Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-01-24

AT the conclusion of Mr.. Gays speech
Mr.. Davis. chairman of the committee on
foreign relations, was recognized to move
an executive session.
He yielded to Mr. Teller who desired to
make an addition to the authorities which
he had previously cited upon the force and
effect of the Constitution in the territories.
In Executive Session.
At 2:35 pm. on motion of Mr.. Davis, the
Senate went into executive session.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The opening of the debate on the army
reorganization bill attracted a large at
tendance in the galleries of the House to-
day. Mr.. Mercer CNeb) attempted to Sc
cure unanimous consent for setting aside
February l for the consideration of public
building bills, but Mr.. Mahon (Pa) OBJ
jected.
Mr.. Hull, chairman of the military af-
fairs committee in charge of the army bill,
then asked the House to ratify an agree
ment made in committee that he should
control the time in favor of the bill and
Mr.. SulZer IN. ". the senior minority
member of the committee, in opposition to
the bill.
Mr.. Suizer suggested that the final vote
be taken next Tuesday at 3 O'Clock.
Mr.. Hepburn 0owD objected to such an
extended time. but Mr. Bailey pointed out
that the minority regarded this as the most
important bill to come before the House
at this session. His side he said had pur-
posely rsfraned from taking up the time
OF the House on appropriation bills in or
der to have full opportunity to debate this
bill
Mr.. Suffers suggestion was agreed to,
modified SO that the vote should be taken
not later than o'clock Tuesday next
Mr.. Hay. from the minority of the COM
mitee, gave notice that the minori. had
a thCYit trfn E,iIhvt
be offered at the proper time.
The House then went into committee (Mr.
Payne in the chair and took up the L-.i
under the agreement for fifteen hours gen
eral debate, with night sessions tonight, to-
morrow and Thursday nights.
Mr.. Hull Opens the Debate
Mr.. Hull opened the debate in advocacy
of the bill, in brief speech. He craved
the Indulgence of the House at the outset
for the limited speech he should make.
His recent illness, he said, had left him
physically unequal to an extended effort
For years he had been supporter of re-
organization and an increase in the regular
army. Now, with the territory gained from
Spain. for which we We're responsible and
the responsibility for which we could not
shirk. the increase became a necessity.
Inc bill fixed no maximum strength for
the entire army. but under the organization
would permit of a strength of 100000 men,
n
as TO provide minimum, In the discretion
OF the President, of 10000 He explained
briefly the organiza lions of the various
branches of the service in the several
branches.
Mr. Hull declared that the present situa-
ton was dangerous one We were CON
lrohted with grave responsibilities. even
lnough We held the Philippines temporarily.
no one could tell what would happen in
thirty days. We could not afford 10 sacri
nee efnclency to economy.
ReTert1nS TO the provisions of the bill. Mr.
nun TOOK up the staff features of the bill
General Miles he said advocated A gem
eIaI stan Plan he said, which had great
merit. but had the great drawback tbat
II gave an invitation to the injection of
politics into the army
He declared that the Dronosa1 ia oo,,.i
t ln.s , present strength OF the regular army
W-,uoD until 1900 was a miserable make
shlft and piece of folly Even if adnntad
S Ii terms OF the law require that all sol,
HIei9 tilHSted last spring must be mustered
out They would be entitled 10 return how
anu receive travel pay and rations and
H"uiu tilen nave TO be re-enlisted again
ne thought q spirit of patriotism deroapdad
that this Congress should IeeisIa+e 10 w.
Tie present condition as it found it.
opposed Increasing the ARMY.
MI COX fTenn), n member of the commit
Tee. replied to Mr.. Hull. He should not he
sdl"' devote any time to the details of the
organization of the army. That shouId
properly be left TO the officers of the War
department. No civilians opinion was of
value. He directed his argument aeafns,
the main proposition to increase the army
10 IpotoD. II We needed such a standing
army IN time Of peace something must have
gone radically wrong with our institutions
me only real excuse for maintaining such
an army would he To keep the country al
ways IN position to fight at the drop of
a nat with any nation on earth
40 power or earth wanted war with us
1hefe could b" no motive unless we in
Nited il. He concluded with a Quotation
from the writings of Andrew jackson which
solemnly warned the country against the
danger of standing armies in time of peace.
mr. Mcclellan Arraigns the system
Mr.. Mcclellan On. " followed in support
of the bill. He did not speak in a spirit of
partisanship. he said. but he considered the
crying need of the hour the REORGANIZATION
of the army The army should be reor-
ganized. He had no desire to reflect on any
officials in the establishment but we
ought TO take 10 heart the lessons of the
late war II the result of the congressional
elections had been different it might have
been possible to have honestly Investigated
the war, to have separated the goats from
the sheep and have punished the guilty
But no good could come now of washing
our dirty linen i'll public. Congress would
not permit US 10 investigate much less
prove, the facts The horrors and the
scandals OF the war. ne declared, were due
to the system. not the men. The system
permitted the appointment of men to staff
positions who would never have been heard
of under Il proper system. Every break
down could be traced 10 one of two causes
lack of trained officers and properly or
ganized staff.
In the Right Direction.
The victories won on land were due to the
splendid courage Of the men and not to the
obsolete system uuUer which the campaigns
were conducted. He believed the army
should be perfectly organized machine
obeyihS the Will of one man. that man d
trained soldier Politics had crept into the
army. An army could not be run as a
primary was. The Paris commune had
tried that and failed. He said the Hull bill
was long step in the right direction Its
great failing. in his opinion, was its failure
10 provide for Il general staff. The minori-
~ substitute was a clumsy makeshift The
Miles bill had good features His own bill
he preferred to either. Still he asked all
friends OF the army TO stand by the Hull
bill.
The Spanish war had proved that the
navy mad Il superb organization; the army
organization had proved deficient An army
could not be reurganized from the bottom
up: II must M reorganized from the top
down. If l staff was efficient the line
mist no