The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-03
DEBATE ON THE ARMY BILL
ATTEMPT TO PUT A SCURRILOUs
LETTER IN THE RECORD.
Strong Opposition to Unseatfng w. A.
Clark, Notwithstanding the
Unanimous Report.

\Dein-) OF washington, made very VICIOUS
attack upon the administration because Of
the accommodations afforded the volun-
teers on the transports returning from the
Philippines. He was followed by Mr.
Pettigrew, who in long speech, violently
arraigned the government for not discharg-
Ing the South Dakota volunteers when
their time had expired. Mr.. Mason, of
Illinois, delivered a speech on the investi-
cations made by the committee on manu-
features, Of the adulteration of food. He
strongly urged that Congress should take
immediate action to remedy existing evils.
Just before adjournment sharp colloquy
occurred over the proposed consideration of
the resolution to unseat Mr.. Clark. of Mon
tana. which indicates that the unanimous
recommendations of the committee on
elections will be sharply contested.
When the Senate convened to-day Mr..
Gallinger, of New Hampshire, chairman of
the pensions committee, presented mem
orial from the Union Veterans Union COM
planning about the governments pension
policy and made the memorial the text for
a speech in which he maintained that the
criticisms were unjust. Mr.. Gallinger
pension policy of the government is I'M
just and unwarranted. The s14O,O00,OO0 and
odd paid out now for pensions is about as
much as the government ought to expend. -
Mr.. Sewell, of New Jersey. secured pas
sage of a bill to establish the Fredericks-
burg and adjacent national battlefields
memorial park in Virginia. One bill in
cludes the battlefields of Fredericksburg,
Charlottesville. the Wilderness and
Spottsylvania.
Mr.. Chandler, chairman of the commit
tee privileges and elections. asked that
the chair lay before the Senate resolution
No. 2S4. relating to the unseating of Mr..
Clark, of Montana. He said it was ques-
ton of the highest privilege and asked
that 1T be laid before the Senate.
The chair rather sharply declined to do
this, and, noticing that his refusal nettled
Mr.. Chandler, said: 1T is proper for the
chair to say he holds that it will require
a motion to take the Montana resolution
from the calendar" ~, --~.. s.1
In accordance with previous notice. Mr..
Mason, of Illinois, then addressed the
Senate in support of his proposition to en-
of food. He followed closely the lines of
his report of investigation made to the
Senate, simplifying portions OF the report.
He maintained that all foods exposed for
sale should be marked so that its ingredi-
ents might be known, and all articles de-
leterious to the public health should be
prohibited. He announced that ne would
ask soon that a day be set aside for the
consideration of pending bills asNto pure
food.
ALLEGED FILTHY TRANSPORTS.
Of
army appropriation bill. In offering an
amendment providing that the volunteer
soldiers In the Philippines who had re-
manned there and performed willing service
long after they were entitled to discharge
should receive travel pay and Communication
of subsistence, less the actual cost of their
transportation to the United States, Mr..
Turner, of Washington, made an extended
statement. The amendment he said, ap-
piled to about 10000 officers and men scat
tered all over the country. He declared
that the volunteers brought back to the
United States from the Philippines had been
packed like swine in dark, filthy, rotten
and antiquated vessels. / went to San
Francisco" continued Mr.. Turner, ito join
in the reception of the Washington regi-
ment upon its return from the Philippines.
/ went aboard the vessel and into the hold,
where the soldiers were packed and L as
sert on my honor that the quarters were
not fit for animals. The government ought
to have paid those volunteers double pay
for packing them like sardines into these
miserable holes" Mr.. Turner said the
Secretary of War had estimated his amend
ment would cost about 81 000. 000 but he was
satisfied the secretary had been imposed on.
He had carefully estimated the cost and
did not think 1t would require more than
100000
Mr. Hawley, of Connecticut, made the
point of order against the amendment that
it was a change of existing laws and the
point was sustained.
In a sharp speech Mr.. Rawlins, of Utah.
declared that there was a distinction be-
tween the treatment of the Aston Battery
and the Utah Battery. He said the Astof
Battery has been given just what was pro-
posed by Mr.. Turner's amendment yet the
Utah Battery was not allowed the same
pay 1T was an outrage declared Mr..
would be guilty off,
Mr.. Pettigrew bitterly denounced the
government for keeping the volunteers in
service after their time had expired.
NELSON TACKLES PETTIGREw.
Mr.. Nelson thought If Mr.. Pettigrew had
had experience in the civil war he would
not have uttered the words he had against
the government He told Of the veteran
bounty offered during the civil war-a
bounty of $500, two months furlough and
transportation home for re-enlistment- This
was offered because the veterans were more
valuable as soldiers than green men, So IL
was in the Philippines. The men who had
served there were more valuable than new
men who might be sent to the islands. He
believed the men OF the South Dakota regi-
ment would resent the utterances OF Mr.
Pettigrew as imputation against their
loyalty and patriotism.
Mr. Pettigrew replied that Mr. Nelson's
attack on the South Dakota soldiers
would be resented If he were where they
could get at him, but said he, they will
have TO take IL out in an opinion of the SEN
ator's bravery. Mr.. Pettigrew then had
read many letters from officers and men of
the South Dakota regiment In support of
the statements he had made. Commenting
hundreds of soldiers who had served i'm the
Philippines were now inmates of ST. Eliza
beth's Insane Asylum in Washington AT
least 200 he declared had committed sui
eide. Mr.. Pettigrev also had letter read
which he wrote TO the President, I'm which
he used most violent and abusive language
against the chief executive. Mr. Pettgrew
asked unanimous consent to print as an APP
pendix to his remarks other documents, but
Mr.. Platt. of Connecticut, objected. and
the South Dakota senator proceeded 10 read
them He yielded the floor for an execu-
tive session. promising TO conclude his
statement at another time
On motion of Mr.. Tillman a resolution
was passed calling upon the secretary of
war for information of the amount and
character OF claims filed with the War De-
.partment for damages done by the United
States soldiers In and near camps for the
troops established in this country during
the war with Spain. and directing him 70