The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-02-01
THE HULL ARMY BILL
PASSES THE House
Five Republicans Are Record
ed Against the Measure.
Cummings, Berry. and Mcclellan.
Democrats. Vote For Ii.
The Cnntccn Abolished Upon m
Amendment offered by Hr.
johnson of North Dakota.

Tied the army reorganization bill to success
yesterday. 1t was agreed TO by very
nearly a strictly partisan vote of l66 to l26,
the promised Republican detection having
been almost entirely prevented by the
notifications made.
Two votes were taken, first by Mr.. Hay
Of Virginia on the question of recommittal
with instructions 10 report the minority
substitute in its place, which was lost by
a vote Of 167 to III. and then the vote on
the adoption Of the bill itself.
On the first vote the Republicans vot-
ing with the Democrats 10 reCommit were
Barber of Maryland and Connolly of IL
linois.
The Democrats voting with the Repub-
licans against recommittal were Mcclellan
and Cummings of New York
On the second vote the Republicans vot-
ing against the bill were Barber of Mary
land. Loud of California. Sheldon of Mich
igan, WadswOrth Of New York, and John
sen of Indiana.
Democrats voting for the bill: Berry
OF Kentucky, Mcclellan Of New York, and
Taylor Of Alabama.
Populist voting for the bill: skinner of
North Carolina
Representatives Berry and Loud did not
vote the first time. Otey or Virginia
answered Present on both votes. John
son of Indiana voted with his party on
the first vote. For the rest the vote was
strictly on party lines.
An Exciting Day.
The day was an exciting one. and until
the vote was actually taken the result re-
manned in doubt. 1t is conceded that but
for the discretion as to 4 reduction al
lowed to the President the bill could not
have passed. II is far different measure
from that reported shortly before Christ
mas. Besides the radical change made in
the powers allowed TO the President. the
provision for lieutenant general has been
stricken out, a new scheme of promotions
has been adopted, the medical corps has
been cut in half. the Paymaster's, Quar-
termaster's and Judge Advocates depart
ments, and the Engineer Corps have been
radically reduced The maximum age at
time of appointment, or age limit. has
been reduced in most of the departments
TO forty years, the provision for extra
pay TO soldiers serving abroad has been
rescinded, mental examinations for new
officers, as well as physical ones have been
imposed, there will be no engineer ap-
peintments from civil life. ana the army
canteen has been abolished.
II is evident, however. that the bill has
very rocky road before it in the Senate.
There seems a very poor prospect Of its
getting through that body or even of be-
ing reported from the Senate Military At
fairs Committee.
Democrats on that committee insist that
no effort will be made to consider it and
the power Of the minority in the Senate
Is so great. and the time for action so brief
that il looks as if nothing would be accom-
plished.
The House met at II o'clock yesterday
morning Few members were present, as
few were aware that the hour of meeting
had been advanced from u TO II O'Clock.
The feature of the debate resulted from
the amendment announced last Monday by
Representative Amos J. Cummings OF New
York, who wished 10 limit the power OF
the President to employ the troops of the
regular army in case of strikes or riot TO
cases where the Governor of the State
should request aid. This, he said, was IA
vored by organized labor
Threatened Motion TO Recomrnit.
Mr. Cummings created something of a
sensation by threatening to demand yea
and-nay vote on a motion to recommit the
bill with instructions to add this clause
and to call for the yeas and nays on that
proposition. This would have put the
members on record rs appearing to favor
or oppose organized labor and created
small panic on the Republican side. Rep
resentative Cannon asked for ten minutes
in which TO speak to Mr. Cummings
amendment This being granted, he read
from the existing law TO show that the
powers Of the President were already linz
tied Referring TO the Chicago riots, he
said that the President had at nat time
ignored the Law. and acting under
the broad provision OF the Constitution TO
execute the laws of the United States"
sent troops 10 Chicago. Mr. Cummings
amendment was SO far-reaching. however
that ii could rot have been ignored, and
riot in Chicago must have continued. as il
was well known that Governor Altgeld
would never have asked for aid.
In reply Mr.. Cummings stated that there
was no doubt that organized labor was OPP
posed 10 the proposed increase of the
army, fearing that il might be used against
#. Now. IL you mean so 10 use it, say so.
II you do not adopt this proviso," he cried.
The gentleman forgets that John NJ.
Palmer denounced a Republican President
for doing the same thing that President
Cleveland had done
Mr. Cannon declared that Mr. Cummings
had misstated the situation and asked for
a few minutes in which to state the facts.
u will state the facts" exclaimed Mr.
Cummings. My word is as good as yours.
] decline to yield
The gentleman is afraid TO yield. -
sneered Mr.. Cannon as he angrily took his
seat.
Mr. Cummings said that all he asked
was that a yea and nay vote be taken on
his motion. SO that gentlemen could be
placed on record.
'If you do not intend 10 use the army as
labor thinks you mean to, why mol say so?
Why do you evade the ISSUE" he demand
ed
He appealed to Mr.. Cannon as an honest
man to aid him in receiving a fair vote on
the measure.
Mr. Cannon's Reply.
After Mr.. Cummings had taken his seat
Mr.. Cannon rose TO reply. He said that
the Palmer case referred to by Mr.. Cum
mings occurred in Chicago during the
great fire there in 1871. when troops were
sent 10 the city and were used 10 main
tain order and put down the thieves and
Anarchists who stroye to take advantage
of the situation. The men who had
burned property ard stopped railroad
trains during the Debs strike, he said,
were not honest laborcrs, but Anarchists.
and when Mr.. Cummings sought to insert
his amendment in the name of labor he
slandered IT. lie continued by saying that
the one green SPOT in the record of Presi-
dent Cleveland had been that when he
saw the law defed. not by labor but by
lawbreakers, he had kept his oath and
had seen that it was enforced.
Mr. Cummings said that the Governors
had their rights, and If the President
OVERRIDE the rights of the Governor, as
Mr.. Cannon said that he did, the Govern
ors had an equal right to override the
President. He only wanted Congress 10
say what II wanted TO do with the army.
Governor Tanner, OF Illinois. had re-
fused, he said. TO use the army at pana
in the late labor strikes II Cleveland