Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1899-02-02
ARMY BILL PASSES,
HOUSE ADOPTS HuLL's REoRGAn,-
ZATlON PLAN.

President Authorized to Keep the Stand
ing Army Down to SO, 900 If He Sees Fit.
But Six Republicans Vote Against the
Measure-senate Continues Debate.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1.-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 60 men each, thus fixing minimum
OF about $4,000 enlisted men, passed the
house Tuesday, by vote of 1853 to 1876.
This was the result of week of hard
and often picturesque fighting on the
floor, during the progress of which the
opposition compelled those IN charge of
the measure to give this discretionary
authority to the president and to make
other notifications, among which were
reduction of 331 in the number of
staff officers. In consequence of these
notifications, the Republican opposition
practically vanished and on the final
vote but six Republicans voted against
the bill, Messrs. Barber (Md.), Con-
molly (lllsD, Loud (Cal.), johnson
(lnd.), McEwan IN. j. and Wads-
worth IN. W. This Republican de-
Election, however, was almost offset by
five members of the political opposition
who voted in favor of the bill, Me.-rs
Berry (Ky.), Mcclellan IN. ", Nc
Aleer (Pa.), Taylor (Ala.), Democrats,
and Skinner On. o., Populist. The
galleries were crowded throughout the
day and every member who could pos.
sibly be there was Oh the floor to record
his vote on the final roll call. The pro-
gram included provision for two hours
OF general debate, which was to be oc-
cupied by Messrs. Dalzell and Hop.
kins in closing for the majority,
and Messrs. Bailey and Settle for
the opposition. But this program was
smashed, owing to the failure to COM
plete the bill under the 5-minute rule
before 3 o'clock, the hour set for the
vote. Among the important amend
ments adopted before the vote was taken
was one to exclude the appointment of
civilians to positions in the engineer
corps, one to abolish canteens and the
sale OF liquors in camps, and one to
strike out the provision for additional
pay for commands serving in the West
Indies, the Philippines and Alaska.
The amendment Of Mr.. Cummings IN.
" to prohibit the use of troops in the
several states to suppress riots, etc., ex-
cept upon the application of the states,
was defeated by a large majority. The
motion to recommit, with instructions
to report back the minority substitute,
only commanded two Republican votes,
and was lost-117 to ITO. The bill as
passed provides, in addition to the gen.
eral officers and staff departments, for
10 regiments of cavalry of 10 troops
each, IA coast batteries, "a field bat.
teries, 80 regimente of infantry of IL
companies each, a corps of engineers
and one regiment of engineers, and ord
nance department and signal corps,
the latter with 625 enlisted men. It
also gives the president discretion to re-.
cruit the organizations serving in Cuba,
Porto Rico and the islands of the Pa.
cific in whole or in part from the inhab-
itants thereof. Before the house ad-
journed the river and harbor bill was
formally called up in order to make it
the unfinished business in the commit
tee Of the whole.
Senate Continues Debate on Expansion
WASHINGTON, Feb. During almost
the entire morning hour Tuesday the
senate had under discussion the policy
OF this country to be pursued in the Phil
ippine islands. Mr.. Berry, in speech
upon the resolution offered by Mr.. Vest,
discussed the policy of expansion with
out reference to the constitutional
| point involved in the Vest resolution.
He spoke from notes, stating his objec-
lions to the pending treaty of peace. He
declared that he would never vote to
place upon any people policy against
which. Lee fought and against which
jackson gave up his life.
The reading of the treaty correspond
ence submitted by the president con-
sumed the entire executive session. The
principal interest among the senators
attached to the presidents instructions
to insist upon the cession of the island
of Luzon and after that in the decision
to take the entire group of islands. This
latter development appeared from the
correspondence to be growth, and the
suggestion was made by the commits
sioners to the president as the result of
occurrences at Paris after the arrival
there of the commissioners. The pres
ldent does pot appear to have at any
time given explicit instructions to con-
summate the bargain by taking all the
Philippines, but rather to have left the
matter to the discretion of the COM
missioners
| Senate Passes Pension Bill.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28.-Particular in
terest was manifested in the senate
Friday in brief speech delivered by
Senator T. G. Platt IN. ~ on the gen.
eral subject of expansion. Mr. Plat
took for his text the anti-expansion reso-
luton offered by Mr.. Vest. A pleasing,
though quiet vein of humor ran through
the speech, sharply pointing his state
ments. He took strong ground for the