The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-03-30
ARMY BILL PASSED BY HOUSE.
COMMITTEE MEASURE WAS ONLY
SLIGHTLY MODIFIED.

Defense of the War Department
Against the Charge of Extrava-
gance in Fitting Up the Trans
port Sumner-Effort TO Take Away
the Power to Purchase Ammuni-
ton, Failed-Other Features of the
BilI-BOreing Retains His Seat.
Washington, March 29.-After four days
of stormy debate the House to-day passed
the army appropriation bill. As passed
the bill is only slightly modified from
the form in which it came from the COM
mittee.
One of the last amendments adopted
opens the soldiers homes to the officers
and men of the volunteer and regular
armies, incapaciated by service during or
since the Spanish war.
The chief incident of the day was a de-
fense of the war department by Mr.. Par
ker of New Jersey, against che charge OF
reckless extravagance in the fitting up
of the transport Sumner made by MIR.
briggs of New York. yesterday.
Mr.. McRae, Democrat of Arkansas,
moved TO strike from the provision for
the manufacture or purchase" of small
arm ammunition the words cor pur-
chase" He declared that the government
of ammunition.
Mr.. Hull vigorously opposed the amend
ment. II might be necessary to purchase
ammunition, and the hands of the gov
ernment should not be tied He called
attention to our helpless condition for
lack OF ammunition at the opening of the
Spanish War, and said he favored the ac-
cumulation of munitions of war.
Mr.. Underwood of Alabama favored
the amendment. He was opposed TO plac-
ing discretionary power TO purchase In
the hands of the war department. He
was inclined to think 1t led 10 extrava-
gance and jobbery and called the atten-
ton of the House TO the facts elected yes
terday regarding the transport Sumner.
Defended War Department.
This reference to the Sumner aroused
Mr.. Parker, who detailed the history of
the vessel, which, he said had been Wild
ly distorted.
He said the Sumner was an old collier,
refitted, and produced itemized figures
from the war department to prove that
there was no undue extravaganza. The
briggs said yesterday cost $1,000, was
plated ware and cost all told but 81 200.
The amendment was lost.
The provision for firing morning and
evening guns at state soldiers and sail
ors' homes went out on a point of order
made by Mr.. McT1ae of Arkansas.
This completed the bill, and the commit
tee then went back to several points tenn
porarlly passed over during the reading
of the measure.
An amendment was adopted changing
the eligibility for admission to soldiers
homes so as to admit all volunteer and
regular soldiers incapacitated since the
outbreak of the Spanish War.
An amendment was adopted to give to
officers and men of the volunteer army
who did not receive extra pay when mus
tered out one months pay If they served
within the United States, and two months
pay If they served beyond the limits of
the United States.
Without further amendment the bill was
passed.
The resolution unanimously reported
from Committee on Elections No. 2 in
the contested election case of White vs.
Boreing from the Eleventh Kentucky dis
trict confirming Mr.. Boreing's title to his
seat was adopted without division. Both
the contestant and contestee are Repub-
licans.
AT 4:2s p. m. the House adjourned.