Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-02-23

Washington, Feb, 2s.--The discus
sion on the HullHawley army bin was
begun in the senate. Mr.. Warren (rep.,
WyoD supported the measure and
MesSrs. Mitchell and Cockroll (demsl
opposed 1t, while NJ. Proctor
(rcp., VIZ addressed the senate IN
favor of some amendments which he
proposed, All OF the speakers are
members of the committee on military
affairs. Cockrell spoke definitely for
the opposition to the army bill. He
declared in so many worus that the
Hull-Hawley bill could not become 4
law at this session. He and those who
STOOD with him were willing To give
the president all the men and every
man he desired, but they were deter
mined that no great standing army
should be fastened upon the country
without a full and free discussion
which, he said, could not be had in ,ne
10 remaining days of the session.
MIR, Mitchell (dem., Wis., in the
course OF his speech criticised the Hull
bill. He said that the only material
change from the present system was in
the artillery, He took up the details
of the bill outlining his objections to
the arguments in favor of them one by
one. He advocated change in the
organization of the staff Of the army
as very neCessar! reform, and Crit-
cised the committee for not including
provision on this point. The bin was
also defective, he said, IN failing to ar
range the status of the adjutant gen
cral toward the commanding general.
Mr. Mitchell conteuded that much OF
the discord in the army at present was
due to the lack of a clear understands
ing of these relations. He limited at
the opinion chat the increase pro
posed was due to tue suggestion of
army officers, and said that he would
no more accept their views on this
point than he would toreador on the
morality OF bull-hghting. So far it
was matter of mere conjecture of
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 that
there should be a few more troops in
this country but in providing this in
crease he would coniine it to the
United States proper and not extend ii
to the United States improper.
The postoilice appropriation bill was
passed after Il brief debate.
Mr.. Pettgrew rep., S. ID presented
resolutions from the legislature OF
south Dakota urging the senators of
that state to support the treaty OF
peace. Commenting on the resolutions
Mr.. Pettigrew said that he denied the
right of the legislature to instruct him,
although he was always glad to hear
from the body The present legisla
ture," said he, is the third since | was
elected senator the last time. In one
a resolution was passed endorsing the
lrcc coinage OF silver. Both houses OF
The next legislature passed similar
resolution The present legislature is
in favor OF gold standard. II | un
dertake to follow the course laid down
by the legislature | will be on every
side OF almost every public question.
The house bill Withdrawing from en-
try and sale and granting the state Of
Wisconsin certain lands was passed
The house bin appropriating $4,000
900 to be paid Spain was referred to
the committee on appropriations,
House.
Washington, FEB. 22.-The house
reached the last page of the naval bill
and adjourned with a point of order
pending against the provision fixing
the price OF armor plate at $545 per
ton. Much time was occupied in de-
batting the amendment approprlatlng
100000 to complete three building
authorized TO be erected at the naval
academy at Annapolis. The naval
committee opposed proceeding with tho
work Of rehabilitating the naval acad-
envy until comprehensive plans had
been decided upon, but the house over
ruled the committee and adopted The
amendment. Two important proys-
ions in the paragraph providing for the
construction Of new ships went out on
points Of order. One provided that nor
more than two battleships, two arm
ored and Two protected cruisers should
be built at any one yard and the other
provided that no bid for the construc-
ton Of ships should be entertained
from any firm or company which had
not at the time Of bidding an adequate
plant. The house then adjourned.