The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-22
EM0LUMENTS OF OFFICERS.
SENATE WANTS TO KNOW ABOUT
EXTRA EXPENSES.

President to Increase Allowances
or Pay of Army Omcers-Doctrine
of AbsOIutism of President Was
Severely Denounced.
Washington, April Ex-senator Bacon's
resolution calling for facts about extra
compensation paid to army officers in
high station in Cuba and Porto
Rico was adopted by the Senate
to-day as was the other one on
! the same line calling for the details of
certain elaborate expenditures said to
have been made in fitting up quarters for
the American representatives, at Havana.
The introduction of the resolutions, and
their consideration brought forth not only
a lively discussion in the Senate, in
which some startling admissions were
made, but it brought from the Secretary
Of War the admission that the allegations
are true. What is more than this it
brought from Secretary Root the adnis-
sion that this large compensation had
been granted to some favorite officers
in high position after full consideration
by the President and his cabinet.
The secretary and the senatorial de-
Tenders of the administration seek to de-
fend this act which is in direct conflict
with the specific law which provides that
no army officer shall receive extra COM
pensation, by pointing out that it has only
gone to few ana that the money which
went to these favored few came from the
revenues of Cuba and not from the funds
for the PAYNE MT Of army officers salaries.
This bold acknowledgment of the mis-
| appropriation for a clearly illegal purpose
q Cllhap x1yac mn
even the author Of the resolution of in
quiry hoped to get out of the administra-
ton officials.
But the debate was even more import
ant, 1t disclosed the Republican pro-
! sramme not only with regard to Cuba,
but with regard to the Philippines in that
it summed up in the bold declaration of
| Senator Platt of Connecticut that the
| President is beyond the reach of Con-
gress when administering the affairs of
these islands. 1t is nothing short of COM
| plete absolutism.
| Senator Bacons resolutions have re-
suited in bringing out lot of facts which
| the administration has been endeavoring
to carefully conceal, and which are sure
to cut a great big figure in the campaign
! this year. The Georgia Senator is being
| generally congratulated by his colleagues
on the results already attained by the in
PRODUCTION Of his resolutions Of inquiry.
The debate took wide range, many
| senators participating.
When the Bacon resolutions were laid
| before the Senate Senator Pettigrew of
South Dakota delivered a characteristic
| address in support of the resolutions He
criticised vigorously the statements made
| by the President and war department, and
| in response to his resolutions, maintain
| ing they were not complete or satisfac-
| tory.
Mr. Hawley, chairman of the Military
! Affairs Committee, resented the state
ments of the South Dakota senator as
RECKLESS and unwarranted," and assert
| ed that all information required by the
| Senate would be furnished in due time.
| Mr. Garter of Montana, in an explana-
| tion of the subject, which he had inVesti-
| gated, said that additional salaries had
| not been granted to army officers on SER
vice in Cuba or in Porto Rico. When
! the United States assumed the functions
| of government in Cuba and in Porto Rico
army officers We're assigned to perform
| civil as well as military duties. These
officers, Mr.. Carter said, were thrust into
| positions where their expenses necessar-
lily were considerably increased.
He instanced the case of an officer Of
| his own acquaintance who found it impos-
sible to meet his additional necessary ex-
penses out of his regular pay. He, there
fore asked to be relieved from duty in
| Cuba or given an allowance for expenses.
| He was given an allowance of $1,S00 a
| year. because the Secretary of War and
| the President felt that the officer ought
rot virtually to be fined for the perform
| ance of duties TO which he was assigned.
Suggestion From TiIIman.
Mr.. Tillman suggested that it might be
| well to wait until the resolutions were
answered before entering upon a discussion
of them.
1--WE on the other side' said he, want
| to know something on this question and
have not had the advantage of information
| from the war department"
| Mr. Bacon, the author of the resolutions,
discussed them at some length. He dis
sented strongly from the proposition that
| the President could collect and disburse,
according to his unrestrained judgment,
| The revenues of Cuba. He did not have
| that unlimited power. He maintained that
! the law of the United States expressly for
bade the giving to army officers any addi-
| tional compensation above their regular
| nav If allowances were necessary by rea-
| son of their assignment to dutX in Cuba,
| the matter ought to have been brought,
| I'm his opinion, to the attention of Congress.
He believed it was a dangerous precedent
for the executive branch of the govern
| ment to fall into the habit of violating the
| law thus openly
"Can we not direct the President to
| withdraw the army from Cuba?' inquired
| Mr. Tillman.
"That Is one thing we can do" replied
| Mr.. Platt of Connecticut
"Do not the acts of Congress control in
| cuba ?" asked MIR Daniel
mo" replied Mr. Platt, sharply
"Do not the laws of the United Sta tes
as 10 the pay and emoluments Of officers
Of the army apply in Cuba?" pers sted
| Mr. Daniel
"As to the pay and emoluments of army
officers yes" replied Mr.. Plat, but as 10
what ehall be done in cuba, no. Our oc-
cupatlon of cuba is military, and is under
executive and not legislative authority"
AbsoIutism of the President.
"Where does the President get this great
authority?" again asked Mr.. Daniel.
"From the constitution" replied Mr.
| p'att "As ommauder-in-chief Of The
army the President has authority beyond
the power which may be conferred upon
| him by Congress"
Mr. Daniel. replying 70 Mr.. Plat ex-
| prossed surprise az the statements made
| bv tho Connecticut senator II was the
1 tNs nr. l.ll