The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-16

The Military Academy Appropriation bill
for the fiscal year ending June 80 1901. was
passed without important amendment by
the House of Representatives yesterday An
| effort was made by Mr.. Mahon to secure
the insertion of section requiring cadets,
| on entrance, to take an oath not to engage
In hazing, a violation Of 1t to be punish
able by expulsion. Tb.avoid rejection on a
1 point of order, Mr.. Mahon withdrew the
amendment General debate was limited to
two hours.
| Mr.. Hull, Chairman of the committee re-
porting the bill, explained its provisions. 1t
carries total of s644, 149, an increase of
| S6S,375 over the total of the bill for the
current year.
Under the head of Permanent establish
ment the item of pay of cadets is reduced
| from $500, $40, as given in the estimates, to
s1s5,0CO. This reduction was made for the
reason that there are now only 1896 cadets
| in the Academy, while the estimates are
made on 371.
Under the head of extra pay of officers
| the bill carries the same amount as esti-
mated for. Under the head of band and
| general army service there is apparently
an increase over the estimates. in the item
| of pay of general army service for pay Of
100 privates, 1864.
| Under the same head is appropriated
for pay OF artillery detachment several
| items amounting to s9.396.
The estimate for this item was for extra
pay Of twenty eight enlisted men Of cav
| airy detachment employed on additional
| duty with the instruction battery Of field
artillery, United States Military Academy,
at $50 each, $3.50.
The bill contains a proviso for the pur-
pose Of giving extra pay to the enlisted men
of the general army service. These men
are enlisted with special contract that
| they are to receive this extra duty pay for
services specially at the Military Academy.
| They do not perform the duties OF SOL
| der in the ordinary sense. but as me-
| chanics and laborers. and are enlisted es-
pecially for this service, with the under
| standing that they are to receive this extra
| duty pay. On account Of the passage of the
law increasing the pay of all soldiers 20
per cent during the time of war, and not
| allowing any extra-duty pay, they have not
been paid this extra-duty pay for two
years that their terms Of enlistment entitle
them to. This proviso restores this extra
duty pay to them. less 20 per cent which
they have already drawn.
The bill contains an item for pay for one
janitress for Memorial Hall, $500 This is
in addition to the estimates, and was put
into the bill upon the earnest request Of
Colonel Mills, Superintendent of the Mill
tary Academy
There is an item of 5000 for maintain
ing and improving the grounds at the post
cemetery. The estimate on this item was
only 81, 0G0, but upon Colonel Mills earnest
request 1t was raised to $1,000
Buildings and Grounds.
In discussing that part Of the bill which |
treats of buildings and grounds. Mr.. Hull
said that building for the mess Of the |
bachelor officers is now necessity at the |
Academy. 1t had never had a suitable
building or place. for this purpose. For
years the south end Of the cadet mess hall !
had been used as mess for officers, but it
had been a situation that had been rec
ognized always as an undesirable one and
the portion Of the building allotted for it
had been unsuitable for the purpose. The
entire cadet mess hall building was need
ed for the use Of cadets and provision must
be made for an officers mess as is done in
all modern military posts.
Mr.. Slayden followed Mr.. Hull, and, taxi
ing advantage of the latitude allowed in
discussion during the tendency of gen raj
appropriations. he did not address himself
to the bill.
Referring to the warnings issued by the
War Department against men without cap
ital going to the newly acquired insular
possessions of the United States, accom-
panied by a statement that men with cap
ital could profitably invest money there, he
said that the millions of our military expe-
ditions had prepared these possessions for
exploitation OF trusts and syndicates SO
dear to the heart OF the Republican party.
These warnings and invitations were radi-
cally different from those that followed the
Louisiana Purchase.
Mr.. Berry opposed the Ship Subsidy bill.
Mr.. Greene spoke of the necessity Of ac
curate craftsmanship in the army. II. C.
Smith, representing the district in which
Ann Arbor University is located said that
the entire cost OF that institution had not
been equal to that Of a single battleship.
Mr.. Denny inveighed against the progress
of the spirit of militarism in the land. IF
We attend to our own business nobcdy will
disturb us, and there will be no need of a
large army
Mr.. Suffers Proposition.
Mr.. Sulzer advocated radical change in
the management and purpose Of the West
oihe ftSdueihy. hS against
against a large standing army. he would
open West Point to any young man who
could pass the entrance examination, and
the maintenance of militia reserve. The
men educated at West Point he said, in
case their military services were needed
could organize and command the reserve
He said in part:
Il have given a great deal OF time and
study to this problem and as am opposed ,
to large Regular Army and to mlitarism
believe the best way to meet it is by
making the West Point Military Academy !,
a great national university for the school
ing and the training OF the young men in
our land. When they graduate | would
have part go into civil life. The training
and the education they have received will
be of great advantage to them and they
will be able to secure good positions and
good salaries in civil pursuits. In case OF
trouble or foreign or domestic war the.
could call on them and their
knowledge and training would be Of great
, ssistance to the Government, | am VOW