The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-18
Several Important Amendments, In
Guiding One to Increase the Ma rine
Corps to 5000 Enlisted Men.
NICARAGUA CANAL MEASURE
DISCUSSED BY SENATORS AND THE
RAWLINS PLAN REJECTED.
only Nine Votes in Favor of Absolute
COntroI-Panama Men Heard-He-
rOes Praised by Mckinley.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 17.-The House to-
day passed the naval personnel bill without
division on the final passage, thus accom-
plishing what the officers of the navy have
striven for during more than a decade. BY
its provisions the line and the engineer
corps are welded into an amalgamated line,
staff officers are given positive rank, but
their command is limited to their own corps
and a system of voluntary and compulsory
retirement on three-quarter's pay, of the
next higher rank, of forty officers year, is
established which is designed to remove
the congestion in the lower rank at 40.
The bill also practically equalizes their pay
with that of army officers. Three impor-
tant amendments were adopted One Gre
ates a judge advocate corps, another abol-
ishes prize money, and third provides for
the retirement on three-quarter pay of
enlisted men and petty officers in the navy
after thirty years service. But the most
important change in the bill as reported
was the adoption after a hard fight of a
substitute for the organization of the ma
rine corps, by which the corps is to consist
of 5000 enlisted men and petty officers, with
general officers and staff. This will increase
the marine corps by 1900 men and increase
the cost of it's maintenance $l,5000OO
half of the committee, offered the substitute
for the sections covering the marine corps.
Under it the marine corps would consist.
he said, of one commandant, with the rank
of major general, one brigadier general, five
colonies, five lieutenant colonies, ten majors,
sixty captains, sixty first and sixty Sec
ond lieutenants, practically doubling the
number of officers provided for in the orig
ioo no IoI far
as possible, by seniority from the active
line, commissions in the present corps not
to be vacated. Vacancies after promotion
are to be filled by transfer from the line
of the navy not above the grade of Junior
lieutenant from those who served as second
lieutenantS in the marine corps during the
Spanish war for meritorious non-commis-
stoned officers or from civil life. Only a
portion of the officers are to be appointed
before Jan. !, 1900. The staff OF the
marine corps is to consist of an adjutant
and inspector, a quartermaster, a paymas-
ter each with the rank of colonel; an as
sistant adjutant and inspector, two assist
ant QuartermaSterS, one assistant paymaS-
ter each with the rank of major and three
assistant quartermasters, with the rank of
captain. During service with fleets senior
officers are to hold rank next above their
rank in the corps. 1t provides for 5000 petty
officers and enlisted men. In response to an
inquiry, Mr.. Meyer said the substitute would
strengthen the marine corps 1890 men and
increase the cost $1,500O00
Mr.. Steele (Rep., Ind thought the COM
mittee was demanding a good deal of the
House in asking support for substitute
which had not been passed on by the COM
mission which drafted the personnel bill.
Mr.. Meyer said the late war has demon
strated the necessity for an increase Of the
Mr.. Bennett (Rep., N. W moved to strike
from the substitute the provision for
major general The men of the marine
modified The commandant was simply
bureau officer and not entitled to the rank
of major general.
substitute the army organization had been
followed, but on solicitation he accepted the
Bennett amendment, striking out the pro-
vision for major general. The substitute
was adODted-S5 to IS.
The bill was then reported to the House.
Mr.. Steele (Rep.. Ind demanded separate
vote on the marine corps substitute, and it
was taken by yeas and nays and the sub
stitute was adopted-127 to Ga. The bill was
then passed without division.
Immediately after the reading Of the jour-
nal Mr.. McCleary (Rep., MIMI, on behalf
of the banking and currency committee,
on the currency bill reported at the last
session had been irregularly taken in the
committee, and he therefore asked that the
bill be recommitted.
This does not mean that the bill is to be
abandoned?" asked Mr.. Richardson Dem,
TENN
1.-The other side has promised currency re-
FORM continued Mr.. Richardson, land
would like to know if the bill is again to be
reported"
Il am neither prophet nor the son of a
prophet" responded Mr.. McCleary.
Mr.. Mitchell (Rep.. N. " explained that
there had been some irregularity in the
vote, and in order to avoid any show of un-
fairness to the opponents of the bill this ac-
ton had been decided upon. There was no
objection and the bill was recommitted.
Mr.. Mercer CRep., Neb) asked unanimous
consent for consideration of the bill for the
aid of the exposition of Greater America. to
be held at Omaha, Neb., but Mr. Richard
son objected because the bill had not been
considered by a committee of the House.
A bill was passed to amend the act grant
ing right of way through the Indian Ter
ritory to the Gainesville, McAlister G. st.
Louis Rair ad Company.