulu ee
reG11fred TO take care of the coast fortlh-
cations. I'D .Tf we
have a bill here which VIII adJust tne @
army controversy for years 70 come
onpft to accept it. 1t is not prodlgaI Oh
the people's money. I have been on sev-
ereI ei.e commissions and committees for the
REORGANIZATION of the army, ana l pStleEe e
honestly and cOnscienuously ma o1ifS fso17
The very best measure presented 10 Lon @Ion-
press for settling the army queSIo4 SIM nSIi
entered this chamber IN 80 ,1tch II ee viii
ronoe hereafter will not be so good lol
I'm fpn eonntrV. / believe the bill is right IN
the sight of God and man, Ia ana III "iiii''s
" HaH'iev Ie,Ei offered an amendment provld-
tnr that mo person who has passed tne
age of 40 years shall be aPpolnteiI ,.ei1,-taer da
force, officers of the regular army eA-
Alien of Nebraska addressed the Senate tf
in onposition to the general features OF
the hfll. He was surprised that Cockrel
could give his sanction TO sucn meas
ure IF there was hideous SkeieltoHi. iel1 H., d
monstrosity, deformity in leSls!atioH.
this bill is one" he declared. IS
warned, disjointed. dislocated., It lacks
science, it lacks conference, 1t lacks goou
sense / am not concerned IN TINS - ae-
iightful fight now going on between the
Sscratarv Of war and the general com
manding the army honor General Niles
in that fight. Every intelligent man IN
the country believes that our army was
fed on trash and that large percentage
of the sickness and mortality in the army
was due to the food given TO the soldiers
Passing from the army troubles. Alien
adyerted to some in the navy. he re-
garded it as a glorious thing that Admiral
Dewey had the presence of mind to cut
the cable between himself and Washing
ton. and that it was fortunate for Dewey
he was in a position to sever connection
with Washington
'"Then, too said Allen, I'VE have the
in the navy. Whether the man who
fought the battle resulting in the destruc-
tfon of Cervera's fleet and won 1t shall
have the laurels of victory or whether
they shall go to a man who was ten miles
away seems a subject or controversy by
the Navy Department.
THE American people seventy million
of honest hearts and souls, Will always
believe that Schley was the hero of that
battle and won that battle, and / am not
detracting anything from the service OF
Admiral Sampson, who, If he had been
there, would have acquitted himself no.
| bly, This seems to be game or battle
| dore and shuttlecock and over in the
Navy Department they are shedding more
ink than blood.
'sIt shall not be said of me- said Cor
man. that l would hamper the admins
tration In any respect. 1t shall have all
the men and all the money to dispose OF
German said that if one proviso were
contained in the bill TO the effect that al
the expiration of two years the army
should again be reduced to a peace foot.
! ing of 27 600 men he would agree to it.