The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-06

the policy. Those who compare our
standing army with the standing armies or
Europe usually are careful not 10 compare
the relative costs. The French army costs
SIS. 10000 a year: the German. $l30.0o0.O0O;
the British. Sl0o.O00.oo0. and the Russian,
s153. 10000. These figures include pensions
and publications. II this bill passes the
War Department will need $l13.o00.ooO.
There is another cost not included In
these figures, which Is "A necessary incl
cent TO an army and as much a part OF It's
cost as the pay of the soldiers. That is the
pension system. I'VE are appropriatinS
FOR that purpose $145.0oo.Oo a year." me
said. Our total charges. therefore. Tor
military purposes are $260,0O0,0cO per year
an amount greater than the joint military
expenses of those two armed rivals, France
and Germany"
in dealing with the Philippines we pursue
the American precedents. and said: the
time has come when We can frankly ue-
clare our purposes. Let US give these peo-
pie those assurances which our history
inspires. Let US tell them that We Will an
them for one year or for five, l. need De-
in setting up a government OF tnelr own;
symboiized by their own flag. and we VIII
leave with them all that Is most glorious
In the meaning of another fiag-liberty.
independence and self-government:
There were no demonstrations through
out Mr.. McCalI's speech. but when he fin
ished the Democrats gave him a rousins
round of applause. -,
Mr.. Cummings. of New YORK, criticiseo
seacoast States had been overlooked ana
no adequate provision made Tor manning
the seacoast defenses OF the country.
Mr.. Cox, of Tennessee, a member OF tne
military commi tee, concluded the general
debate on the behalf Of the minority with
a t~wenty-minute speech against the gen
eral principle of increasing the size Oh the
permanent army. IF you are TO create an
army to shoot down the f1liplnoS VINO are
fighting for h we fought for said ne,
II will not vote a nickel Tor sucn an
Mr.. Hull. in closing the general debate,
declared that Mr.. Mccall had misappre-
hended the purpose of the bill The Presi-
dent, under the treaty OF Paris, must as
sert the sovereignty OF the United States
over the Philippine islands. As long as
the islands were ours we must enforce our
authority or disgrace ourselves IN the eyes
of the world. The people of the United
States must decide how long our authority
there shall exist. So far as he personally
was concerned he believed that our SOW
~ereignty over the Philippines would con-
tinue as long as the Republic endured.
why do you seek to provide for a per-
manent army?" asked Mr.. Williams, of
Mississippi. Why do you not limit Its
| existence 10 the Philippine warp
Because we desire the army OF the
United States to do whatever necessity
may require replied Mr.. Hull.
Honestly, now" persisted Mr.. Williams,
INDEPENDENTS of the Philippine question,
do you not wan a permanent army or Co.
0O men for other purposes?"
mo most emphat1cally, no., nsWere1
Mr.. Hull.
General debate was then closed and the
bill was read for amendment under the
hve-minute rule. The paragraphs author
iZing the secretary of war to prescribe reg
ulations as tc fitness of volunteers or civil
ians appointed to the regular army under
the terms of the bill were stricken out.
Mr.. Hepburn offered the following amend
ment: Provided that any vacancy In the
quartermaster's department may be filed
by appointment from civil He" Mr.. Hep
burn made this amendment the basis of
some severe criticism of the Shafter ex-
petition before Santiago. The scandals
which existed in the quartermaster's
branch of the service on that occasion, he
said, might have been obviated If COM
petent men from civil life had been in
charge.
Mr.. Hull defended the quartermaster S
| department, saying that when the wal
broke out the q-uartermaster's department
was inadequate to the task as a result of
| the refusal of Congress to do its duty years
ago. Without action on the amendment,
the House, at $40 d. m, adjourned.