The Indianapolis journal., 1899-02-13
WARM DEBATEPROBABLE
DEMOCRATIC SENATOR'S WILL FIGHT
PASSAGE OF THE ARMY BILL.
Proposed Vote on the McEnery ResO-
programme of the House.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 2.-Ihe promised
effort on the part of the committee on mill
tary affairs to get immediate consideration
Of the army reorganization bill promises to
be the most important feature of the pro-
ceedings Of the Senate during the present
week. Lines are divided very sharply on
this bill, and the contest over it's considera-
ton will unquestionably be both fierce and
stubborn. The Republican members Of the
committee manifest strong determination
to press the bill, regardless of all other
measures, and their first effort will be to
secure consent from the committee on ap-
preparations to set the appropriation bills
aside until the army reorganization bill can
be disposed of. They argue that it is USE
less to proceed with the appropriations,
especially those for the army, until they
know how large the army will be. They
also urge that there is far greater neces-
sity for legislation increasing the size Of
the army than for the appropriation of
money to meet the governments eXpendi-
lures. Said Senator Warren, of the mill
tary committee, in discussing the matter:
THE present appropriations hold good un-
til the 1st of next July, while the volunteer
army will necessarily be disbanded as soon
as the peace treaty is signed by the Span
ish authorities. We will then be in a ridc-
ulous plight with all our new possessions
on our hands and our forces reduced to
such an extent that we will not be able to
even man our guns in this country unless
we get an increase of the army 1t is alb
surd to say that any temporary expedient
would answer the purpose. You cannot find
men to enter the regular army at $13 a
month unless they are sure of steady en-
ployment."
The Democrats, not only on the military
committee, but throughout the Senate will
resist any effort to get the army bill
through. They say, however, they will not
try to prevent consideration of the bill. In
speaking on this point Senator Jones, of
Arkansas, said: IF the Republicans want
10 take the responsibility of filbustering
agalnSt the appropriation bills Q and Of
throwing them over to another ses-
Wiling Will that hSfngrf5s they sbo4G dGF 9ne do sa am
Continuing, he said that he did not be-
;iteve that the army bill could be passed if
the Senate for the remainder of the session
AS l look at It," he said, 'if the pro-
graImme for taking up the army bill to the
exclusion OF the appropriation bills is pur-
sued, both the army bill and the appropria-
tion bills will have to fail. 1 do not be-
Of the. army bill this session. So far as I
am informed we on this side are willing to
grant temporary increase of the army but
standing army
It is not absolutely decided that the com
InIttee on appropriations would voluntarily
Ietlre IN the interest of the army bill. It
may, however, step aside for a few daYs
IN IN oroer 70 give the promoters of the mill
tary measure an opportunity to test the
temper OF its opponents. There are at pres
SnI only Two appropriation bills before the
senate, so that the time for the expert
ment is not unpropitous These are the
agricultural and Military Academy bills, and
potn can be disposed of in very short order
unless there should be eXtraneOus oDpositjoD
TO them and this is not to be expected ex-
cept as an expedient to stand off the army
plil. Much of the proceedings of the last
Two Gays or last week was due to the ex-
pectaton on the part Of some that there
would be exceptional pressure to get UP the
army Dill and the proceedings were intended
70 lnulcate TO the friends of that measure
Wnat they might expect in case they should
attempt to put their programme into exc
eutlon. Other opportunities will doubtless
pe seized In the future for the same purpose
as long as the army bill threatens. The
army Dill has not yet been reported to the
senate put there Will be an all-day session
o[ t1e committee on military affairs on
Monday, with the hope of concluding consid-
Grafton Of the bill in committee and of hav-
ing 1t ready to report on Monday or Tues
DAY. The probabilities are, however that
II will not get into the Senate before Wednes-
DAY. The probability of an effort to force
It's consideration WILL however, make It al
most as much q basis Of proceedings as if it
We're in the Senate itself as everything
will be done with reference to this point so
long as the purpose of pressing its consid-
Grafton is manifest
another question which bids fair to pro-
woke considerable controversy Is that in
VOWED In Senator Haweys notice of a mo-
tion for reconsideration of the unanimous
consent to Senator Mason's proposition to
vote on the McEnery resolution at 2:3O
o'clock Tuesday. Senator Hawley had OBJ
1ected to consideration of this question when
1t came up Saturday, and he was absent
when when the agreement was reached. Several
other senators who also opposed the Nc
Emery resolution, including Senator Platt.
or Connecticut, We're absent, and Senator
Hawley's motion for reconsideration was
made after consultation with them. There
are very few instances on record in which
effort has been made to deviate from a
unanimous agreement, and there is little
doubt that Senator Mason will strenuously
resist this attempt.
An effort will probably be made Monday
70 dispose OF the contested nomination Of
Mr. Ewart to be judge of the Western dis
trlct OF North Carolina, and it is expected
that the Senate will go into executive ses-
sion early in the day for that purpose. Be
ginning at 4 o'clock on next Saturday
eulogies will be pronounced upon the late
Representative Simpkins, of Massachusetts,