The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-26

.
at l o'clock, began the consideration
of the compromise army reorganization
bill. Until q short time before the
measure was taken up it was supposed
it would be passed today without Sc
rious difficulty, but when it was learned
by some senators that the bill provided
for a permanent increase in the stand
ing army, objections were heard, and
it became evident that the measure
would have to run the gauntlet Of
sharp criticism
Mr.. German CDem., Md declared
that no authorization of a permanent
increase in the army should be given
and prepared an amendment as fol-
lows: ssRs
In that each and every provision Of
this act shall continue in force until
July l, 1901, and on and after this date,
the officers and men, including general
officers and staff officers, shall be re-
stored to rank and numbers as pro-
vided for by law prior to April 1, 1898,
except the cadets appointed prior to
July l, 1901, and except as provided for
in the act to authorize two additional
regiments OF artillery, approved March
s. 1895"
Mr.. Hawley, chairman of the mill
tary affairs committee, then called up
the compromise army reorganization
bill. At the conclusion of the reading
OF the Dllls MI GOIlildu VI MAI NldDu
suggested to Mr.. Hawley the desirable
ity of permitting the bill TO go over to
Monday:
Mr.. Allison of Iowa suggested that
a time for a vote early on Monday
should be agreed upon at this time.
Some effort was made to fix an hour
Monday for a vote, but without sue
cess.
Mr. Cockren of Missouri, a. member
of the military affairs committee, dis
cussed at length the features of the
measure. This measure said he,
has been examined very carefully. L
endorse it because it is right, just,
proper and necessary. It settles for
years to come the standing army con-
troversy."
Further along in his analysis of the
bill Mr.. COckreI said the increase in
the army provided for by the bill was
perfectly justifiable and absolutely
essential In response to a question
by Mr.. Vest, he said that the army,
after 1901, would be reduced to IS, 400,
and that number would be required to
take care of the coast Notifications. In
conclusion. Mr.. Cockrell said:
If we have a bill here which will
adjust the army controversy for years
to come, we ought to accept it 1t is
not prodigal Of the peoples money. 1
have been on several commissions and
committees for the reorganization of
the army, and / believe honestly and
conscientiously that this is the very
best measure presented to congress for
settling the army question since L en-
tered this chamber in 1875. If the bill
fails, my judgment is that what Will
come hereafter will not be so good for
the country. I believe the bill is right
in the sight of God and man, and Pm
willing 10 take all responsibility for
it
AZ. IIo1-la1- Offorad an sr,,an dy,,an-
providing that no person who has
reached the age of 40 years shall be
appointed as a field officer in said
force Cthe volunteer force), officers of
the regular army excepted"
ATTACKED BY ALLEN.
Mr.. Allen of Nebraska addressed the !
senate in opposition to the general fea- !
lures OF the bill He was surprised !
that Mr.. CockrelI could give his sane !
ton to such a measure. If there was |
a hideous skeleton, a monstrosity, a !
deformity in legislation, this bill is /
one he declared. 1t is warped, dis |
jointed, dislocated; it lacks science, it |
lacks conference, it lacks good sense.
Il am not concerned in this delight |
full fight now going on between the |
secretary of war and the general COM
handing the army. l honor General |
Miles in that fight. Every intelligent |
man in the country believes that our
army was fed on trash, and that a
large percentage of the sickness and |
mortality in the army was due TO the |
Iood given to the soldiers"
Passing from the army troubles Mr..
Allen adverted to some in the navy.
He regarded it as a glorious thing that
Admiral Dewey had the presence Of
mind TO cut the cable between him
self and Washington, and that it was
fortunate for Dewey he was in a posi-
Ton TO sever connection with Washing
ton.
Then, too" said Mr.. Allen. I'VE
have the controversy over the two rear
admirals in the navy. Whether the
man VINO fought the battle resulting in
the destruction Of CerVera'S fleet and
won il snail have the laUrels Of vic
tory, or whether they snail go to
man who was ten miles away, seems a
subject Of controversy by the navy de-
partment.
The American people, 100000 Of
honest hearts and souls. viii always be-
lieve that Schley was the hero of that
battle and won that battle, and I am
not detracting anything from the SER
vice Of Admiral Sampson, who, if he
had been there, would have acquitted
himself 'nobly This seems to be a
game of battledore and shuttlecock, and
over in the navy department they are
shedding more ink than blood"
GORMAN'S POSITION.
1T shall not be said OF me-" said Mr..
German, that 1 would hamper the ad-
ADMINISTRATION in any respect. 1t shall
have all the men ard all the money to
dispose OF the conditions at hand that
II may need
Mr.. German said that if one pro
viso We're contained in the bill, TO the !
effect that at the expiration Of two :
years the army should again be re- :
duced 10 a peace footing Of 1000 men, ;
he would agree 20 it :
But whatever the conditions may !
be, he continued, with the acceptance
OF the proviso, / suggest you viii have !,
an army OF 100000 men until four !.
m 6lths after the term Of President Nc !
l<inley shall have expired. The meas
dre VIII give him greater power than ?
president ever had 1t is a tender of / .
greater power than was ever made in =
similar circumstances
Mr.. Hawiey mas asked who was afraid :
Of large standing army. ;
In reply. AIR. German said that every :
state IN the Union was AFRAID of it. He q
(Adr. Gcrman) was afraid of il himself.
Such an institution was contrary TO the +
spirit Of our affairs !;
He recalled the time when in 1876 ;
troops were summoned to Washington
at the time Of he Hayes-TiIder1 con-
troversy I remember inc ouiaf init
e l. I