The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-01-28
FIGHTING ARMY BILL
DEMOCRATS ARE NOT ALONE IN
OPPOSITION TO THE MEAS
URE OF MIR. HULL
FRIENDS OF BILL ALARMED
Proposition That the President Be
Empowered to Reduce the Num-
her of Men Constituting Com
panies Is Pronounced Subter-
fuge to Secure Votes for the
Measure.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27-The oppo-
sition to the army reorganization bill
on the Republican side of the house has
become So strong that today Chairman
Hull after Mr. Henderson, of Iowa,
one of the floor leaders of the majority,
had threatened to vote to recommit
order to secure its passage. to abandon
their aim of providing directly for
regular army of 100000. He announced
on the floor that the committee would
offer amendments to reduce the number
of enlisted men to about $4,000, but
ledge III the presidents discretion the
authority to increase the army to
ma ximum of 100000.
These amendments have been pre-
pared. They provide that the presi-
dent may, in his discretion, enlist only
sixty men in the infantry companies
and sixty in the cavalry companies.
BY the terms of the bill there are to be
thirty infantry regiments, of ten COM
panies each, with a strength OF 145
men, and twelve regiments of cavalry,
of ten troops each, with strength OF
106 men. This discretion, if the presi-
dent would exercise 1t, would reduce
the number of enlisted men about 3D.
600. and practically leave intact the
organization provided in the bill, so far
as officers are concerned. How far this
proposed modification will allay the op-
position remains to be seen.
Mr.. Johnson, of Indiana, who took
prominent part in the fight today. after
the general debate closed, declared
that the purpose Of the bill was to
have an army of 100000, either by di-
rect authority or the exercise of the
presidents discretion, and he declared
his purpose to fight to the bitter end
the machinery which was being forged
for a colonial system.
Mr.. Henderson, in the course of the
debate today, declared his belief in the
unwisdom of annexing the Philippines.
Mr.. Hull explained, in answer to
questions, that the reduction he would
propose to the bill would come from
the enlisted force by a reduction of
the size of the companies. If the pres
ident should deem 1t proper to swell
the army to the maximum, 100000, the
size of the companies would be in
creased. Very few additional officers
would be required.
Mr.. Dockery (Dem., Mo- charged
that the fixing of a minimum was
palpable trick to stay the mutterings
of opponents of the bill on the other
side. He would be as willing to trust
TO President Mckinley as any execu
tive, but he would not trust Thomas
Jefferson, if that statesman could re-
visit the earth, with discretion to in
crease the standing army in time of
peace from $4,000 to 100000.
Mr.. Cannon Rep., lid said he had
little patience with men who would
count the cost of our standing army
when it was necessary to the national
defense.
Mr.. Johnson Rep., Ind) got the
Mr.. Johnson Rep., Ind.,) got the
floor at this point and repeated some
of the sensation he created on
Wednesday. When this bill was
brought into the house, he said, the
proposition to quadruple the size Of
the standing army was SO monstrous
that there was general dissent ON the
Republican side of the house. The