The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-08
The Army Reorganization Bill.

much more vicious measure in prin-
chile. and in some of its details. than the
Army bill which was passed by the House
of Representatives Thursday. it would be
impossible TO conceive. We have already
recorded the opinion of this journal in
regard TO the unusual and dangerous
power the measure gives to the Presi-
dent in the matter of increasing the army
at any time from its minimum to any
force he may wish up to the maximum.
Such power never should be vested in any
single man in free country. In the
United States at least il is part of the
war making power of Congress, and Its
surrender by the Legislative to the exec
utive branch of the Government is in yio-
lation of the spirit If not the letter OF
the Constitution. 1t is a long step in
the direction of Imperialism; but as TO
that. it is quite plain that Republican
legislators are Indifferent.
Not long ago the President took it upon
himself TO engage in and prosecute for
eign war without reference to Congress,
and 10 SO doing We have no less an au-
thority than the Hon. George F. Ed
munds for saying that he violated the
Constitution. Perhaps Republican Sena-
tors and Representatives argue that as
the war power rights of Congress will
not be respected in any event, they might
as well be turned over to the White
House and SO save talk in the future
The army canteen. an institution which
has done a noble missionary work for the
service. and great. contributed to tenn
persnce. good order. and discipline within
It, has been sacrificed on the altar Of ig-
nofance and fanaficism F. a. 90 7e
the army II is TO be hoped that the Sem
ate may refuse &c retify such hypocriti-
cal and altogether unworthy action. The
people who have been warning upon the
canteen system, whatever they may pre-
tend. are the enemies of temperance. They
cannot. and know they cannot tear down
the canteen without thereby building UP
the vile whisky dive just outside the Gov
eminent reservation. They know that TO
destroy the cantesn would make pay day
at every army post terror to officers, and
NIL the guardhouses with misdemeanants
almost unknown to them now
Such legislation is vicious also. in that
II treats the enlisted man as a slave and
unentitled TO the ordinary civil rights of
other people. The assumption that be-
cause man has put national uniform
on he must be made to conform not only
to the articles of war but to the by
laws of the Woman's Christian Temper
ance Union as well, is simply outrageous
Prohibiiion;sts do not care for that; ap-
psrently do not care how much drunken
ness and disorder their demands may en-
tall 1t is not temperance they are
working for. but conformity to their ideas.
they are all perfectly satisfied to see a
jug OF rum under every three>legged stool
In the community long as there is a
prohibition law in the Revised Statutes.
The provision intended to make a way for
the retirement OF three hundred pounds |
of sick fesh." in the person of shafter as |
q major general was killed Even the COM |
panion clause which would enable Brig.
Gems. Fitxhugh Lee and Wilson TO retire |
as regular brigadiers, could not save it.
and both went by the board II is some
what OF a commentary upon the alleged
services Of Shafter in the Spanish war that
he was considered too large dose to be
swallowed even by Mr. Hanna's Congress
ional sutomsta. However, there is small
doubt that the great commander who wins
battles from afar of with hammock and
q chunk Of ice. will be indicated In the
Senate, where the Army bill now waits
Its turn AT the oven. There is one ground
Tor satisfaction in She connection The
measure is 30 bad that there is listle dan
ger OF its being made any worse before IL
reaches the Executive Mansion.