The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-01

/ Washington, Jan. 31.-The bill to re-
organize and increase the standing
army to about 100000 men, but giving
the president authority to reduce the
size Of infantry companies and cavalry
troops to sixty men each, thus fixing a
minimum of about 81, 900 enlisted men.
passed the house today by a vote OF
1eS TO 12S. This was the result of a.
week of hard and often picturesque
lighting on the floor. during the pro-
sreSS OF which the opposition compelled
those in charge Of the measure to give
this discretionary authority to the
president, and to make other modifi-
cations, among which were a reduction
Of 331 in the number Of staff officers. In
consequence of these notifications. the
Republican opposition practically van
lShed, and on the final vote but six Re
pUblicans voted against the bill. Messrs.
Barber of Maryland. Connolly of Hi
nois. Loud of California. Johnson of In
diana, McEwan of New Jersey and
Wadsworth of New York.
This Republican detection was. how
ever, almost Offset by five members OF
the political opposition who voted in
favor of the bill. Messrs. Berry of Ken
lucky Mcclellan of New York. Nc
Aleer of Pennsylvania. Taylor of Ala
bama. and Skinner (POp) of North
Carolina
The galleries We're crowded through
out the day. and every member VINO
could possibly be there was on the floor
to record his vote on the final roll
call
Among the important amendments
adopted before the vote was taken to-
day was one to exclude the appoint
ment of civilians To positions in the en-
4
teens and the sale of iqUer in camps,
and one TO strike out the provision for
additional pay for commands serving
in the West Indies and Philippines and
Alaska. The amendment Of Mr.. Cum
mingS of New York TO prohibit the use
of troops in the several states to sup
press riots. etc. except upon the ap-
plicatiOn of the states. was defeated by
a large majority. The motion TO re-
commit, with instructions TO report
back the minority substitute olBy,
commanded two Republican votes, and
was lost. III to 10.
The bill as passed provides. in addi-
ton to the general officers and staff
departments. for twelve regiments Of
cavalry of twelve troops each. IA coast
batteries, twenty-four field batteries.
thirty regiments of infantry of twelve
companies each. a corps Of engineers
and one regiment Of engineers. an ord
nance department, a signal corps, the
latter with 625 enlisted men, 1t also
gives the president discretion to recruit
the organizations serving in Cuba,
Porto Rico and the islands of the Pa
cific. in whole or in part, from the in
habitants thereof
PAYMASTERS REDUCED.
When the house resumed work today
on the bill, section L, relating TO the
number of paymaster generals with the
rank of colonel provided in the bill was
reduced from four to three. with the
rank of lieutenant colonel from eight
to five, and paymasterS with the rank
Of major from forty-tive TO thirty five. o.
The age limit for appointments in this
department was reduced from fifty to
forty.
In the corps Of engineers the number
CT colonies was reduced from 10 TO $.
lieutenant colonies from 20 10 IS, majors
IS TO 80, captains Il 10 50, first lieu
tenants 30 to 40 and second lieutenants
90 TO 40.
Hr Bromwell CRep., n. " moved to
strike out the provision authorizing the
appointment of engineers from civil
fife The amendment was supported BY
Mr. Walker (Rep.. Mass.), but opposed
by Mr.. Marsh CRep.. Ills.), who favored
the appointment of officers from civil
life. and said the great engineer scheme
Of Eads was secuted by the regular
army officers.
Mr.. Dockery C8IO.) said the best re-
suits in government work had always
been obtained from army engineers.
NIr. Cannon CRep.. Ins) directed at
tention to the amendment Of Mr.. Cum
mings Dem. y. " yesterday gave
notice he would offer, 10 prevent the
use of United States troops as posse
conitatus or in putting down strikes or
riots, except upon the written applca-
ton of the governor of the state Inc
amendment. said Mr.. Cannon. proposed
to put it out Of the power of the preei-
dent. the constitution to the contrary
to enforce the law
within the territory Of any state unless
the governor appealed for help. 1t was
the duty of the president 10 enforce
the law. said Mr.. Cannon, who then re-
called the Chicago riots during the last
administration and the dispatch into
Illinois. without the assent of the gov
ernOr and against his protest. of Unit
ed States troops TO suppress the riots.
That action of President Cleveland had
been endorsed by the senate of the
United States. and the people every
where Had the proposed amendment
been law, the president would have
been prevented from enforcing the law.
The federal authority was and should
be supreme.
ATTITUDE OF LABOR.
Mr.. Cummings replied to Mr.. Cannon.
There was no question, he said, but that
organized labor. through the American
Federation OF Labor and the Knights
of Labor. had condemned the effort to
Increase the standing army to 100000.
There was no question that the reason
for their action was the fact that the
standing army might be used unconstt-
tutiOnally to suppress them.
Now" he continued. If you do mean
to do il. say SO; if you do not, adopt
this provision
The gentleman from Illinois, he said,
had referred TO the action of Governor
Altgeld. but he failed 10 refer to Gen
eral Palmer. who bad denounced the
action of the president for sending
troops into the state over the protect