The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-02-26
DEBATE ON THE ARMY
BILL IN TIE SENATE
Mr.. German Threatens to Pre-
vent Its Passage.
Friends of the Compromise Hope to
Get Vote Tomorrow.
Mr.. Allen Takes Occasion to Defend
SchIey's Conduct in the
Santiago Battle.

The Army Reorganization bill was takeT
up in the Senate yesterday and discussed
for nearly seven hours, finally being al
lowed to go over till Monday, when it is
hoped that it may be passed.
The Democrats generally objected TO TAX
ing vote yesterday on the ground that
they had not had time TO examine the pro-
visions of the bill. Mr.. Hawley offered to
hold a session today and 10 vote at
O'Clock, but Mr.. Allen objected to this.
At 1:20 the bill was formally laid before
the Senate and read. at the conclusion of
which the suggestion was made by Mr..
German that the bill be allowed to go over
until Monday. He maintained that it would
be utterly impossible TO discuss the bill
with any intelligence, as it had only just
been printed, and he predicted that there
would be no disposition to delay it on Mon
day.
Before answering Mr.. German, Mr.. Haw-
ley, Chairman of the Military Committee,
asked that a call of the Senate might be
made and sixty-seyen Senators answered
to their names Mr.. Hawley then asked
Mr.. German whether he meant the post
ponement of the vote until Monday or the
postponement Of the discussion. Mr.. Cor
man replied that he meant postponement
Of the discussion.
Mr.. Allison urged that the discussion
should go on today Sunday so as TO per-
NIT of an early vote on Monday.
Mr.. Hawley said he could not possibly
consent 10 a postponement of the discus
sion. I'VE are here" he continued, ''un-
ctr Tnlifnfapr
army which was enlisted for the war with
Spain is vanishing rapidly, and is liable
TO disappear altogether very soon, for as
soon as the ratification of the Peace Treaty
is exchanged the President will not nave
the shadow of an excuse for keeping the
volunteer army in service. To postpone
the discussion until Monday is TO take two
DAYS out of the seven remaining OF TINS
Congress and the bill has yet 10 go TO the
House. The Senate is as well prepared to
consider the bill today as it will be on
Monday
Mir. Carter a member of the Military
Affairs Committee, asked consent that the
vote be taken at O'Clock on Monday al
ternoon. Mr.. Allison suggested an earlier
hour, and Mr.. Carter modified the request
10 o'clock Objection was made 10 this
nv both Senators Allen and Hawley, and
Mr. Pettigrew suggested that the consid-
Grafton of the bill be proceeded with and
an agreement to vote be made later. lie
thought there was no disposition to delay
the passage of the bill, but, on the con-
trary, to hurry IT.
Mr. Hawley then made brief state
ment in regard TO the bill. He denied that
there had been any surrender on the part
OF anyone: the committee had come to a
harmonious conclusion.
I'VE do not think" he continued, 'of
such q word as surrender. We did not
surrender. Nobody surrendered or COM
prornised Ii is not a bill of compromise,
defeat, or surrender"
Mr.. Cockrell, Democratic member OF
the Military Committee. endorsed the bill
heartily Il endorse it," he said, be
cause it is right and just and proper and
necessary. 1t will settle for years TO come
the question OF the reorganization OF the
regular standing army.
An amendment to the first section of the
bill was agreed TO at the instance OF Mr..
Hawley, doing away with the Office of
storekeeper in the Quartermasters and
Ordnance Departments when the present
incumbents OF those places should resign
or die.
Mr.. HawIey also moved to amend the
age clause by making it read, NO person
who has passed the age OF forty-fye years
shall be appointed as field officer in said
force, officers of the regular army ex-
cepted.''
Mr. Pettigrew suggested excepting also
officers who had served in the war with
Spain.
Mr. Hawley accepted the suggestion but
Mr.. Allen insisted that the exception
should not be confined to officers, but
should also extend to the rank and file.
He was opposed to every provision in the
bill, and spoke of 1t as ''hideous skele-
ton, legislative deformity, a nondescript,
monstrosity sticking up its hideous
head" II lacked science, conference and
good sense. Mr.. Allen then took up the
bill section by section, and proceeded to
criticise II severely. Reaching section 3,
which provides that cooks shall have the
pay and allowance of sergeants of in
fantry, he said, ironically, that he regard
ed it as the most impotent section of the
bill. II requires higher order of talent
to cook than to fight. III all that has
been said about canned beef and embalm-
ed beef be true" he continued, the ordi-
nary army cook ought to have higher pay
than z colonel, because II would require
q higher order of skill to cook and serve
such food successfully. am not concern
ed in this delightful fight going on between
the Secretary of War and the General OF
the Army, but ! honor General Miles In
that fight. Every intelligent man in tn,
country believes that our army was fed OF
that trash. and that a large percentage Of
the sickness and mortality in the army
was due to the food given the soldiers"
From a discussion of a contest in tho
War Department, Mr.. Allen shifted to q
discussion of the contest In the Navy De-
partment, as to who should have the credit
of destroying Cervera's feet, and declared
his conviction that Schley was the hero OF
that battle.
Mr.. German then took the floor and after
stating that in his opinion there was nc
need but for temporary force, proposed al
amendment providing that the army should
go back 70 peace basis on the LIST Of July
1901, without any further act of Congress
He asked Mr.. Hawley if he would agree t.
such an amendment. Mr.. Hawley said h,
would not. whereupon Mr.. German declared
that he should fight the bin as long as b.
remained a member OF the Senate, which
was only about week. as his term expire.
on the 4th Of March.
Mr.. Carter followed Mr.. German in
strong speech in advocacy of the bill.
In answering a remark made by Mr.
German that the bill put too much powel
in the hands OF the President. Mr.. Cartel
exclaimed: Would you telegraph Admira
Dewey and General Otis TO come away from
the Philippines" He then declared tina
no true American would say that.
Mr.. Smith of New Jersey followed Mr.
Carter in favor of the bill.
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