Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-02-09
WORK OF CONGRESS

"ahs olsAA ChOIl III
the part OF Mr.. Allison to obtain con-
slderation in the senate yesterday for
me Indian appropriation bill preclpi-
tated a running debate which occupied
all the time until the senate. at .
O'Clock, went into executive session on
the peace treaty. Mr.. Jones of Arkan-
sas, leading the opposition to the
treaty, opened the debate by insisting
that time should be taken for the dis
cusslon or pending resolutions having
q coliaterm bearing upon the treaty be-
lore the treaty itself was disposed OF
anu MI. BaconS resolutions were final
~ lald before the senate After some
parliamentary sparring the resolutions
were made the text of n strong speech
Dy Mr.. Carter of Montana. Ordinarily
calm and deliberate in his %utterances.
MI. Carter yesterday spoke with I'M
passloned earneStness. warning his
colleagues that a favorable vote on
any or the pending resolutions would
ne a vote Of lack OF confidence In the
American people. He declared that
the adoption of the resolutions would
be a pledge to those who were defying
the authority Of this country In the
Philippines, and that when the treaty
had been ratified this government
would inquire who in those islands
were in rebellion against our author
ity, and, If necessary to maintain our
authority, We would whip them to
death.
In the House.
The house put in a hard days work
on the army bill yesterday and last
night. When 1t adjourned thirteen of
the twenty pages had been completed.
The committee amendments giving the
president discretionary power to re-
duce the size OF the infantry compa-
MES and cavalry troops to sixty men
each were adopted and also a series OF
amendments to reduce the officers of
the staff 331. A substitute was adopt
ed for the section providing for promo
tons which was designed to equalize
promotions. A fight was made to re-
duce the age limits of officers to be ap-
pointed TO the various staff depart
ments from fifty TO thirty. but IL
failed. An amendment was. however.
adopted to require a mental and moral
as well as a physical examination for
such appointees. Much OF the time
was occupied in short speeches on the
general proposition to increase the
army and annex the Philippines, and
there were several lively personal en-
counters. The house will meet to-day
at ii o'clock, and whatever time re-
mains before 3 O'clock, before the bill
Is completed under the five-minute
rule, will be devoted to general debate.
The heavy-weights on both sides will
close. The final vote is to be taken at
3 O'Clock.
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 sixty men. thus fixing a min
imum OF about $4,000 enlisted men,
passed the house 10y a vote OF 16S to
125. This was the result Of a week of
hard and often picturesque fighting on
the floor during the progress OF which
the opposition compelled those i'm
charge Of the measure to give this dis
~cretionary authority to the president
to make other notifications. among
which were a reduction of 331 In the
number OF staff officers. In conse-
quence of these notifications the Re-
publican opposition practically van
ished, and on the final vote but six
Republicans voted against the bill,
Messrs. Barber, Maryland; Connolly.
Illinois: Loud, California: Johnson.
Indiana; McEwan. New Jersey, and
New York. This Repub-
lican detection was. however, almost
offset by five members Of the political
who voted In favor OF the
bill. Messrs. Berry. Kentucky: Nc
Clellan, New York: McAleer. Fennsyl- |
vania; Taylor, Alabama, Democrats, |
and Skinner, Populist, North Carolina. |
Among the important amendments
before the vote was taken /;
II to exclude the appointment OF =,
to positions In the engineer |
n to abolish canteens and the |
sale OF liquor 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 Of I
New York to prohibit the use Of the
troops In the several states TO suppress
etc. upon the application OF the
states was defeated by n large ma
jority. The motion to recommit with
Instructions TO report back the minor-
" substitute only commanded w Re-
publican votes and was lost-117 TO
lao. The bill as passed provides In
to the general officers and
staff departments for II regiments of
Il troops each, IA coast batteries. "a
ield batteries, 30 regiments Of infan-
Of ~ companies each, a corps OF
engineers and one regiment Of engi-
leers, an ordnance department and n
ignal corps, the latter with 825 enlist
ID men. 1t also gives the president
discretion to recruit the organizations
In Cuba, Porto Rico and the
Of the Pacific in whole or In
,art from the inhabitants thereof.
Before the house adjourned the river
nd harbor bin was formally called up
n order to make II the unfinished
BUSINESS In the committee of the
Whole.
The Senate.
During almost the entire morning
our yesterday the senate had under
DISCUSSION the policy of this country
o be pursued In the Philippines. Mr..
berry Of Arkansas, In response to a
question by Mr.. Vest, discussed the
olicy of expansion without a refer
nee to the constitutional point in
'olved in the Vest resolution. He
poke from notes, stating his objections
Q the pending treaty OF peace. He de-
that he would never vote to
lace upon any people a policy against