The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1900-12-06
Scathing Arraignment of the Ad-
ministration's Policy by Rep
resentative Cochran.
DEBATE BEGAN ON ARMY BILL.
Missouri Congressman Led the
Democrats in a Vigorous AS
sault on the Military Com
mittce'S Measure.
The Republic Bureau.


Washington. Dec. J.-it"prc-entattve tOCh-
ran OF -. Joseph was one OF the principal
@ ~, '",,idN ''E 'InSt VI. .'iiiii!is'i ,i ~
army DIN Mr. Co nrdn contended that this
biii Is the essence "f iTnpe ialism and marks
- deI'";tur' it"ia TIM rrI1clp!'s uf c"ll'n-
iutional government. He said:
I see that in the report %, the Secretary
OF War We ar. told there must be an in
crease Of S".ot'"" for maintenance Of this
army. IN" army is 10 hc permanent ANA
The appropriation Tor its support must s.
"!l year after year and he ii fixed charge
ur"n the taN-ayers. What are We To- OH
tain for this in the f.tr-away AsiaticSH Ii
cannot bc commerce, beCtuS" the prot''r-
uoniSts assert that ii is wise To- close the
rnr,S Of the country by arbitrary tariff.
The Republicans aVowcd III tn" outset
an intention 10 HGmii the Philippines on
terms Of absolute equality with the nations
uI the earth. We cannot har ont the COM
merce Of foreign countries without re
Caniing an explicit declaration To the grett
Powers of Europe that an open door 7y"Iid
be maintained ther. But all the trade Il
the Philippines divided as II viii he arlon.;
tho nations Of the earth would b.. It mere
hdEattll1 The army never Will walk tna
earth lhat can conquer ana pa"fy tn pep
pie Of the Philippines. The nature and en-
yironrnent OF the islands is sn abs"ut.. de
Tense All The elements are at war with
Eleven of the twenty-six pages Of the hill
were disposed of before adjournment. To-
morrow the Grout oleomargarine b.ll. under
IL special order made at the last s"g..On.
VIII disiIace the army bill, which Will 90
over until Friday.
Army Hill Called Up.
When the House mot the Speaker ar
nounced that he had 4 cOmmunica ion from
the family OF Mr.. Boutelle Of Maine resign
Ing his position as chairman OF the Com
mittee on Naval Affairs.
Mr. DalZell of Pennsylvania from the
Committee on Rules then presented a special
order for the immediate consideration OF
the army bill. the rule not to Interfere with
other special orders.
Mr. balzell said that legislation OF some
character was imperative. as il wouli take
time To recruit and organize the new army,
which must replace the old Oh July l. 1891
Mr.. Richardson of Tennessee said that his
Side OF the House recognized the necessity
Tor some legislation. but did not agree that
this bill establishing "a permanent standing
should become a law. II an emergency
army exists. an emergency should be pro-
IL was proposed TO provide an army
which could be expanded ut the will of ON.
good or able that man might be he was not
Whilhs 10 see one man given such power
II was IN his opinion ibdcating the func-
tionS of Congress
Mr.. Hull then opened the debate. He said
the main objection he had heard to the or
fanizatlon proposed by the bill was TO the
alleged preponderatinE influence o. the cav
at:!; IniS. h said. was necessary because
Of the effectiveness of cavalry In operations
in the Philippines
MIR. Cochran % Missouri followed Mr..
HUH. Then Mr.. kleberg Of Texas an
hounced his unaiterable opposition to an In
crease of the standing army.
The sensation OF the day occurred when
Mr.. Sulzer. who had charge of the time ON
the Democratic side, announced the hour
I" Mr.. Mccall (RepD OF Massachusetts II
was the first int!mation to the House that
the Massachusetts member was to oppose
the bill. Members who had retired 10 their
clcakroomS fiocked back into their seats
and keen interest was shown in his re-
marks.
W.. NrCIlis Arrnignmcnt.
Mr. Mccall said he did not believe in the
principle Of giving the executive power 10
multiply almost ny two the regular army
although President Mckinley would doubt
less exercise that discretion patrioticalv
and wisely. The objection was one of prin-
Cifle
\ temporary provision should be made
Tor the Philippines and the character Of
tn" bill made I: important to discuss what
III" ultimate policy of the country with
refcrs nee to the army should be"
II pon what theory he asked. ARE We
TO r"main in that country
Those who compare our standing arrny
with the standing armies OF Europe usually
are careful rot to compare the relative
costs. The French Army costs N25Os,lva
a year: the German $3.50 go 600 the British
slo00r.0o1 and tho Russian sl53. 900. 900 These
figures include pensions and Notifications.
II this bill passes the War Department
will need Sll3.c10.Oo There is another cost
not included in these figures which Is a
necessary incident to the army. and aS
much part OF the cost the pay Of the
soldiers. That is the pension system