New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-27
DEBATE ON THE ARMY BILL.
SOME OF ITS FEATURES CRITICISED
BY MR.. MARSH.
SPEECHES or MEssRs GRosvENoR AND HEP.
BURN DEMOCRATS BEGINNING TO RE-
GREr MR.. JoHNsoN's OUTBREAK.

on the Army Reorganization bill In the House OF
Representatives to-day one speech was delivered
which mainly devoted 10 the subject supposed
10 be under considerat ton. but which had been re-
ferred to only In an incidental manner since Tues
day. The happy and welcome exception was the
speech ~ Mr. Marsh Of Illinois. who Il member
OF the Committee on Military Affairs, ana VINO
gained considerable military experience ms an ON
Ger of volunteers In the Civil War Colonel MARSH
does not fully agree with his Republican colleagues
Of the committee 10 the details Of Army reoFSan-
izaton but he Is In perfect accord with them as TO
the necessity OF strengthening the military estao-
lishment and placing 1t on modern ana more
effective basis Before Colonel Marsh sat down ne
disposed In terse and convincing language OF the
claptrap in which some respectable persons hdulse
nowadays 10 the effect that the genius OF
American institutions" forbds any exercise or gov
ernmental authority control except with the
consent OF the governed" by recalling certain pro-
ceedings and events In the United States between
1851 and 1885, and challenging members OF the op-
posItion to assert that the result was one "hich
they now regretted
Most Of the other speeches OF the day related Ms
was expected. mainly n the policy when VIII OF
ought TO he pursued in dealing with the recent
territorial acquisitions Of the United States Two
NJ these speeches-those OF General Grosvenor, Of
Ohio and Colonel Hepburn. Of fowa-were excep-
tionally able and interesting. as well az timely ana
IN view Of Mr. Johnsons TRADE Of yesterday they
wire also pertinent
The Demo-P Pops were not so happy and enthusl-
astic to-day over Mr. Johnsons effort ne they were
Yesterday afternoon. when they applauded his vio-
lent attacks on tho Administrator and his reckless
assaults on windmls OF his own creation one OF
the more sober and thoughtful Democratic mem
hers OF the House remarked 10 Tribune CORE
spondent today
That was magnificent speech Of Johnson's. but
II has not helped our side any. on the otntr hand'
il has solidAed the Republican side. as might nat
uraiiy have been expected. Railing and abuse can.
not take the P9ee on % r Gna %s
sitions | realize full well that he has accomplishing
most Of ms believe that thJ President IS animated
by patriotic desires and impulses. and nat ne ne
b honSr ana os soTs. we dlaer With him a. to
methods and matters Of detail and we reel ree 20
acts as unworthy ~ an American President After
the war is over vii be tine enough rG
win then demand solution So far as have Oh,
served the Executive has shown no disposition 10
forestall the action Of Congress.
SPEECH OF MR.. MARSH.
Mr.. Marsh (Rep. I'D. member OF the NIL
tary Affairs Committee. WAS the hrst speaker lie
opposed certain features ~ the bill although he
heartily favored the reorganization and enlarge
ment NJ the Army In committee ne mad reserved
tho right m oppose these features. He was not
prenared 10 say that the Regular Army should he
increased to 10000 men, bur he was willing TO leave
the size Of the Army ~ the discretion ~ the Pres-
dent and ne said he should offer an amendment
giving him that discretion. Mr.. Marsh said ne
violated no confidence when he said that the Presi-
dent was in sympathy with his proposed amend
rnent The President had told him that he would
not enlist man or commission an oncer more
than he deemed necessary.
Mr. Marsh also opposed the proposition 20 IN
crease the size OF the infantry company 10 l6 men
The officers who had advocated larger companies
before the Military Committee were STAFF officers.
rurI
four staff officers. mon who would never have COM
mand in the line MS the Army was now constituted.
had prepared this bill The real purpose IN pro-
vldrg for these large companies, he declared. was
protect the organizations and tho officers In case
the number Of enlisted men was largely reduced In
the future. II the Army were reduced 10000. for
instance. they could he taken from the infantry
companies. reducing their size to nifty, without dis
turbing the officers That was the milk in tho
cocoanut lie strongly opposed the present and the
proposed State organization. At present stan OFF,
GERS were appointed from tho line by the Pr sdent
and remained in the star permanently. lie should
at the proper time. he said, offer an amendment
providing that staff officers should be detailed from
the line for four years duty. They should then
return to the line. and be ineligible for staff duty
again until they had served four years In the line.
He expressed the opinion that the weakest point
in the Army during the war had been i'm the STAFF.
The blunders made could be traced directly TO that
weakness General Miles. the head Of the Army,
was in favor OF n detailed staff. Mr.. Marsh was in
favor Of the annexation OF the Philippines whether
the natives were willing not. II was absurd 10
say he declared. that force could not be employed
take and hold the Islands.
Mr. Dinsmore CDem.. Ark) opposed the bill.
standing Army might lead to disaster, he said.
MR.. GROsVENOR REPLIES TO JOHNSON
Mr. Grosvenor (Rep Oho) followed. lie should
aim, he said simply to point out his post
ton. distinctly disclaimne that he spoke for
any one else He characterized Mr.. Johnsons
speech yesterday the herccst and most vindictive
attack the Administration he had heard on tho
floor OF the House The trouble was that the foun-
dation on which tho whole magnificent superstruct-
ure was built false. The argument he had
made answered itself soon as the intelligent
mind recapuated the history Of the last few
months
Mr.. Grosvenor declared that all the trouble orig
mated on May l. 1898 At that time there was not
thought OF the Philippines there was no one on
this floor who knew within thousand now hany
Islands were In the archipelago Dewey was IN
structed To find the spanish meet and destroy or
capture il. The most brilliant page IN Americr
history the answer that splendid officer ana his
men gave to those instructions. But when n" had
executed his orders he found himself powerlsss to
get out Of Manila Bay. Was ther" ne asked. any
one who would undo Manila anl ,gar those SHINING
pages from 'he history OF his country . -.
Mr.. Grosvenor paid an eloquent Vloute 70 the
soldiers and sailors officers and men, ana ssid that
until proofs were produced, not OF mistakes, bat 81
derelictons OF duty. lApPausto ne poke t,sl-
l20 DAYS OF the war and dehed any one 10 show
that he had failed I'm any duty that he might nave
discharged. He described his sleeplcSs vigil with
Aduant General Corbin al his 81 10. and incidental
y paid a tribute 10 the latter when was nearby
greeted by members on the floor No man had ever
done his duty. he sad. better than Henry &. Cor
bin
After the protocol was stgned, Mr. Grosvcnor
nd the President had sent 10 Paris Peace Com
mission which fully and grandly represented the
best type OF American manhood What had that
Commission dore which II should not have done
Tho President had been criticised FOR not inform
ing Congress 81 his ultimate purpose regarding the
Philippines. The President was never a Usurper he
sought and never would seek to usurp
the authority Of Congress. The future Of the ISL
ands was a matter for Congress 10 decide The
blood of those who might be sacrificed in the Philip
pines now. he charged. would be on the heads Of
those who opposed tho Presidents policy. The
President had noby discharged his duty when he
found himself by the accident Of war I'm possession
OF the Philippines In conclusion. Mr.. GroSvenor
any one TO deny. FIRST. that tho President
had deviated from tho course mapped out 10y Con-
gress. second that he had usurped any authority