The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-26
DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.
GrosvenOr and Cannon DenOunce
Traitors and Simpson Replies.

GrOsVenOr and Cannon DenOunce
Traitors and Simpson Replies.
WASHINGTON. Feb. 25.-The House con-
tinued work on the army appropriation bill
to-day, but failed to complete it. Consid-
cradle animosity was developed during the
debate and there were sharp passages be-
tween Mr.. Grosvenor and Mr.. Cannon, on
one hand, and Messrs. Simpson and Coch-
ran, on the other. Mr.. Cannon declared that
if speeches made by Mr.. Simpson and
others on the floor yesterday had been made
in Manila their authors would have been
tried by a drum-head court-martial and shot.
Mr.. Simpson provoked laughter by retort-
ing that it would be better to be shot at
Manila than to be shot here by ian old muz-
zle-loading cannon
At the opening of the session the Senate
bill granting a right Of way through the
Nez Perces Indian reservation to the Clear
water Short-line Railroad was passed; also
the Senate bill to compensate certain persons
for private property in the Yellowstone
Park.
Mr.. Henderson Rep., Ia.) stated to the
House that on account of the great amount
Of public business to be disposed of during
the remainder of the session it was desirable
that the House meet hereafter at IL o'clock.
lIIS0 appropriation HIS NAC ~ . pass
the House, said he, and but three had gone
to the President. An order to meet at IL
o'clock was made.
The House then went into Of
the whole and resumed consideration of the
army appropriation bill. Mr.. Hay Dem,
Va.), the ranking minority member of the
military committee. criticised the amount
carried by the bill, which, he said, was
plainly insufficient to maintain an army Of
100, 900 men. The hearings before the COM
mittee, he said, had shown that it cost
$1,00 to maintain one enlisted man serving
in this country, and more Whlle serving
abroad. This bin appropriately $97,OW,0Oi
his estimate was $4,000, 900. He. charged
that the friends OF a large standing army
did not desire to let the country into the
secret Of it's enormous cost. But there would
Mr.. HUI conceded that If the reorganiza-
ton bill reported to the Senate yesterday
became a law there would be a deficiency.
The bill provided for ffty-flve regiments of
infantry against thirty in the House bill, a
large staff and an increased number of en-
listed men. There would be about 1000 adj
ditional officers to pay for, and the de-
ficiency, i'm his opinion, would be from two
to five millions.
CRITICISED BY SIMPSON.
Mr.. Simpson Pop., Kan.) criticised the
increase in the number of clerks and mes
sengers provided for the War Department.
The number of clerks in the bill was $40.
messengers 6S. Mr.. Simpson said he under
| stood it was the custom to detail many Of
these messengers as private servants, but
lers, ETC., for high officials in the depart
ment.
Mr.. Hull said the increase in the number
of clerks was absolutely necessary. AS to
the charge Of detailing messengers for pri-
vate service, he knew nothing.
Secretary of Wal Alger was on the floor
for a time during consideration of the army
1 nnRnnF11ffnn hill fO=d1V
Mr.. Cochran Dem, MOI, attempted to
secure time to answer the statements made
on the other side yesterday that there was
nothing in the nature of an alliance between
| Aguinaldo and the American forces before
"This is not the first time said Mr.. Coch-
| ran, that the majority, In the closing hours
of a debate, have made challenges and then
objected to replies. Their objections are
made TO cover their retreat"
Mr.. Hull thereupon Withdrew his objection
and Mr.. Cochran proceeded to give what he
said was the most important chapter Of
the war. Upon the testimony of three Amer
lean generals, he contended, first, that we
solemnly formed; third. that the Filipinos
| kept their faith. and. fourth, that we shame
the reports of General Anderson, General
Greene and General Merritt TO prove his as
| sertion of the valuable aid rendered by
| Aguinaldo and the insurgents. Mr.. Cochran
also insisted that the money said TO have
been embezzled by Aguinaldo ($400, 00O had
been. used in the purchase of arms and in
AAHnlAAAG tt~E 9EftAA40lA NtAELAs1iA0i III AAlC 4 III
ippines. This, he said. was proven by the
testimony OF Consul Wildman.
Mr.. Lewis ODem., Wash.l delivered a sort
of valedictory on the conclusion OF his two
terms in Congress. in which he expressed
his view, amid generous applause from both
sides of the House, that no matter what diff
ference there might be as TO our rights and
duties in the Philippines, Congress must.
and every member of Congress should. sup
port our soldiers lighting abroad for the
honor and glory Of their country.
Mr.. Lacey rep, Ia.), after compliment
ing Mr.. Lewis, denounced the other side
generally for firing into the rear of Otis by
sounding the praises Of Aguinaldo and Agon-
clio on the floor of the House. While Aguin-
aide was being compared with George Wash
ington by the gentleman from Kansas CMr.
Simpson, AMI others, American soldiers
were being killed and wounded. When we
captured Manila" said ne, addressing the
| opposition, your George Washington van
ed to enter and loot II. With the evidence
that AguinalGo planned q massacre of our
troops in Manila before them. the gentleman
from Ohio (Mr. Lentz) might have with
held his comparison of Aguinaldo with Pat
rick Henry, and others might have sup
| pressed their fulsome suloaIes likening him
! to Bolivar and Washington" Concluding,