The times., 1899-02-13
THE ARMY BILL MAY
NOT Be PASSED
An Extra Session Seems More
Than Probable.
The Opponents of the Measure
Threaten Fight.
The Debate May Prevent Action in
the senate on the Appro-
printiOn Bills.

Inc lHSlSleUtt Vi lHt itSih'AN' ~ 49,
has been correctly quoted, on the passage
of the bill for the reorganization of the
army, and his alleged refusal to accept
the compromise extension of the present
army of s., 600 men for year or eighteen
months, brings Congress face to face with
the question of an extra session, for 1t is
extremely doubtful whether the Senate
will ever agree TO the Hull bill and there
| is no time to formulate any substitute
other than one of the briefest and sim
plest character
The Senate has never been enthusiastic
ally in favor of the Hull bill, and before
the Presidents alleged ultimatum it had
been practically agreed not to report the
bill at all to the Senate. The Democratic
Senators were violently opposed to it and
the Republicans were only lukewarm in
its support. Since the turn in affairs it
has been decided to report the bill and to
attempt to secure action, but this is a
very different thing from succeeding in
doing so.
Only three weeks of life remain to the
present Congress, which, even when eked
out by night sessions, as it will soon be,
Is HOl Sulltltul " plpptilN N'ISIutI
1.-THE of the legislation held TO be neces-
sary. Every bill that goes through the
Senate hereafter will probably do so prac-
tically by unanimous consent. The real
leaders of the Senate will go TO each other
and will see on what bills it is possible to
secure action without waste of time and
will push these. Other bills which are
likely to provoke debate will be laid aside.
| This is absolutely necessary If the great
appropriation bills are TO be passed with
any consideration. Only strong party ext
gency or Willingness for an extra session
| could lead to an abandonment of this ira
| ditional policy.
If the session is to be prolonged it VIII
be possible for the majority 10 coerce the
minority into doing pretty much what 1t
desires Despite all the talk about flibus
| tering, there has never been an instance in
the history of the Senate where the ma
! jority, with reasonable time at its disposal,
, could not compel vote. But such is not
! the case at the present time. The House
! took six days to debate the army bill. and
! the Senate could hardly be expected TO do
with less. But six days, it is argued, can
J i'll be spared out of the eighteen remain
! ing TO the present Congress.
| Some of the friends of the measure have
proposed to take up the army bill at once,
allow three days for debate and then ask
| the Senate to sit in continuous session un
! til a vote is reached. If the minority was
smaller this might be done, but it is so
| large that there is some doubt of the
passage of the bill, even if a vote should
| be taken. and is certainly too large to ad-
nit of compulsion.
1t is generally conceded by Congress that
the army should be reorganized. The Hull
bill, however does not reorganze It. but
merely increases il. leaving the ulcers
! shown up by the war to remain and tester.
In the opinion of many the President did
a very i'll turn 10 the bill when he gave
Eagan a six-year vacation at $500 year.
Congress realizes that the Hull bill was
drawn by the staff of the War Department
and that it increases rather than decreases
the already oyerweening self esteem of the
insubordinate bureau chiefs. The House
Republicans. OF CVurse, did what their par
ty desired, but the Senate is not likely 10
be so subservient, and may insist on going
to the root of the trouble in u thorough
reorganization.
Many Senators say there is no time for
this at the present session. There would
be at an extra session, but many Repub-
lican Senators would rather let matters
go until next December. by which time,
they say the country will know the facts
in regard TO embalmed beef. and can with
more knowledge and therefore with greater
skill provide for a thorough reOrganIza
tion.
But the need for soldiers is imperative.
The % 900 regulars of the former ante-
bellum army can be held to the end Of
their terms of enlistment, but the other
30 600, enlisted under the war act, can,
of right demand their discharges at any
time after the proclamation OF peace. The
25 600 volunteers still in the service must,
under ruling by Attorney General Griggs,
| be discharged as soon as possible after
peace is made. This will compel the re-
duction of the present strength of 81, 600
, TO q 600, provided no further Legislation
is enacted. Nor can this state of affairs
be greatly altered by any new act OF
Congress. The present troops cannot be
! held longer. Even the Hull bill cannot
prevent the reduction of the army TO 1900
but can only provide for the enlistment
of new men so as TO bring the whole num-
ber up To 100000 a continuance of The
| present organization of $1,000 men would
: mean exactly the same thing except with
| a different maximum. With either only
: 81 600 of the present veterans can be helt
= | in the service after peace is made, unless
| some of the present men choose 10 re
. | enlist. Whether they would be more l'kel!
TO do so under law continuing the army
q for one year, or under one providing fo
d the regular three years enlistment is
y question that remains TO be determined.
War Department officials contend tha
h to continue the present army for one yea
a would be useless. They say thai befor
/, the new soldiers could learn their duties
4 il would be time for them to disband
/. They contend that very few soldiers woul'
t care to re-enlist merely for one year, ant
e that the army would all be of new men
S If Congress would continue the presen
). army for three years, they say, the Presi
dent might accept ii. But, they say
d finally the President is convinced that IN
L army should be permanently increased an
n he might as well make stand now as il
o the future.
e II is however, extremely doubtful
~ | whether President Mckinley has tsken an
: such stand as he is stated 10 have done
v His friends say that his words have bee
n | distorted out of all shape by eager Wa
e Department officers. and made far nor
positive than he would warrant. OF cours
| they say, he would be glad if Congres
would pass the Hull bill and 1t is true thi
circumstances may make it necessary I
II call an extra session. But that he is hold
ing such a threat over the heads of men
n, bers they deny absolutely.
The President is undoubtedly anxious
u avoid an extra session, and Will not ca
one unless compelled to do so.
+. Dangers of the Grip.
III The greatest danger from La Grippe is Of
al resulting in pneumonia. II reasonable
lie used, however, and Chamberlan's Cough Renee