The record-union., 1899-01-31
Considerable Progress Made During
Yesterdays Session.
Thirteen Of the Twenty Pages Completed
When Adjournment Was Taken.
The Committee Amendment Giving
the President Discretionary
Power to Reduce the Size of the
Infantry Companies and Cav
airy Troops to Sixty Men Each
Adopted.

airy troops TO S1Aty McA A]acAA
Adopted.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 3O.-The House
put in hard days work on the army
bill. and tonight when it adjourned
thirteen of the twenty pages had been
completed. The committee amendments
giving the President discretionary
power to reduce the size of the infantry
companies and cavalry troops to sixty
men each We're adopted, and also
series of amendments to reduce the Of
ficers of the staff 331. A substitute was
adopted for the section providing for
promotions, designed to equalize pro-
motions
A fight was made to reduce the age
limit for officers to be appointed to the
various staff departments from fifty to
thirty, but it failed. An amendment
was, however, adopted to require a
mental and moral as well as a physi-
cal examination for such appointees.
Much of the time to-day was occupied
in short speeches on the general propo-
sition to increase the army and annex
the Philippines, and there were several
lively personal controversies. The
House Will meet tomorrow at IL, and
whatever time remains before 3 O'Clock
after the bill is completed under the
five minute rule will be devoted to gem
eral debate. The heavy-weights on
both sides will close. The final vote is
to be taken at o'clock.
AT the opening of the session of the
House to-day Hopkins of Illinois re-
ported the census bill, and gave notice
that he would call it next Monday.
The House then resumed considera-
ton of the army reorganization bill. I'M
der an agreement that if the bill was
completed to-day under the five-minute
rule, the time tomorrow before .
o'clock be devoted to general debate.
This arrangement was made to give the
leaders on each side an opportunity to
close
The first amendment offered to-day
was that of which the committee had
given notice authorizing the President
to enlist only sixty men in a cavalry
troop and sixty in an infantry company
Marsh (R) of Illinois, who offered the
amendment, said that this would re-
duce the enlisted force to 5000, if the
President exercised the discretion it
conferred upon him.
Way CD of Virginia, of the minor
ity of the committee, protested to the
House that it was impossible to perfect
a bill on the floor of the House. He
would offer an amendment, he said, to
have the bill provide for only sixty
men in an infantry company, or a cav
airy troop, but give the President dis
erection to increase the number to 14o
and 100 respectively, this discretion,
however, only to be exercised in time
of war
At this point a warm alteration oc-
CURED between Johnson (R) of Indiana,
and Payne (R.) of New York. who was in
the chair, the former claiming that the
Chair refused to recognize him.
Payne explained that Johnson had al
ready consumed much time. and he had
felt constrained to recognize other
members
Too much Johnson shouted Taw-
ney (R.), of Minnesota, amid laughter.
De Almond CD. of Missouri, objected
TO the amendment. on the ground that
the discretionary power was to be ex-
crossed in the wrong direction. The bill.
he contended, should provide for only
take the responsibility of increasing it
to 100000. 1t should provide for
100000, and give the President discre-
ton to reduce it.
Marsh's amendment relating to the
cavalry troops was adopted-105 to- 81
Clark Cd of Missouri. in charac-
teristic speech, declared that there was
en- epidemic of hysteria in the House,
and that member not seized with the
nsalady could not get hearing. The
Democrats had been in favor of a war
to free a people; the Republicans were
now anxious for war to enslave peo-.
plea The Republicans jeered when he
Grew a picture of the militarism of the
future.
Bland CD, of Missouri, declared that
the country, the Administration and
Congress were drifting. No one knew
" hat the goal was to be. But if il was
the annexation of the Philippines, the
Administration should avow it. Con-
gress should not legislate in the dark.
Berry CD, of Kentucky, announced
himself. amid an outburst of applause
on the Republican side, in favor of the
retention of every foot of territory we
had acquired as a result of the war
with Spain. But 1 want to say right
here" continued Berry, that I never
want to see the Philippines represented
on this floor"
What would you do with them?' IN
quired Mcguire CD, of California
II would keep them under our con-
troll and protection, as we will Cuba
Until they are able to take care OF
themselves
Berry held aloft a long list of names
which he said We're those of men who
had obtained appointments in the army
because of the influence of grandfdth-
ers or fathers or uncles or aunts. As
a Democrat he Endorsed the action of
the Peace Commission, he said. and he
believed it was the duty of the United
States to uphold the treaty; uphold 1t
against Aguinaldo in the Philippines as
we upheld it against the Spaniards in
Cuba.
Hull sad the bill had been drawn up
by General Schwan. Major Heist and
Major johnson. He offered the amend
ment giving the President discretion to
reduce the number of enlisted men in
infantry companies from 145 to 60, and
it was agreed to-.
Grifin R), of Wisconsin. offered a
substitute for Section 5, which had been