The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-01

on the floor, during the progress of which
the opposition compelled those in charge of
the measure to give discretionary authority
to the President and to make other modif-
cations, among which was reduction of
331 in the number of staff officers. In con-
sequence of these notifications the Repub-
lican oposition practically vanished, and on
the final vote but six Republicans voted
against the bill-Messrs. Barber, of Mary
land; Connolly, of Illinois; Loud, of Califor-
MIA; Johnson, of Indiana; AIcEwen, of New
Jersey, and Wadsworth, of New York. This
Republican detection was, however, 'almost
offset by five members of the political oppo-
sition who voted in favor of the bi1l-Niessrs.
Berry, of Kentucky; Mcclellan, of New
York; McA1eer, Of Pennsylvania; Taylor, of
Alabama, Democrats and Skinner, of North
Carolina, Populist.
The galleries were crowded throughout the
day and every member who could possibly
be there was on the floor to record his vote
on the final roll call. The programme in
cluded provision for two hours of general
debate, which was to be occupied by Aessrs
Dalzell, of Pennsylvania, and Hopkins, of
Illinois, in closing for the majority, and
Messrs. Bailey, of Texas, and Settle, of
Kentucky, for the opposition. But this pro-
to complete the bill under the five-minute
rule before o'clock the hour set for the
vote.
Among the important amendments adopted
before the vote was taken to-day was one
to exclude the appointment of civilians to
positions in the engineer corps, one to abol-
ish canteens and the sale of liquor in camps,
and one to strike out the provision for ad-
ditiOnaI pay for commands serving in the
West Indies, the Philippines and Alaska.
The amendment of Mr. Cummings of New
York, to prohibit the use of troops in the
several States to suppress riots, etc, except
upon the application of the States, was de-
feated by a large majority. The motion to
recommit with instructions to report back
the minority substitute only commanded two
Republican votes-Barber and Connolly-and
was lost-117 to no. Two Democrats-Cum-
mings and McClellan-Voted with the ma
jority.
The bill as passed provides, in addition to
the general officers and staff departments
for twelve regiments of cavalry of twelve
troops each, 144 coast batteries, twenty-four
field batteries, thirty regiments of infantry
of twelve companies each. a corps of en-
gineers and one regiment of engineers, an
ordnance department and a signal corps, the
latter with 625 enlisted men. 1t also gives
the President discretion to recruit the Or
ganizations serving in Cuba, Porto Rico and
the islands of the Pacific in whole or in part
from the inhabitants thereof.
TROOPS TO SUPPRESS RIOTS.
During the debate on the bill to-day Mr.
Cannon directed attention to the amend
ment Mr.. Cummings yesterday gave notice
he would offer to prevent the use of United
States troops as posse comitatus, or in put
ting down strikes or riots, except upon the
written application OF the Governor of the
State. That amendment, said Mr.. Cannon,
proposed to put it out of the power of the
President, the Constitution to the contrary
notwithstanding, to enforce the law within
the territory of any State unless the Gov
ernor appealed for help. 1t was the duty of
the President to enforce the law, said Mr..
Cannon, who then recalled the Chicago riots
during the last administration and the dis
patch into Illinois without the assent of the
Governor and against his protest of troops to
suppress the riot. That action Of President
Cleveland has been indorsed by the Senate
Of the United States and the people every
where. Had the proposed amendment been
law the President would have been prevented
from enforcing the law The federal author
ity was and should be supreme.
Mr.. Cummings replied to Mr.. Cannon.
There was no question, he said, but that
organized labor, through the American Fed
Grafton of Labor and the Knights of Labor,
had condemned this effort to increase the
standing army to 100000 men. There was no
question that the reason for their action
was the fear that this standing army might
be used unconstitutionally to oppress them.
Now" he continued, IF you 90 mean to
do it, say so; if you don't adopt this pro-
viso." The gentleman from Illinois, he said,
had referred to the action of Governor Alt
geld, but he had failed to refer to Governor
John M. Palmer. who had denounced the
action of the President for sending troops
into the State over the protest Of the Gov
ernor and numbering her citizens. The gen.
tleman says President Cleveland's action
was sanctioned by the Senate and the peo-
pie. Why had the people, if that was the
case, got rid of him as soon as they were
able? The President was compelled to exc
cute the laws Congress enacted. Congress
had the power to enact this provision The
United States judge who had sent Debs to
prison for contempt had been promoted
within a few months. Everything indicated
that the army was to be used to Cypress
labor if opportunity offered or if corporate
wealth demanded it. He was not a lawyer
or a banker, he was a trades union man, a
member of Typographical Nnion, No. g.
What he desired was that the members of
the House should go on record upon his
amendment.
Mr.. Cannon, replying. said that before
men were lawyers, or bankers, or printers
they We're American citizens and the law
OF the land, like the grace of God, covered
all. [Applause.] The one green spot in the
record of President Cleveland had been that
when he saw the law defied, not by labor
but by lawbreakers, he had kept his oath
and had seen that it was enforced. Mr.. Can
non aroused tumultuous applause when he
declared that Mr.. Cummings, in seeking to
make labor the abettor of lawbreaking,
slandered labor. He denounced it as cheap
demagogy.
Mr.. Cummings said he honored President
Mckinley because he was unlike Mr.. Cleve-
land. When. recently, during the riots, Gov.
Tanner declined to order out the militia,
said he, according to the argument of the
gentleman from Illinois, it was the duty of
President Mckinley to order out the army.
But he had left the case in the hands of
Governor Tanner and the people honored
him for it. Mr.. Cummings offered his
amendment, but ii was defeated-93 to 12l
During the afternoon Mr. johnson CRep.
lndD got the floor for the purpose of pro-
testing the sincerity and honesty of his mo-