The times., 1899-02-22
THE SENATE Debates
THE HULL ARMY BILL
Mr.. COckrell Says the Measure
Cannot Pass.
Beth Parties Appear Determined 10
Force the Issue.
The Nissourian Unwilling to Pass SO
Important Bill in SO
short "a Time.

The first days consideration of the Hun
Army Reorganization bill in the Senate
was productive of bringing out the Demo-
cratic ultimatum that the bill would not
be allowed 10 pass at this session Of Con-
gress.
This declaration. made as it was by Sen
ator CoCkrell, leader of the Democratic
portion of the Military Committee, Is
taken TO mean that if the President wants
10 avoid an extra session he viii have TO
be satisfied with some form of temporary
legislation in reference to the reorganiza-
tioR OF the army.
In this connection the statement of lead
ing Republicans Of both houses who visited
the President yesterday that he did not
look with aversion on an extra session.
and that in his opinion satisfactory army
legislation was more 10 be desired than
temporary measure would seem TO indi-
cate that the Fifty-sixth Congress will be
convened as early as possible after the ith
of March.
The debate on the Army bill in the Sem
ate yesterday partook more of the nature
OF a preliminary statement OF position by
both sides, only the members OF the Mill
laTN committee ldhlnS pdi
Mr.. Hawley opened the discussion by ad-
vocating immediate and favorable action
on the Hull bill He was followed by
Senators Mitchell, Proctor, Warren, and
CockrelI, all of the speeches being brief
The discussion on the bill took place
after the Postoflice appropriation bill had
been passed. The latter measure came up
at ! o'clock, according to agreement, and
Senators Butler and Pettigrew occupied
the time until o'clock, when a vote was
taken on the Butler amendment 10 reduce
the amount appropriated for transportation
of the mails. The amendment was lost. the
vote being 10 10 40. The PostOffice bill
was then passed. and at 2:2O the Army bill
was taken up. Mr.. Hawley. Chairman OF
the Military Committee. took the floor TO
state the general situation Something, he
said. had TO be done Immediately as the
Treaty had been ratified by the Senate. and
would be by Spain in the near future. 1t
became the duty of the President then 10
discharge about 5000 men and bring the
army down TO about 27,0OO men. when, ac-
cording 10 the judgment of our best au-
thorities, 100000 men are needed.
The CocI,reiI Bill.
As to the proposition contained in the
Cockrell bill TO allow the President to en-
list an army of 35. 200 natives of the isl
ands. Mr. Hawley gave it as his opinion
that it would be grand and calamitous
failure. In forty-eight hours after the
Filipinos were armed and sworn in they
would he said. desert 10 Aguinaldo.
All the people of Spanish blood or ex-
traction were always ripe for revolution.
He understood that one of the Spanish
American possessions had had seventy
revolutions in 100 years. The RESPONSE
bilities, he continued, are upon us. In
the face of God and of the world, how
shall we meet them? Shall sell the
islands? Shall We undertake 10 give them
away? That would plunge Europe into
war. Shall we abandon the islands? Shall
we call the Filipinos together and say
Here. this is 4 bad iob-a very uncom-
Portable situation, exceedingly painful and
expensive, and We have concluded to go
bOme2' 1t is better to do that than TO
refuse TO raise a good army.
Il see nothing left but TO go forth man
fully and do our duty-keeping the execu-
tive power fully armed. Any other course
would be fraught with disaster and with
shame"
MIR. Mitchell Democratic member of
the committee, spoke next. He criticised
the Hull bill severely, saying il was not
what its name implied, an army reorgani-
zation bill, but simply bill 10 increase
the army. He also found some fault with
the Cockrell substitute.
MI iibsAbls slSO d llitlllDtl Vi Allt MIL
tary Committee. spoke brifey in advocacy
of an amendment which he offered 10 the
bill, providing that details to the depart
ments Of the Inspector General. Quarter
master General, Commissary General and
The Ordnance Department, shall be made
in the same manner as in the Adjutant
Generals Department, except that details
10 the Ordnance Department shall be made
exclusively from the artillery arm Of the
service.
Mr. Proctor characterized as unseemly
the scramble" that goes on under the
present system to get out OF the fighting
branch of the army"
Mr.. Warren, Republican member Of the
Military Committee. spoke briefly in favor
Of the Hull bill and antagonized the Cock
rell bill, which he characterized as a
'makeshift."
The Time Too short.
Mr. Cockrell, following Mr. Warren. de-
clared that a reorganization of the army
was necessary but that ii was impossible
in the remaining ten days Of the session
10 properly discuss and pass complet,
reorganization bin and there was no neces
sity for il. He agreed with Mr.. Hawley
that there should be a temporary increase
and his proposition gave to the Executive
every soldier that was necessary. His bill
proposed he said. that the volunteer
should be mustered out IN so many day
after the proclamation Of peace, givini
them the privilege of re-enlisting If the!
so desired.
in regard TO section of his bill author
izing the enlistment Of a native army il
Cuba. Porto Rico. and the Philippines
which Mr.. Hawley had criticised Mr.
Cockrell said the Hull bill, which tina
Senator advocated, provided also for a na
tive army in those islands. He main
tanned that the provisions Of the two bills
in this respect were exactly alike. The
matter was to be left in the discretion o
the President II would seem, he said b.
the criticism of the bill by Mr.. Hawley
that the President could not be trusted
He was not willing to fasten on thi
country a permanent standing army al thi
short session. but was willing 10 give
temporary force of all that was necessary
There was no disposition or intention 4
force an extra session of Congress con
cluded Mr. Cockrell, and if an extra sss
sion is called II can be but for the purpos
of fastening oil the country and people 0
the United States permanent standing
army OF 100 600 men. There is no neces
sity for this. he said We will do what {
right and just" he continued, and Civ
the President every officer and man h
wants up TO 1901, and from now until tina
time We will have fun discussion. and de
termine what is necessary and what !
best and how large a standing army "
should have and how it should be or
ganized."
Mr.. Mason Eacetfous.
Mr.. Mason, who had previously tried t
interrupt Mr.. Cockrell, was here given a
opportunity TO ask question. DO un
derstand that ten days will not be suficien