The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-01-28
ARNY INCREASE BILL
Is Toned Down to Better
Please the Opposition.
PLAT IN THE SENATE
Makes a Constitutional Ex-
panSion Speech.

be wise, in order to secure its passage, 10
abandon the idea Of providing directly fer
a regular army Of 10000 men. He an
| nounced on the floor that the committee
would offer amendments to reduce me
number Of enlisted men 10 about 5000, but
/ lodge in the presidents discretion the au-
thority TO increase the army TO maximum
Of 100. 600. These amendments have been
prepared. They provide that the president
may, in his discretion, enlist only sixty
men in the infantry coS1any ana sixty IN
the cavalry troop. By the terms of the
bill There are 70 be thirty infantry Tegi-
ments Of ten companies each, with a
strength of las men, and twelve regime n.s
Of cavalry Of ten troops each, with a
strength Of lot men. This discretion. If the
president should exercise it. would reduce
the number of enlisted men abou. 81 coo
and practically leave intact the orga1iza-
ton provided in the BILL so far as c!fi'e-s
are concerned. How far this proposed
modification will allay the opposition re-
mains 10 be seen. Mr.. Johnson Of Indiana,
VINO took prominent part in the :i--7- ~
day, after the general debate closed, de-
clared that the purpose of the bill was TO
have an army of 10000, either by direct
authority or the exercise of the presidents
discretion, and he declared his purpose to
fight TO the bitter end the machinery which
was being forged for a colonial system.
Mr.. Henderson, in the course of the de-
bate today, declared mis- belief in the I'M
wisdom of annexing the Philippines. Mr..
johnson said the vital mistake was made
when the president instructed the peace
commissioners to demand the cessiOn OF
the Philippines. The whole debate today
was spirited and so intense was the strug-
gle when the bill was taken up for amend
ment under the five-minute rule, that the
first section had not been completed when
the house recessed at q O'Clock. y
HENDERsoN's HOT sHoT5 &
. When the house met today, but sittle
mere than an hour remained OF she t!me-
for general debate on the. army reerEa, usa-
ton bin. Mr.. Henders5 ns fF2ep., Iowa. VAS
the first speaker. He had. he aaidN been
slow to catch the war FEVER last spritfty.
He had foreseen some of the future trouble
as the outgrowth OF the difficulties which
beset US at our immediate doors but re
had not anticipated that we would be car
ried to another hemisphere Z 900 miles from
our shores. He looked with aversion upon
any proposition to increase the regular
army and he hoped it would not be neces-
sary to establish a standing army of 100000
men. II ewas, however. in view of the
conditions. willing TO cheerfuHy support
a proposition to increase the army to &c.
600 or $4,000 men. Beyond that he hoped
he would not be called upon TO go. But
%, ha
that no provision for 100 900 men would be
made, but that discretion be lodged with
the president The president could be trust
ed There was nothing in this country to
call for a standing army of 100000 men.
The people were peaceful and there was
absolutely nothing in the United tSates to
draw the fire of the guns of any other
country on the globe.
THE KICKING STATESMEN
Mr.. Henderson spoke of the demonstra-
ton Of the "kickers" which the country
and the house had witnessed. The kick
ing had begun before the war was fairly
under way. Some Kicked" at the presi-
dent, some at the secretary of war, some
at the staff. some al the adiutant general
There was kicking at everything and any,
thing. 1t was easy TO kick. It was the
cheapest kind Of craftsmanship. and the
that geeted il was the cheapest
sort of applause.
Mr.. Henderson defended the presidents
course as the only wise one open 20 him.
but said he had grave doubts as to the
wisdom of holding the Philippines.
COUSINS FOR MKINLEY.
Cousins Of Iowa. made a strong speech
for the army bH land eloquently upheld
the regulars Of the army. .praising their
valor in many fields and ridiculing the
assertion that our army was a menace to
our liberty
Il had been charged. ne said. that the
commission appointed 70 investigate the
war was stacked He eulogized all the
members Of the commission. Chairman
Dodge by name. paying a high tribute 70
his 'incorruptble and fearless character
Adverting 10 Mr.. Johnson's speech on
Wednesday. he said that never in sixteen
years experience had he heard a speech
so deserving Of the condemnation Of patri-
Otto hearts. What crime had the president
committed? The president had done every
thing possible 10 prevent the war. Was
that crime? There was no: enough pow
four hours. there were neither arms. am
balances, surgical Instruments, or other
When war came No Quickly
set factories and ar=enaEs in motion Then
he forced the fighting in two hemispheres
and in nc days ne had whipped the enemy
on land and sea and had wound up the
war before the people of the country had
fully realized that It had begun. Was That
a crime2
He had driven the enemy from Cuba.
he had seized Porto Rico and the richest
island OF the Ladrouss. Was that crimee
BY me guns Of his country an6 By treaty
ne had terminated the way. Was that a
crlmec The treaty Invested spain o. her
soverei Enty over the Philippines. After
Il was ratified new problems would arise
Unuu * was ratified tha war was legally
s-iu IN progress. During he war Ii had
been the duty @ f-he president - the com
mander-in-chief OF the army 10 strllzee che
enemy waers the bow would hurt. He
had struck him in tae Philippines ard the
echo Of that blow would ring through ages
Un,h the treaty was ratined the prest-
dent must hold what he had taken
STILL. HE HAS DOUBTS
But" said DE. VITA elaboration y
say frankly that entertain grave doubts
as To t1e wisdom of holding the Philip
pines against their wiz" Democrats a.
p.ausel.
While his was his praSen, opinion. how
ever. he argued that when the tine came
IN determine This question he must know
what his duty % his country was.
Nj Grow Rep. Pa argued ,1at she
future Of The Philippines was question
for The future
AZ Primo Ran 10 summaries .as an