Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-24
TOO MUCH JOHNSON
The Indiana Member Turns Himself
Loose in the House.
ADMINISTRATION BITTERLY ATTACKED
Associates Amazed at His Utter
anceS.
ENATE MEETS RLY

Immediately after the reading of the
| was reached to limit general debate on the
| army appropriation bill to five hours. The
House then went into committee Of the
whole and entered upon the consideration
of that measure, Mr.. Hopkins Qll) in the
chair.
Mr.. Hull, chairman of the military COM
mfttee, in charge of the measure, made a
general explanation of the bill, which pro-
vided for 100000 men, for which the bill
carried s79,O3S,000. In addition, Mr.. Hull
said an amendment appropriating $4,000
for ordnance would be offered. He ex-
pressed his dissent with the opinion that
there would be deficiency in the appro
priations for the army If the bill passed,
but even If this should be the case, a small
deficiency, he argued, would be batter than
a surplus. The committee, he said, pro-
vided 100000 to feed the Cubans during
the next year, although Mr.. Hull gave it
as his personal opinion that the supplies for
the Cubans should cease after June 30 Eext
Mr.. HuIrs Statement.
After completing his statement, Mr.. Hull
had read at the clerks desk a copy of the
compromise army reorganization bill.
Briefly he explained that it proposed an
army Of 62,000 native Americans for two
years and 5000 volunteers for the same
period. Practically the compromise created
the organization upon which the pending
approximation bill was framed. 50 that
there could be no criticism of it on the
score that 1t was excessive. So far as he
was concerned, he said. he would not have
accepted the compromise at the dictation
of q minority.
This statement was greeted with scatter
ing applause from the republican side He
believed the majority had the right to
rule.
Mr.. johnson Creates a Sensation.
Mr.. Johnson Und), who distinguished
himself by his vigorous opposition to the
army reorganization bill while it was be-
fore the House, secured thirty minutes in
| which he delivered a most remarkable and
sensational speech, arraigning the admins
tration in bitter terms for its alleged fmpe-
realistic program.
1t was carefully prepared and read from
manuscript, quite contrary to Mr.. John
sons usual custom.
He referred in opening to the recent ham
quet at Boston, attended by the President
ard members of his cabinet. He paid his
respects to Secretary Alger, who, he said
had been retained in the cabinet despite his
incompetency on account of his coutribu-
lions to the campaign fund in 1885, Secre-
tary Long also came in for mis- share of
irony. He had the audacity Mr.. Johnson
SAID, to repeat the baseless charge that
these opposed to ratification were respon-
sible for the blood in the Philippines.
AS Mr.. johnson proceeded his remarka BILE
utterances fairly amazed members of the
House, who gathered in the aisles to listen.
Outstanding with the sword and civiliz-
Ing with cannon he declared, was the ad-
miniStration' S-polcy
The Presidents speech at the Boston han
quet, Mr.. Johnson declared, was the most
disingenuous that ever fell from the lips
Of chief executive.
Apart from its platitudes and profess
sions Of virtue, it was" he said, "a care
fully devised and StlldiOJlS miSSa of
facts"
Proceeding. the sensation Mr.. Johnson
was creating increased as he likened the
President to PeckSniff. If he really felt
that Congress should determine upon the
future Of the Philippines, he asked, why did
not the President call Congress In extra
session and then keep his hands off? He
charged that the President coerced the Sem
ate into ratifying the treaty, since he would
not permit vote on the Bacon resolution
and allowed the McEnery resolution which
meant nothing. to pass in order to lull the
opposition of the country to sleep while he
went ahead waging relentless war against
| helpless people struggling for liberty.
How the two-thirds vote to ratify the
treaty was secured. Mr. johnson said, only
the President could tell. The people did
not Endorse the action Of the Senate. If
the President could hush the noise of self
seekers about him he would hear not the
to enforce his crusade against liberty, but
the murmurings of the mighty army of
American people, who would overthrow him
in the end
Demands of Capitalists.
The true cause Of the Presidents change
of attitude toward the Philippines, Mr.
Johnson declared, was to be found in the
demands of selfish capitalists. They were
the gentlemen, he said, who furnished the
money for his nomination and election and
he had no doubt they had already pledged
him ra-e1eotinn
He charged that these men had already
seized valuable concessions in China which
the acquisition of the Philippines would
benefit. Vast concessions had already been
granted in Porto Rico and Cuba, he said,
and he had no doubt the board created by
the President would farm out valuable
franchises to Americans which properly be-
longed to the natives of those islands.
The House Highly Excited.
The House had been keyed up to a high
pitch of excitement during Mr.. Johnson's
speech. But throughout it's delivery there
had been 10 Interruptions, although men,
bers on both sides listened atentively as
the terrible arraignment of the admins
tration flowed from the lips of the fiery In
dianan.
AS he took his seat Mr.. Hamilton CMich.)
arose and excitedly asked for the reading
of the Presidents Boston speech.
81 am perfectly wiling said Mr.. John
son. II want it read and printed in the
Record"
1.-THE people have already read his
speech" shouted Mr.. Hamilton.
Eyes. and they will damn him for it."
retorted Mr. Johnson.
Mr.. Settle (KyD followed Mr.. Johnson
with a speech against Imperialism. He
knew Of no principle upon which we could
set ourselves up as universal ku-ktux
clan for the regulation of the morals Of
the world.
Gould we now sail away and leave the
Filipiuos in chaos?' asked Mr.. Ray (N.Y).
I'VE must do 1t IL to do otherwise would
mean the surrender of the public honor
and the public faith
SENATE.
Ten senators were on the floor today
when theSenate convened at IL am. Among
the bills passed were the following: Grant
ing right of way to the Pensacola and
Northwestern Railroad Company over and