The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-02-03
Senator Davis Called the Oppo-
sition Bluff on the Peace
Treaty.
EAGAN COURT-M MARTIAL
Will Not Be Made Known Until Re-
viewed by President-Hull
Bill Being Discussed.
Special Correspondence Of The Gazette.

Special Correspondence Of The Gazette.
Washington, Jan. 80. ~ Senator
Davis promptly called the opposition
bluff, by asking the unanimous con-
sent of the senate to vote IN the treaty
of peace February 6, and the opposi-
tion having committed itself could do
nothing but agree. The treaty will be
ratified with votes to spare, as it is
known that a number of senators who
promised Senator German their aid in
trying to get the treaty amended
will vote for ratification. So this is
likely to be another instance of the
buffer being beat at his own game.
The finding Of the Eagan court
martial, will not be made public until
it has been reviewed by President
Mckinley. General Eagan pleaded
not guilty, although acknowledging
that he used the language upon which
the charge Of conduct u~nbecoming an
officer and a gentleman is based, and
asked immunity under the presidents
promise that no witness before the wal
Investigating commission should be
punished for his testimony. The
plea is not regarded as a valid one, be-
cause abuse Of his superior officer is
not considered testimony.
The house is having quite a lively
time discussing the Hull bill for the
increase Of the regular army, which
is to be voted upon next Tuesday. 1t
will certainly be passed. The demo-
Gratis have been saying some
very foolish things about the
danger Of a nation Of $4,000, 900
people having a standing army Of 100,-
900 men, and m republican-John-
SOD, of Ind.-has agreed with them.
Mr.. johnson is the same man who
was so roundly Missed last spring, for
making a speech against the war with
Spain. He seems to be n of those
peculiarly constituted individuals who
enjoys belonging to a party and differ
ing with it and its leaders upon all i'm
portant questions. He is M of the
best orators in the house, but his con-
%stituents have not appreciated his
ability. as he will retire to private
life at the expiration Of this congress.
A man who cannot talk SO we'll, but
who will act better will make a better
representative.
Representative Clark, Of Iowa, who
has introduced a bill providing that no
polygamist shall be allowed to be a
member of either branch of congress. is
very much in earnest in his efforts to
get action upon his bill, which is now
in the hands of the house Judiciary
committee. The bill is especially
! aimed at Representative-elect Roberts,
of Utah, and Mr.. Clark insists that
now is the time to pass the bill, be-
cause it can be done without any ele-
ment of retroactive legislation. In
answer to the argument that his bill,
if enacted into a law, would be un-
constitutional. Mr.. Clark said: III
congress cannot constitutionally exclude
polygamous Roberts by statue now, il
coul not constitutionally make the en-.
abling act, by the acceptance of which
Utah came into the Union. and which
places polygamy and polygamists outside
of the federal relation, but impossible
inside of it.
Representative Mcclellan, Of. New
York, one of the democrats Of the
house who are supporting the Hull bill
for the increase of the regular army, il
a speech in favor of that measure paid
a high and deserved tribute to the
regular soldier, ending with this quota
ton:
"And to God be the thanks
For the men in the ranks,
Let the line be black or white;
For the men at arms who stand OF
guard,
And keep the flag in sight"
Senator Lodge received many con
gratulations, all thoroughly we'll de
served, for his, straight-from-the-shou
der speech in favor of immediate 1atifi
cation Of the treaty Of peace. No quo
tation can do justice to the speech, bu'
it's keynote may be found in the fol
lowing, uttered after declaring that thu
only question now before congress ani
the people demanding actual and imme
diate settlement was whether TIT
treaty should be ratified or not, ant
that the treaty committed us to III
policy or course Of action towards thu
Philippines: "When that treaty il
ratified, we have full power and arr
absolutely free to do with those islands
as we please; and the opposition to it,
ratification may be summed mp in
single sentence, that the American
people and the American congress ar.
not to no trusted with that power anf