The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-22

Washington, Feb 21.-Formal discus
sion of the Hull-Hawley army reor-
ganization bill was begun in the SEN
ate this afternoon Mr. Hawley and
Mr.. Warren, Republicans. supported
the measure, and Mr.. Mitchell and Mr..
Cockrel, Democrats, opposed it, while
Mr. Proctor Republican, addressed the
senate in favor of some amendments
which he had proposed to the bill. All
me speakers are members of the COM
mittee on military affairs. MIR. Cock
reIl's speech, though brief was particu-
larry notable, as he spoke definitely for
the opposition TO the army bill. he de-
ciared practically IN So many words
that the Hull-Hawley bill could not
become 4 law at this session. lie ana
those who stood with him were Will
ing to give the president all the money
and every man he desired, but they
were determined that no great standing
army should fastened upon the coun-
try without full ana free discussion.
The postoffice appropriation bill was
passed today, Mr.. Butler IN. c. and
Mr.. Pettigrew Is. d. having con-
Guided their speeches.
Mr.. Hawley was recognized to speak
on the army reorganization bill and as
he proceeded was given very close at
tention. He said he did not see how
anybody could have voted against tax
ing UP the biz, for it was evident to all
that something must be done 10
strengthen the presidents arm lie
thought there could be no doubt that
Tie Spanish cortes would ratify the
peace treaty within the next two or
three days. With this proceeding con-
ciuded and the exchange completed, the
army necessarily must be reduced TO
Its original dimensions of $4,000, unless
some law ShOuld he pnacrad
Even Mr.. COckrel was willing to
ccncede large army. For this the
counuy should be duly thankful, but
for himself he could not sanction the
proposition to create large forces of
native troops as proposed by the Cock
relI bill He contended that the Fill
pines were a revolutionary people and
prophesled that Il native force would
Join Aguinaldo within tWenty-four
hours after It's organization Hence he
predicted = grand and calamitous fall
ure of such an experience. Mr.. HaW- /
ley wanted an army OF Americans en-
tirely. The president could be trusted !
The responsibilities are ours and we
should accept them before God al the !
world.
CRITICISED BY MITCHELL.
Mir. Mitchell ONis). also member
OF the military committee, followed Mr. |
Hawley. He criticised the Hull bill, |
saying that it was not, as claimed, a J
reorganization bill, as the only ma
terial change in the present system was /
in the artillery. He then took up va
rlous details of the bill, outlining his |
objections 10 or arguments in favor of !
them, one by one. He advocated d
change in the organization in the staff
OF the army as very necessary reform,
crlticisinS the committee for not in
Guiding a provision on this point. The
bill was also defective in falling to ar
range the status of the adjutant gen
eral toward the commanding general
Mr. Mitchell cOntended that much of
the discord in the army at present was
due TO a lack of a clear understanding
of these relations. Mr.. Mitchell limited
at the opinion that the increase pro-
posed was due to the suggestion of the
army officers and said he would no more
accept their views on this point than
he would d toreador on the morality
of bull-fightng.
So far it was Il matter Of mere con-
lecture how many soldiers would be
needed in the Philippines, Cuba and
Porto Rico. AS for himself he would
have no one in those countries to shoot
our ideas into an alien people. He
agreed there should be a few more
troops in this country. but in providing
for this increase he would confine ii to
the United States proper and not ex-
tend it to the United States improper"
This remark caused a burss Of laugh
ter on the Democratic side of the
chamber, ana with il Mr.. Mitchell con-
cluded his talk.
Mr. Proctor (Nt) was about to pro-
coed when Nj. CockTeli suggested the
absence Of a quorum, thus giving notice
TO the Republicans that if they would
do business on the army bill they would
have to keep a sufficient number of
Mr.. Proctor, a member Of the mill /
tary affairs committee. offered his s
proposed yesterday Mr.. I
Proctor said that if the present bill be :
came a law Nc proper reorganization of r
the army could be expected for twenty !
five years. Under the present system :
there was 4 constant scramble 10 get :
out Of the fighting branch of the ser 7
vice and into the star. a scramble, :
which. he said, was unseemly The Off =
Ger with the strongest pull and the I
greatest political influence was able to =
gain his point. z
WYOMING MILITARY EXPERT. J
Mr. Warren CWyo). Il member Of the y
military affairs committee, delivered a ! +
carefully prepared speech, largely tech :
meal in its nature, il the course Of +
which he cOntrasted the Hull-HawIes, h
bill, and also termed as a -'makeshift'i n
the blll Outitu IN -if. 1DckgeIl. he a
felt that the Hull-Hawley measure n
ought TO be passed without delay. He
tie day was past when an
army Of $4,000 was sufficient for the
needs of the country. The seacoast for
ifications alone require y 600 and quite r
IS many more men were required for
irmy duty on the frontiers This. too
aside from the men now needed in our
lew island possessions. He declared al
hat the regular army seemed to be re-
,arded by some as almost a pesfilence
ather than a thing TO be supported G.
lie thought il not too much that this 81
laIion support as soldiers four men in ~
ach 5000 of the population of the Il
ountry. He declared that the toilers p
nd taxpayers were not protesting ,.
gainst proper army bill. and that n
hey would not forgive those who pro l.
,osed TO leave the president without m
efficient army force.
COCKRELL'S POSITION. p
Mr.. Cockrell, the leading Democratic +,
member of the military affairs commit ii
&c. agreed that reorganization of the A,
rrly was absolutely necessary It was d.
vident, he said. that either the organ
,ation was deficient or the officers were Al
lefficient. MIR. Cockrell declared there al
-as not sufficient time in the ten re- 5,