Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-01-05
Will Be ABANDONED.
ANumber Of Western Military Posts
to Be Denuded Of Their Troops.
BILL FOR GOVERNMENT OF HAWAII.
4 Contest Likely to Occur In the House
Over Liquidation for the Island. NJ the
COMMITTEES on Territories DO Not
Agrees on the Iiili

Washington, Dec. 30.-It Is practi
cally decided that a number OF thu
western military posts will be aban
doned when the army is increased
and that this contemplated arrange
ment includes the abandonment
among others, Of Fort Leavenwortt
and Fort Crook at Omaha. From wha,
can be learned at the war department
as to the yet imperfect plans touching
this matter, neither OF these fOrti
will be permanently abandoned al
present. but will be denuded Of
their troops until the services OF
portion Of the troops now needed
for garrison duty in the Philippines
and in Cuba and Porto Rico can be dis.
pensed with and the troops returned ia
the military stations in this country.
ut is quite certain said prominent
official Of the war department, THAT
Whatever may be decided Ms to the per-
manence OF Forts Leavenworth and
Crook as future military stations,
considerable number Of the present
western military posts will be perma-
nently abandoned" Among other in
fantry stations affected are Jefferson
barracks, at st. Louis; Fort Smelling,
Mimi; Fort Sheridan, ILL.,, and Column
bus barracks, D.
The intention of the military au-
thorities to garrison places in the
Philippines as soon as possible and
the necessity that will come OF muster.
ing out large number Of volunteers
when peace is formally declared will
compel the war department to send
practically all its regular infantry and
some Of the artillery and cavalry out
Of the country.
Nearly all the regiments at infantry
posts are under orders to prepare for
service abroad and as soon as trans.
ports can be secured for carrying six
regiments to the Philippines the in.
fantry stations above named will be
deserted. Several smaller posts gar.
risoned by from one company to a
battalion Of these regiments will be
deserted ut the same time Posts adj 10.
cent to Indian reservations will be
maintained for cavalry detachments,
and practically all the batteries of the
seventh artillery enthusiastically
all the heavy batteries-will be kept
at the coast stations. The artillery
will be very much scattered, however.
Probably no regiment will be kept
intact at one post.
The plan Of the war department has
not been perfected, but 1t is said to
contemplate the withdrawal Of troops
from stations where their services to
suppress rioting or Indian outbreaks
have not been required, exclusive Of
coast defense posts. After the Debs
riots In Chicago and other places in
the west, the war department began
to establish posts near big cities and
TO increase the garrisons at those al
ready existing near big cities A num-
Der Of small posts in the west were
abandoned. Many Of the permanent
l2O army stations in the United States
are remote from places where trouble
requiring the presence OF federal
troops is likely to occur and these will,
it is understood, be discontinued when
services for foreign duty Of the troops
occupying them become necessary.
BILL FOR GOVERNMENT OF HAWAII,
Washington, Dec. 30, "A sharp con-
test will occur in the house over the
legislation for the government of
Hawaii, as the majority and minority
of the committee on territories do not
agree as to the form OF a bill. Neither
does the majority agree with the re-
port of the senate committee on
foreign relations, although the differ
ences are not such as to cause great
The majority report of the
house committee changes the bill
introduced by Mr.. Hit only slight
ly, with the exception OF the
qualifications for senators and repre-
sentatives. The prope rty qualifications
are stricken out and any citizen who
is voter and has been resident Of
Hawaii for three years is eligible.
Those who were citizens of Hawaii on
August II, 1898, are made citizens of
the United States. One house will
not be allowed to constitute the legis-
lature, in case the other adjourns, nor
will it be necessary to have the sane.
ton of three members TO introduce a
bill in the legislature. The delegate
to congress shall possess the same
qualifications as voter
The minority report was prepared by
Mr.. II. b. FERGUSON, delegate from
New Mexico, who is member OF the
subcommittee. Mr.. Henry, of Texas,
is also minority member, but is now
absent The report says the minority
is unable to agree to some prominent
features Of the bill as introduced, and
as approved by the majority Of the
subcommittee, and then continues:
1t is important to emphasize the fact that
new territory, as acquired, should be governed
as other territories Of the United States have
been from the foundation Of the government,
with the view to ultimate admission to state
hood. Upon this theory we believe that
Hawaii should be given substantially the same
form OF government as other territories Of the
United States, and the Importance Of this view
is increased rather than diminished by the inn
minent Philippine question Territory which
we feel Is unified either from the character
Of It's population. or because Of Its distance
from our shores, for statehood In the union
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