The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-02-01
AMENDMENT. DEFEATED
AIMED AGAINST FEDERAL BAY
ONETS IN STATE MATTERS.
THE PRESIDENT CAN LIMIT THE ARMY
He May Reduce Troops and Companies to sc
Men Each. Opposition Forced Re-
duction Of 33i in Number
of staff Officers

of Staff Officers.
Washington, Jan. 31.-The bill to re-
organize and increase the standing army
to about 100000 men, but giving the
President authority to reduce the size
of infantry companies and cavalry troops
TO sixty men each, thus fixing a mini
mum of about $4,000 enlisted men, pass
ed the House to-day by a vote of 16S
TO 12J This was the result of a week
of hard and often picturesque fighting
on the floor during the progress of which
the opposition compelled those iii charge
of the measure to give this discretionary
authority to the President, and to make
other notifications. among which were
q reduction of 331 in the number of
staff officers. In consequence of these
notifications the Republican npposinen
practically vanished. and on the final
vote but six Republicans voted against
the bill, MeSsrs. Barber. (Md): Connolly,
Glls.l; Loud. (Cal.): Johnson, Qnd); Nc
EVAN. IN. j., and Wadsworth, On. "
This Republican detection was, how
ever, almost offset by FIVE members Of
the political opposition who voted III
favor Of the bill Messrs. Berry, (Ky);
McCielland. fN. W; McAleer Pa.);
Taylor (Ala.): Democrats, and Skinner,
Pop. n. C)
Among the important amendments
adopted before the vote was taken to-day
was one TO exclude the appointment Of
civilians to positions in the engineer
corps, one to abolish canteens and the
sale Of liquor in camp. and one TO strike
out the provision for additional pay for
commands serving in the West Indies
the Philippines and Alaska. The amend
ment of Mr.. Cummings, of New York,
to prohibit the use of troops in the sew
eral States to suppress riots, etc, eX-
cept upon the application of the States,
was defeated by large majority.
Mr.. Cummings said there was no ques-
ton, that organized labor, through the
American Federation of Labor and the
knights of Labor, had condemned this
effort to increase the standing army to
100000 men.
There was no question that the reason
for their action was the fear that this
standing army might be used unconsu-
tutionally to oppress them. Now, he
continued, IF you do mean to do it say
so; If you don't adopt this proviso."
The gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Can
on) said he had referred to the action
of Governor Altgeld, but he had failed
to refer to Governor John NJ. Palmer
who had denounced the action of the
President for sending troops into the
State over the protest of the Governor
and numbering her citizens. The gen
tleman says President Cleyeland's &c
ton was sanctioned by the Senate ana
the people Why had the people, if that
was the case. got rid of him as soon as
they were able? The President was
compelled to execute the laws Congress
enacted. Congress had the power to
enact this provision. The United States
Judge who had sent Debs to prison for
contempt had been promoted within a
few months Everything indicated tina,
the army was to be used to oppose labor
If opportunity offered or if corporate
wealth demanded it.
He was not a lawyer or banker,
he was a trades union man, a member
of Typographical Union, No. 6. What
he desired was that the members of the
House should go on record upon his
amendment.
Mr.. Cannon replying said, that before
men We're lawyers or bankers or print
ers they were American citizens and the
law of the land like the grace of God.
covered all. (Applause). The one green
spot in the record of President Cleveland
had been that when he saw the law
defied not by labor but by law-breakers
he had kept his oath and had seen that
it was enforced.
Mr.. Cannon aroused tllmultous ap-
plause when he declared that Mr.. Cum
mings in seeking to make labor the
abettor of law breaking slandered labor.
lie denounced it as cheap demagoguery.
Mr.. Cummings said he honored Presi-
dent Mckinley because he was unlike
Mr.. Cleveland. When recently during
the riots Governor Tanner declined to
order out the militia, said he. according
to the argument of the gentleman from
Illinois. it was the duty of President
Mckinley to order out the army But
he had left the case in the hands Of
Governor Tanner and the people honored
him for it.
MT Hays motion to recommit with in
structlons to report back the minority
substitute only commanded two Repub.
mean votes and was lost, 117-170. The
blll as passed provides in addition TO the
general officers and staff departments
for twelve regiments of cavalry of
twelve troops each. 144 coast batteries
~ Held batteries. 30 regiments of infap.
try Of II companies each, corns of on
gineers and one regiment of enoinears
an ordnance department and n SIGNAL
corps, the latter with 62J enlisted mon