The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-02-28
ARMY BILL.
The Measure Passes Both
Houses of Congress.

NdSLlllS ION, req, El.-AIIer a contest
that will be memorable in the history
of the Senate, the compromise army
reorganization bill was passed this
evening at 40 o'clock, by vote of
IL o'clock this morning it seemed more
than likely that the bill might not be
passed during the day. Mr.. German
of Maryland insisted that his amend
ment providing that the army should
not be increased permanently or beyond
July I, 1901, be incorporated in the
measure. For several hours it appeared
probable that his insistence at least
would throw the bill over until tomor-
row and perhaps defeat it. An agree
ment was reached finally, however,
and Mr.. Germans amendment, in a
slightly modified form, was accepted.
At the opening of the Senate Mr..
Chandler of New Hampshire offered an
amendment to the naval appropriation
bill authorizing the president to APP
point two vice-admirals of the navy,
who shall not be placed on the retired
list until eight years after the passage
Of the bill, except upon the applica-
ton of the holder of the offices; the
offices to cease to exist when vacated
by death or Otherwise. This bill is in
tended to advance AdmiralS Sampson
and Schley.
At the conclusion of the morning
business. consideration was resumed of
the army reorganization bill
Mr.. Kenney of Delaware offered
amendments to the pending bill pro-
viding for the creation of a veterinary
corps to consist of q chief veterinary
officer with rank, pay and allowance OF
a colonel to ten veterinaries each with
rank, pay and allowances of a first
lieutenant of cavalry and 20 veterinaries
each with the rank, pay and allow
ances of a second lieutenant Of cavalry
Mr.. Kenney made a brief technical
speech in support of his amendment.
Mr. Vest antagonized the bill. He
declared his belief that the war de.
partment in the Philippines was moi
being conducted with the idea of Civ.
ing the Fllipinos self government. a
believe" he said that this govern.
ment is to take the Philippines as al
indemnity for the war with Spain.
On behalf of the military committee
| Mr.. Cockrell suggested several amend.
ments to the army reorganization bill
among them being one striking out the
| language fixing the minimum in com
panies of the vario branches of tht
| service.
Another amendment extends the agt
| limit of persons to be appointed to tn,
positions of judge advocate, paymaste
and chaplain to A years, the bill as re
| ported fixing the age at 40. AT the in
stance of Mr. German, he also moved
an amendment relieving appointees t.
these offices from tue requirement t
pass civil service examination il
cases in which the applicants ha,
| served in the war with Spain. Thes
amendments were accepted.
| Mr.. Cockrell offered the following
amendment to section IA, which wa
agreed to: That, for each regular ar
my officer of a staff, corps or depart
ment, or who may be retained in 0
appointed to a higher volunteer RAM
in said staff corps or department, thai
that actually held by bin in the regu
! lar establishments, 7here may be ap
pointed one officer Of volunteers Of tn
lowest grade mentioned in this section
for such staff corps or department, blu
no appointment shall be made whicl
will increase the total number of of
in any grade, above the number author
lied by this act"
| Mr.. HaWley offered an amendment a
a proviso of the fifteenth section, au
| thorizing the president to enlist tenn
porarily in the service for absolutel!
| necessary purposes in the Philippine
islands volunteers, officers and men in
| dividually or by organizations now il
! those islands and about to be dis
charged; and directing that they shall
| be counted as part of the Yoluntee
| force authorized by this act, and tina
| they shall not be enlisted for NOR
| than six months nor beyond the TIM
necessary to replace them. II was adop
| ted.
| Mr.. German offered an amendment al
a provision of section Is, providing tina
every provision Of this act shall contin
ue in force until July /, 1901, and OF
and after that date, all the genera
staff and line officers appointed to the
army under this act shall be discharged
and restored in each grade to those ex
listing at the passage of this act anC
the enlisted force of the line of thu
army shall be reduced to the number
provided for by law prior to April
| 1898, exclusive of such additions as have
| been or may be made under this act t
the artillery and except the cadets pro
yided for by this act, who may be APP
| pointed prior to July l, 1901; and pro
| N4IENs LII llltl llidb no OlllttI VINO HE
| been or may be promoted under exist
| ing law, or under the rules Of seniority
shall be disturbed in his rank" The
amedment was adopted.
| Mr. Hoar announced his intention
not to support the bill. He said tina
| ii was not d bils for supplies nor was
] it a bill for the complete reorganiza.
ton of the army. 1t was merely a bill
to provide an army to make war upor
the people of the Philippines. Witt
the exchange of Publications of the
peace treaty, the war should be at ar
end. 1t would then be necessary to de
termine whether there was to be a civil
war. The president had declined t(
announce a policy on this matter 0.
making war upon the Filipinos, leaving
that action to congress. Practically
then. congress was in this action in
augurating policy which the presiden
| had declined to initiate Taking this
view OF the situation, he could not see
his way clear to support the bill.
The bill was then, at o'clock put or
| it's passage and was passed. SO to 49,
| Consideration of the sundry civil
appropriation bill was begun at 7.1j p
m At the conclusion of the reading
of the bill, at $3.50 p. m, nearly all com,
mittee amendments having been agreed
| IN the hill Was laid aside If was lie,