The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-27

During the morning hour yesterday Mr..
Aliens resolution calling on the Secre-
tary of War for information in connection
with the Philippine insurrection was laid
before the Senate. The resolution calls
for statement OF the number OF soldiers
who have been killed or have died in the
Philippines since August l. 1898; the num-
ber who have been wounded; the number
who have died of disease; the number who
have committed suicide; the number now
fncapacitated for duty; as to contagious
diseases prevalent there; and all other
similar information in the possession of
the War Department.
Mr.. Gallnger suggested that the resolu-
tion be referred to the Committee on Mil
itary Affairs, and said that should the in
formation called for by it be made public
it would have the effect Of discouraging
enlistments in the Army.
Mr.. Allen denied that such would be the
case and said that an authoritative state
ment by the War Department as to the
condition of our army in the Philippines
would be the best way to prevent mis-
statements from being made on that sub
iect.
MIR. Aliens War Record.
Il served three years and two months, ="
he continued, in the Army Of the United
States at time when there was a war;
when it was not a Sunday school enter
tainmcnt And it is not recorded of the
Senator from New Hampshire that his
plume waved in the forefront of battle at
that time. To refer the resolution to the
Committee on Military Affairs would be to
destroy and smother it. / am credibly in
formed that the army now in the Philip
pine Islands will have to be withdrawn in
a few months and fresh men sent out
there, or our army will be paralyzed and
absolutely useless in consequence OF dis
ease. l have no hesitation in saying now
that If any young man asked me whether
he should enlist in order to go to the Phil
ippines / would tell him No. and l would
take the consequences"
Mr. Gallinger expressed his regret that
Mr.. Allen should have made a personal at
tack upon him.
Mr.. Allen disclaimed any such intention
and said he had not the slightest thought
OF making a personal assault on the SEN
ator.
Mr. Gallinger said he was glad to hear
the disclaimer. but that it was not the
first time that the Senator from Nebraska
had taken occasion to suggest that he
(Mr. Alien) had served in the Army, and
that he tMT. Gallinger) had not. He stated
that his services had been offered to the
Government and had been declined on
what he thought were insufficient grounds.
He had no desire to smother the resolu
tion, but he thought it ought not to be
agreed 10 without first being carefully
considered. He said that he did not know
whether or not the soldiers were to be
recalled from the Philippines in the next
few months. He did not believe that the
mortality in the army there was large, or
that the percentage of sickness was more
than had been expected.
Mr.. Hawley, Chairman of the Committee
on Military Affairs. said he thought that |
the enquiry ought to be made. and that if |
possible the statistics from the Philip |
pines should be compared with those of |
the armies of other nations under similar |
conditions. He believed that Mr.. Allen |
would be disappointed in the result of the |
enquiry and pledged himself to see that |
the resolution shall be acted upon He !
then moved that it be referred to the |
Committee on Military Affairs, and by a |
majority viva yoce vote the motion was |
agreed to.
Mr. Hanna's Denial
Mr.. Hanna arose to a question of per- |
sonsl privilege and, without any prelimi |
nary remarks. he directed the attention of |
the Senate 10 an article published in a |
recent issue of a local newspaper, from !
which he proceeded to read an extract, 10 |
the effect that a member OF the House of /
who voted for the Porto !
Rican Tariff bill mad stated that the bill {
had been supported by the Republican |
party as a part OF deal" whereby its !
committee was to receive a large |
contribution for electioneering purposes. |
Wien he had read the extract Mr.. Hanna |
called attention to the fact that the state |
ment was published within quotation marks |
and then he declared:
Il don't believe that any Republican |
member OF the House of Representatives. |
whether he voted for the bill or not, ever |
made such statement"
Continuing Mr. Hanna said that The
published statement carried on its face
evidence that it was false, and that he
had no hesitancy in asserting that it was
a malicious falsehood.
Il shall not move for an investigation,
be said, in conclusion, e but hope meas
Ires will be taken to investigate this. as
[, for one. brand it as malicious lie
No action was taken in the matter, and
no further remarks upon it were made
Mr.. Allison reported from the Finance
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