The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-05-03
THE ARMY APPROPRIATION BILL.
Bitter Debate on the Treatment of Volunteers
to the Philippines.
CRv the Associated Press. }

Washington May Reconsideration of
the Army Appropriation Bill in the Senate
today developed a debate on the treatment
of the volunteer soldiers sent TO the
Philippines that at times was very bitter.
Mr. Mason QHs.) delivered a speech on
the investigation made by the Committee
on Manufactures of the adulteration OF
food lie strongly urged that Congress
should take immediate action to remedy
existing evils. looking to marking ingredi-
ents OF all foods exposed for sale and
prohibiting all deleterous articles.
Just before adjournment a sharp col
loquy occurred over the proposed consid-
Grafton of the resolution to unseat Mr.
Clark, of Montana, which indicated that
the unanimous recommendation or the
Committee On Privileges and Elections
will be sharply contested.
A bill was passed to establish the Fred
ericksburg and adjacent national battle
fields memorial park in Virginia.
Consideration of the Army Appropria-
ton Bill was then resumed.
In offering an amendment providing
that the volunteer soldiers in the Phlllp-
pines who had remained there and per-
formed willing service long after they
were entitled TO discharge should receive
travel pay and Communication of subSlSt-
ance less the actual cost of their trans
portation to the United States, Mr.. Turn
er (Wash) made an extended statement.
The amendment, he said, applied to
about TO- 900 officers and men scattered
all over the country. He declared that
returning volunteers had been packed
like swine into dark. filthy, rotten and
antiquated vessels. At the reception at
San Francisco to the returning Washing
ton regiment he had gone into the hold
of the transport where the soldiers
quarters, he said, were not fit for animals.
The Government ought to have PAID
these volunteers double pay for packing
them like sardines into these miserable
holes.
The amendment was killed on point
of order Mr.. Pettigrew bitterly de-
nounced the Government for keeping the
volunteers in service after their time had
expired. Mr.. Pettigrew said that hun
dreds Of soldiers who had served in the
Philippines were now inmates of St.
Elizabeths insane asylum at Washington.
At least 200, he declared, had committed
suicide.
! Mr.. Pettigrew had letter read which
! he wrote to the President, in which he
used most violent and abusive language
| against the Chief Executive.
/ Mr. Tillman offered resolution calling
upon the Secretary CT War for information
Of the amount and character of claims
| filed with the War Department for dam
ages done by the United States soldiers
in and near camps for the troops estab-
I lshed in this country during the war with
! Spain, and directing him to report what
amount, in his opinion, was justly and
! equitably due to claimants. The resolu-
! ticn was passed.
| Mr. Hoar (Mass) then gave notice that
| tomorrow he would move to proceed to
the consideration of the resolutin declar-
ing Mr.. Clark, of Montana. not to he en-
/ titled to his seat in the Senate.
| After brief executive session, the
Senate at 500 o'clock p. m. adjourned.