The Savannah morning news., 1900-12-06
ARMY BILL OPPOSED.

charge OF the time on the Republican
side. stated that no one on his side de-
sired to speak further Thercupou Mr.. sui
ger, who had charge 81 the time on the
Democratic side yielded an hour 10 Mr.
Mccall, Republican OF Massachusetts.
This was the first in,imaton the House
had that The Massachusetts, member was
10 oppose the bill
Ar Mccall declared that be did not be-
heve IN the principle OF giving the eXecu-
ave discretion 70 multiply almost by Two
the regularly army. although President
Mckinley would doubtless exercise that
discretion periodically and wisely The
objection was one OF principle such
grant OF power could not d. paraileled Ia
the constitutional monarChles. 1t was
not conferred with any limitation us 20
time
The government should have declared
az The outset policy in the Philippines
similar 20 chat declared in cuba our
system OF government was manifestIy IN.
~ for a colonial policy. and that propo-
sition had been so frequently discussed
that he would consider the practical
question whether " was Tor our interest
10 remain IN the Philippines. There waA
no community OF interest between the
people Of those Islands and the United
states. and they we're almost as far as
the poles asundcr No advocate OF retain
ing the Philippines had been daring
enough 10 maintain that they would be
part Of our political system. In "a :.
the great argument 10 favor OF che prin-
ciple % the Porto Rico tarim Was thar
u We could not apply that principle 20
Porto Rico We could not retain the Philip
pines
Enormous Expense Of the Army.
Upon what theory. he asked. are We 10
remain in that country The French
army costs N25,oooooo a year the Get-
man $3.50 ooo0o. tho British si00 90 coo and
the Russian si52 eooo These figures in
clude pensions and foriifcations.
III this bill passes tho War Depart
ment win need tll3Oooo0o There is an
other cost not included IN these figures
which Is necessary incident to an army
-as much a part OF It's cost as the pay OF
the soldiers. That is the pension system.
We are nppropnatlng for that purpose
SiiS 10000 year our total charges
therefore. for military purposes are 800
10000 per year. an amount greater than
the joint military expenses Of those two
armed rivals-France and Germany"
In conclusion Mr.. Mccall pleaded that IN
dealing with the Philippines We pursue
the American presidents. and said:
The time has come when we can
frankly declare our purposes Let us give
those people those assurances which our
history inspires. Let us tell them that
We will aid them for one year or for I'VE n
need be in setting up a government Of
their own symbolzed by their own flag
and We will leave with them all shat Is
most glorious iu the meaning % another
flag. liberty. independence and selt-gov-
eminent"
When Mr. Mccall finished the Demo
Gratis applauded him vigorously
Mr. Cox OF Tennessee. a member OF the
Military Committee spoke against the
general principles Of increasing the size
OF the permanent army
Misrepresentation says Hull.
Mr.. Hun declared that Mr. Mccall had
misapprehended the purpose Of the bill.
The President under the treaty Of Paris
must assert the sovereignty Of the United
States over the Philippine Islands. The
people Of the United States must decide
how long our authority there shall exist.
Personally. ne believed that our s0ver-
eighty over the Philippines would con-
iinue as long as the republic endured
Honestly, now" asked Mr.. Williams,
independently % the Philippine question.
DO you NOT want a permanent army Of ~
0e0 men for other purposes
NO. most emphatcally mo- answered
Mr.. Hull.
General debate was then closed and the
bin waa read for amendment under the
dve-minute rule.
The paragraphs authorizing the Score
tary OF War 20 prescribe regulations as
10 fitness of volunteers or civilians APP
pointed 80 the regular army under the
terms o. the BIN. were stricken out.
MIR Hepburn offered the following
amendment:
Provided that any vacancy in the
quartermaster's department may be filled
by appointment from civil life.'
Mr. Hepburn made this amendment tho
basis OF some severe criticisms Of the
Shafter expedition before Santiago. which
might have been ohviated. he said. II
competent men from civil life had been
I'm charge.
without action upon the amendment
the committee rose and the House at $40
p m. adjourned.
essKnn ron m~n 900