The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-07
THE ARMY BILL PASSES
1t Receives a Majority of Thirty
three Votes in the House.
An Amendment Prohibiting the Sale
of Intoxicantx mt Military Posts
Agreed Ta-The Sections Providing
for Generals Si.aftcr, Lee. nni Will
SON Stricken Out - other Changes.

The bill for the reorganization of the
army was passed by the House yesterday
by vote cf 166 to 1873, the members, with
but five exceptions. maintaining a strict
party alignment on the measure-Repub-
licans supporting the measure and Demo-
Gratis, Populists, and Silver Republicans
opposing it. The exceptions were Mr.. Nc
Call Rep) of Massachusetts,, who voted
against the bill, and Messrs. Clayton,
Wilson, and Underhill of New York, and
Hall of Pennsylvania (Dems.), who voted
for it. Mr.. Wilson's was an indirect vote,
he being paired with Mr.. McAleer OF
Pennsylvania in its favor. Mr.. Sibley OF
Pennsylvania, who was elected as a Dem
ocrat to the Fifty-sixth Congress, but
who gave notice of his separation from
the party last session, also voted for the
bill. Messrs. Berry of Kentucky, Fitz-
patrick OF New York, Foster of Illinois,
May of New York, Norton of South Caro-
lima, Stallings of Alabama, Thayer Of
Massachusetts. Democrats; Messrs. Cor
liss of Michigan. Wadsworth of New York.
and White of North Carolina, Repub-
licans. and Ridgely of Kansas. Populist,
we're absent and impaired.
motion by Mr.. Mcclellan to recommit
the bill with Instructions to report the
present army law extended to June 30.
1908, was overwhelmingly defeated-6S to
S46-all the Populists and many Demo-
Gratis voting against it.
In Committee of the Whole the pro-
visions of the bill as reported by the
Committee on Military Affairs were con-
siderably modified. The most important
change was the substitution. on motion by
Mr.. Littlefold. for the section which con-
tinued the existence OF the canteens at
army posts of provision prohibiting the
sale of any liquor at posts. The vote on
this proposition was 159 ayes to 81 noes,
taken by n rising vote. No record vote
under the rules could be secured. The
sections providing for the retirement of
officers who served in the civil war at
the next grade above the one they hold.
and those intended to secure the retire
inent of General Shafter as major gen
eral and Of Gems. Fitzhugh Lee and
James II. Wilson as brigadier generals,
were stricken out.
An amicable arrangement had been
effected over night between the friends
of the GroUt 0leOmaLgarine bill and the
members CT the Military Committee by
which the latter were given right of way
WIN tne Army ReOTSdnlGdIiru Dlff uuiii
the disposal of that measure. the Oieo-
margarine bill to he taken up i;nme liately
thereafter. This agreement was ratified
by the House and the Army bill was
taken up in Committee of the Whole, Mr..
Dalzsl! in the chair. The pending amend
ment proposed by Mr.. Hepburn to enable
the President to fill all vacancies Under
the grade of colonel in the quarternas-
ter's. comruissary. paynaster's. and medi-
cal departments, from civil life or from
volunteers enlisted since April q, 1888,
was lost.
An amendment was agreed to. offered
by Mr.. Hay. authorizing the enlistment
for service in the Philippines for two
years from June 90, 1901, fifty surgeons of
the rank cf major. and $50 of the rank OF
captain. Any whose services the Secre-
tary of War may determine to be no
longer necessary 10 be mustered out.
Denti,t. for the Army.
Mr.. otey proposed an amendment au-
thcrizing the employment Of dental sur
secns. Advocating the amendment Mr..
Otey said he wanted to know what the
House was going TO do for 100000 teeth,
half of which were aching all the time.
Il appeal 20 members of this side of
the House; l appeal to the members on
the other side without regard to the late
election. and without regard to political
affiliations, to give the soldier. the old
soldier. chance to get rid of the 'ooth-
ache"
The amendment was agreed to.
MI Bingham moved that the provision
in the Senate bill for the establishment
of a veterinary corps, omitted by tie
House Committee on Military Affairs, he
7. ..,,,-o. ,bo oo-r- concict or n chief
with the rank of colonel, one major. four
captains. ten first lieutenants, and twenty
second IieutenaGts. The amendment was
advocated by Messrs. Bingham. Butler
Adams, Sulzer, and Green, and opposed by
Messrs Hull, Hay, Mondell Grosyenor,
Steele, and Parker.
The amendment was agreed to-Se to ~
Mr.. Dick moved to amend the section
the pay department by In
creasing the total force of officers from
forty-four 10 ffty-five-one colonel, one
lieutenant colonel. and eleven majors, and
reducing the number of captains from
TO twenty-five. 1t was agreed
70.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Bromwell
o increase the force of the Engineer Corps.
,s recommended by General Wilson, Chief,
rom 7a9 officers to 1SI. was lost.
Mr. Hepburn secured an increase in the |
Signal Corps force of one lieutenant colo |
,el. two majors. ten captains. and ten first !
ieutenants. The provision in that section |
authorizing the temporary continuance of |
;ervice in the Philippines OF ten first lieu |
enants and of ten second lieutenarts, was |
stricken out. An amendment offered by |
Mr.. Hull was agreed to, authorizing the |
President to appoint officers in the present |
Volunteer Army to the grade of first or
seccnd lieutenant without regard TO age.
Mr.. Hay, ranking minority member Of
The Committee on Military Affairs. pleaded
with his political associates on the floor
TO vote against a permanent increase OF /
The army at this time. Within short
ine. he said conditions might change SO
lat Republicans could no longer say the
necessity for larger army exists.
Much discussion was evoked by the pro-
Cnfnrrh for Twenty Years and