The record-union., 1899-02-01
Adopted, After a Hard Weeks Battle, on
M Almost Strict Party Lines.
Provides for an Increase in the
Standing Army to About One
Hundred Thousand Men, Giving
the President Discretionary
Authority to Reduce the Size of
Companies So the Minimum
Would Be Fifty Thousand.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 31.-The bill to
reorganize and increase the standing
army to about 100000 men, but giving
dhe President authority to reduce the
size of infantry companies and cavalry
troops to sixty men each, thus liking
minimum of about $4,000 enlisted men,
passed the Houses to-day by vote OF
16S to 125. This was the result of
week of hard and often picturesque
fighting on the floor, during the pro-
gress of which the, opposition compelled
those in charge of the measure to give
this discretionary authority to the
President, and to make other modlnca-
tions, among which were a reduction
OF 331 in the number of staff officers
In consequence of these notifications,
the Republican opposition practically
vanished, and on the finaa vote but SIX
Republicans voted against the bill
Messrs Barber MD, Connolly Gid,
Loud (Cal), Johnson Qnd), McEwen
On. j. and Wadsworth IN. V Thls
Republication detection was, however,
almost offset by five members of the
political opposition who voted in favor
of the bill-Messrs. Berry (Ky), Nc
Clellan On. V, McAleer (Pa.), Taylor
9Ala), Democrats, and Skinner On. Co..
Populist.
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 to-day included pro-
vision for two hours of general debate,
which was to be occupied by Messrs
Dalzell of Pennsylvania and Hopkins of
Illinois, in closing for the majority, and
Messrs Bailey of Texas and Settle OF
Kentucky for the opposition. But this
programme was smashed, owing to the
failure to complete the debate under
the five-m minute rule before o'clock,
the hour set for the vote.
Among the important amendments
adopted before the vote was taken to-
day was one to exclude the appoint
.nent of civilians to positions in the en-
gineer corps. one to abolish canteens
and the sale of liquor in camps, and one
to strike out the provision for addi-
tional pay for commands serving in the
West Indies and Philippines and
Alaska.
The amendment of Cummings of New
York to prohibit the use of troops in
the several States TO suppress IlOlS
ETC., except upon the application of the
States, was defeated by a large major
ity. The motion to recommit with in
structions to report back the minority
substitute only commanded two Repub
lican votes, and was lost.
The bill as passed, provides, in add
ton to the general office and staff de-
partments for twelve regiments of cav
airy of twelve troops each, IA coast
batteries. twenty four field batteries.
thirty regiments of infantry of twelve
companies each, corps of engineers
and one regiment Of engineers, an ord
nance department, a signal corps, the
latter with 625 men. 1t also gives the
President discretion to recruit the or
CARNATIONS serving in Cuba, Porto
Rico and the islands of the Pacific in
whole or in part from the inhabitants
thereof
Before the House adjourned to-day
the River and Harbor bill was formally
called up, in order to make it the un
finished business in the committee of
the whole.
When the House resumed work on the
bill to-day Section II, relating to the
Pay Department, had been reached.
The number of Paymaster- Generals
with the rank of Colonel provided in
with the rank of aforementioned
from eight to five, and Paymaster with
the rank of Major from fortyseven to