The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-01

ments In this department was reduced
from 20 to 40. In the corps Of engineers
the number of Colonels was reduced
from ten to eight: neutenant-oolonels, 70
to 10; majors. SO 20 30; captains, Al to
35: first lieutenants, 80 to 40, and second
lieutenants, 81 to 40.
MIR. Cromwell, Republican of Ohio.
moved to strike out the provision autho-
rizing the appointment of engineers from
civil life. The amendment was supported
by MIR. Walker. Republican of Massachu u
setts. but opposed by Mir. Marsh, Republi
can of Illinois, who favored the appoint
ment of officers from civil life. Mr.. Marsh
pointed out that the great engineer
schenIe of Fades was secuted by the fegu-
lar army officers. II was entirely proper,
he contended that bright young engineer
ing geniuses in civil lie who had not
been able to secure "a Vest Point appoint.
ment should have u chance.
Mr. Lacey Republican Of Iowa, argued
that the exclusion of civilians would
be In the direction OF supporting West
Point, was distincti,ely an engineering
school, MIR. Dockery of Missouri. said
the best results in government work had
always been obtained from army engi-
neers
Mr.. Cannon, Republican of Illinois,
directed attention to the amendment MIR
Cummings, Democrat OF New York, yes
terday gave notice he would offer 10
prevent the Use OF United States troops
as posse comitatus, or In putting down
strikes or riots upon the written apph-
cation of the governor of the state.
That amendment, said AIR. Cannon,
proposed To put out Of the power OF the
Brasi1anf the GnnkttFutlOn to The con
trary Notwithstanding, to enforce the law
within the territory OF any state unless
the governor appealed for help. IL was
the duty of the President to enfoi ce the
law, MIR. Cannon, who then recalled ,he
Chicago riots during the last administra-
ton and the despatch into Illinois with
out the assent OF the governor aud against
his protest OF the United states troops
: To suppress the riots The action Of Pres
ident Cleveland had been endorsed by
the senators of the United states ana
people everywhere. Had the proposed
amendment teen the law the President
would have been prevented from enforc-
ing the law The federal authority was
ami should be supreme. MIR. Cummings
replied to Mr.. Cannon. There was nc
qnestion, he saiC, but that organized labor
through the American Federation of
| labor and the Knights OF Labor had con
demned this effort to increase the stand
ing army TO 10000 men.
There was no question that the reason
for this action was the fear that this
standing army might be used uncondi-
tionally to opprsss them. Now" he con.
tinued, "if you do mean TO do SO say so
m you don't adopt this proviso. The
gentleman from illinois, he said. had re-
ferred to the action of Gov. Altgeld, but
he had failed to refer to Gov. John NJ.
Palmer, who had denounced the action
of the President for sending troops into
the state over the protest OF the governor,
and murderiug her citizens. The gentle
man SAWS President Cleveland's action
was sanctioned by the Senate and by
the people. Why had the people. If that
was the case, got rid OF him as soon as
they were abIel The President was com
peled to execute the laws Congress
enacted. Congress had the power to en-
act this provision. The United States
Judge who had sent Dsbs TO prison for
contempt had boen promoted within q
few months. Every ything indicated that
the army was to be used to oppress labor
II opportunity occurred or II corporate
wealth demanded it. be was not law
yer or banker: he was a trades-unior
man member of Typographica
Union, No. q. What ne desired was that
the members of the Senate should go Oh
record upon his amendment
MIR. Cannon, replying, said that before
men were lawyers or bankers or printers
they were American citizens, and tine
law of the land, like the grace of God,
covered all. (Applause.) The one green
spot in the record of President Cleveland
was that when he saw the law detied, not
by labor, but by law breakers, he had
kept his oath and had seen that Ii was
enforced. Mr. Cannon aroused tumultu-
Gus applause when he declared that Mr..
Cummings, in seeking to make labor the
abettor Of lawbreakinR slandered labor.
He denounced it as cheap demagoguery
Mr. Cummings said he honored Presi-
dent Mckinley because he was unlike MIR.
Cleveland. When recently during the
riots Gov. Tanner declined to order out
the militia, said he according to the argu
ment OF the gentleman from Illinois. n
was the duty Of the President to order
out the army. But he had left the cas-,