The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-03-07
WHAT CONGRESS IS DOING.

Senate has included in the Sundry
| Civil bill, the original bill offered by
Senator Butler to construct by the
| government, as adjunct to the Post
office Department., submarine cables
from San Francisco to H0nolulu, and
thence to Manila, if the island is per
m~anently annexed. The cost will be
about So 900, 900, and is said to be o
| siderably less than the subsidy agreed
upon for a private company, as re-
ported to the Senate in the Sundry
| Civil bill, and later struck out and
| Senator Buffers plan substituted. This
marks a new era in governmental
| ownership of cables IL conjunction
with the postal service, and we con
| graduate Senator B 1tler upon his
| victory.
Jerry Simpson still knows how to
strike home. Recently he severely at
tackled the Presidents policy of i'm
perialism. Tee next day Mr.. Cannon,
R publican of Illinois got the floor. IF
the speeches made here yesterday by
Mr.. Simpson and others had been made
yesterday in Manila, he said, they
would have been arrested, tried By
drumhead court. martial and shot. The
United States have and will continue
to exercise sovereignty in the Philip
pines. II they are obstructed the
power of the whole people as repre-
scented by the army and navy will see
to it that our authority is maintained
and the rocks and mountains will fall
upon any Individual, Or any party
which seeks to obstruct us!'
Mr.. Simpson then rose to a question
OF personal privilege to answer the
statement of Mr.. Cannon that if he
(Simpsor) had made his speech at
Manila he would have been court
martialed and shot. Perhaps this
might BE- SO, said Mr.. Simpson, adding:
But to be shot at Manila is better
than to be shot mere by an old muzzle-
loading smooth bore brass Cannon"
The Philippine question is still para
mount in Congress and IL the burden
of most Congressional speeches. Mr..
Cox (D3m.,) Of Tennessee speaking on
this subject last week said: Il will
never vote a cent to PUT a bullet In a
gun to shoot do Rn those people over
there (the FLipinoe), who are trying to
establish their home government"
He could not understand why we had
started out to free the Cubans and
should end by shooting the Filipinos.
What q remarkable notification" he
declared, WAS that of General Oils,
that we had killed and wounded 1000
of those people, part Of them naked n3
tives armed with bows and arrows"
AS an American, he asked, where was
the glory of this achievement Who
had declared war Oh these people that
had done US no harmi"
The Compromise Army Bill has
passed both Houses of Congress. 1t
provides for a regular army, Of IS, 900.
and authorizes the President to raise
an additional force of 35. 600 volunteers,
if it be found necessary. Senator Cor
man offered the following amendment
which was unanimously adopted:
THAT each and every p r1vision of
this act shall continue in force until
July l, 1901, and on and after that date
all the general staff and line off GERS
apportioned to army under this act
snail be discharged and the members
reatored in each grade to those exist
ing at the passage OF this act, and the
enlisted force of the line Of the army
shall be reduced to the number as pro
vided for Oy law prior to April 1 1898 |
exclusive OF such additions as have
been or may be made under this act,
to the artillery, and except the cadets
provided for by this act who may be !
appointed prior to j ally 1, 1901; and,
provided, further, that no officer who |
has been or may be, promoted under
existing law or under the rules of
seniority, shall be disturbed in his |
rank"
Mr.. BIcon. of Georgia, said the
adoption of the German amendment
simpll6ed the situation materially. |
This bill would place an annual expen. |
diture o. $85. 600. 600 upon the country,
but Notwithstanding the fact that war
in the Philippines was an unholy war. |
he felt it his duty to support the bill. |
and would do go.
In the Senate the bill psesgd-aves |
SIS, noes Is. Senator Pritchard voted
aye but B ltler was one OF the thirteen
noes. In the House the vote was:
av es 2O3, noes 80
B lis have passed both Houses Of