Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-02-02
ARMY BILL PASSED.
The Measure to Increase the Army
4 Z Gets Through the House,
SPEECHES IN SENATE on EXPANSION
The Entire MorniDg Hour Taken Up In Dis.
Cussing the Policy 10 10 Pursued In
the Philippine I.Is nds-No Ac-
tiOn ON Resolutions

| NooHink VIII ECOs uC Vial w AC-
organize and increase the standing
army to about 100. 900 men, but giving
the president authority to reduce the
size Of infantry companies and cavalry
troops TO so men each, thus fixing .
minimum OF about 50. 900 enlisted men,
passed the house yesterday BY vote
of 1853 TO 1876 This was the result Of
a week Of hard and often pictu rescue
fighting on the floor, during the pro-
gress Of which the opposition COM
PEELED those in charge Of the measure
to give this discretionary authority
to the president and to make other
notifications, among which were
a reduction Of 1871 in the number of
staff officers. In consequence Of these
notifications, the republican opposi-
ton practically vanished and on the
final vote but six republicans voted
against the bill, Messrs. Barber, of
Maryland; Connolly, Of Illinois; Loud,
of California; Johnson, OF Indiana;
McEwan. OF New Jersey, and Wads-
worth, of New York. This repub-
lican DETECTION was, however, almost
Offset by i've members Of the political
opposition who voted in favor Of the
bill, Messrs. Berry, Of Kentucky; Nc
Clellan, Of New York; McAleer, Of
Pennsylvania; Taylor, of Alabama,
democrats and Skinner, populist, Of
North Carolina.
The galleries were crowded through
out the day and every member who
could possibly be there was on the
floor to record his vote on the final
roll call. The programme yesterday
included provision for two hours Of
general debate, which was to he occu-
pied by Messrs Dalzell, OF Pennsyl-
vania, and Hopkins, of Illinois, in
closing for the majority, and Messrs.
Bailey, of Texas, and Settle, of Ken
lucky, for the opposition. But this
programme was smashed, owing to
the failure to complete the bill under
the fve-minute rule before three
o'clock, the hour set for the vote.
Among the important amendments
adopted before the vote was taken yes.
terday was one to exclude the appoint
ment of civilians to positions in the
engineer corps; one to abolish canteens
and the sale of liquor in camps, and
one to strike out the provision for ad-
ditonal pay for commands serving in
the West Indies, the Philippines and
Alaska. The amendment of Mr.. Cum
mngs, of New York, to prohibit the use
Of troops in the several states to sup.
press riots, ETC., except upon the appli.
cation Of the states, was defeated by a
large majority. The motion to recon.
init with instructions to report back
the minority substitute only CON-
manded two republican votes and was
lost, III to 20.
The bill, as passed, provides, in ad-
dition to the general officers and staff
departments, for .12 regiments of
cavalry of II troops each, IA coast
batteries, "a field batteries, 80 regi-
ments Of infantry of 10 companies each,
a corps of engineers and one regiment
of engineers, an ordnance department,
a signal corps, the latter with 625 en-
listed men. Italso gives the president
discretion to recruit the organizations
serving in Cuba, Porto Rico and the
islands OF the Pacific in whole or in
part from the inhabitants thereof
Before the house adjourned the river
and harbor bill was formally called
up in order to make 1t the unfinished
business in the committee of the whole.
SPEECHES FOR AND AGAINST EXPANSION.
Washington, Feb. 1.-During almost
the entire morning hour yesterday
the senate had under discussion the
policy Of this country to be pursued in
the Philippine islands Senator Berry,
Of Arkansas, in speech upon the reso-
luton offered by Senator Vest, dis
cussed the policy Of expansion with
out reference to the constitutional
point involved in the Vest resolution
He declared that he would never vote
to place upon any people policy
against which Lee fought aud against
which jackson gave up his life. An
attempt by Senator Bacon, of Georgia,
to secure vote upon his resolution,
which, in brief, declares that the
United States government will not
make war upon people seeking for
their freedom, precipitated lively
debate which was participated in by
Senator Platt, Of Connecticut, and
Senator Teller, Of Colorado. Senator
Bacon declared he would not vote for
the treaty unless some such declara.
ton were adopted by congress. No
action on the resolutions was taken.
Senators Gray and Money occupied
the entire executive session OF the sem
ate yesterday in speeches on the peace
treaty, Senator Gray favoring ratifica.
ton and Senator Money opposing it
60
Two Tragedies at st. Joseph.
st. Joseph, Mo-, Feb. 1.-Charles
Penn, aged As, and married, was killed