The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-22

| years. Under the present system there
was constant scramble to get out of
the fighting branch of the service and
| into the staff. scramble which, he
said, was unseemly. The officer with the
strongest pull and the greatest politi-
cal influence was able to gain his point.
Mr.. Warren of Wyoming, a member
of the military affairs committee, de-
livered carefully prepared speech,
largely technical in its nature in the
course of which he contrasted the Hull
HaWley bill and also termed it as the
'makeshift offered by Mr.. Cockrell.
He felt that the Hull Hawley measure
ought to be passed without delay He
maintained the day was past when an
army of $4,000 was sufficient for the
needs OF this country. The seacoast for
tlhcatlons alone required 21,G0O ana
quite as many more men were required
for army duty on the frontiers. Ih1s,
too. aside from the men now needed IN
our new island possessions. He declared
that the regular army seemed TO pc re-
garded by some as almost pestilence,
rather than a thing to be supported He
thought it not too much that this ma
ton support as soldiers four men in
each 5000 of the population of the coun-
try. He declared that the toilers and
the taxpayers We're not protesting
against a proper army bill and that they
leave the president without a sufficient
army force.
Mr. Cockrell, leading democratic
member of the military affairs commit
tee, agreed that reorganization of the
army was absolutely necessary. 1t was
evident he said, that either the organ
ization was defective or the officers were
inefficient. Mr.. Cockrell declared there
was not sufficient time in the 10 remain
ing days of this session to discuss, for
mulate and pass a perfect reorganiza-
ton bill and he added that no bill such
as had been proposed should be passed.
I'VE propose" said he, ample pro
vision for every emergency. We will
give the executive every dollar and
every man to sustain the government
that is necessary
He then analysed and explained his
bill, offered as a substitute for the Hull
Hawley measure. In the course Of this
part of his argument Mr.. Cockrell man
tanned that one brigade was amply SUI
ficient for the needs of the United
States in Cuba, and that a greater
force was a menace to the peace OF
the island If the Cubans, he said, were
given the right to govern themselves
and there was no doubt in his mind
that they had the ability to do so, they
would give the island good govern
ment. Discussing Mr.. Hawley's con-
tention that the additional men provid-
ed for in the measure he had reported
We're necessary, Mr.. Cockrell said:
I'VE will give you every man and
every officer that is necessary, but
we are not willing at this short session
to fasten upon the country a standing
army of 100000 men and to increase the
expenses of the people by millions of
dollars. We are Offering all that is fair
and just and right. We have no indis-
position or intention to force an extra
session of congress, and we say to you
that every bill that legitimately and of
right ought to be passed can be passed
at this session. We will give you every
man you need by the extension of the
provisions of the present law for two
years. That will meet every emer-
gency, likely to arise, and in the next
congress we can discuss it fully and
CONSIDERABLY"
II indulge in a filibuster occasionally
myself said Mr.. Mason, interrupting
Mr.. Cockrell, but l always give full
notice when I mean to do so. I think
it perfectly permissible under the
rules and l would like to have the Mis-
souri, senator inform us if such is his
purpose now
II am always frank replied Mr..