The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1900-12-12
ARMY BILL DEBATED IN HOUSE.
A Massachusetts, Republican virgor.
ousiY Opposes It.

Washington, Dec. 5-The house
devoted the day to the army reor
ganization bill, which was brought
up under a special order, adopted al
the opening of the session, which
limited general debate to two hours
on side. Lieut.. Gen. Miles and q
number of army officers we're inter.
ested spectators throughout the day.
Only two Republicans participated
in the general debate.
The sensation of tha day occurred
when Mr.. Shsfroth took his seat.
Mr.. Hull, in charge Of the time
on the Republican side, stated
that no one on his side desired to
speak further. Thereupon Mr.. Sui
zer, who had charge of the time on
The Democrntic side, yielded an hour
to Mr.. Mccall (Rep.) Of Massachu-
setts. This was the first intimation
the public had that the Massachu-
setts man would oppose the bill.
Mr.. Mccall declared that he did
not believe in the principle OF giving
the executive discretion to multiply
almost by two the regular army, al
though President Mckinley would
doubtless exercise that discretion
patrioticly and wisely. The obiec-
tion was one of principle. Such a
grant of power could net be parallel
ed in the constitutional monarchies.
It was not conferred with any limita-
ton as to the time. The govern
ment should have declared at the
out set policy in the Philippines
similar to that declared in Cubs.
Our system of government was man
ifestly unfit for colonial policy, and
that proposition had been SO fire.
quentiy discussed that he would con-
slider the practical question whether
it was for our interest to remain in
the Philippines. There was no CON-
munity Of interest between the peo-
pie of those islands and the United
States, and they were almost as far
as the poles asunded. No advocate
of retaining the Philippines had been
daring enough to maintain that they
should be part of our political sys
tenn. In fact, the great argument in
favor of the principle Of the Puerto
Rico tariff was that if We could not
apply that principle to Puerto Rico
We could not retain the Philippines.
Upon what theory" he asked,
''are we to remain in that country?
The French army costs $l25, ,000,00
a year; the German, $l30,000,00c;
the British, SlOO,00o,000, aud the
Russian, $l53.0OO,000 These fg-
ures include pensions and fortifca-
tions. If this bill passes the war
department will need $1l3,000,000.
There is another cost not included in
these figures, which is a necessary
incident to an army as much a part
OF its cost as the pay of the soldiers.
That is the pension system. We are
appropriating for that purpose Sl45,-
0O),0oO a year. Our total charge,
therefore, for military purposes are
$3.50, 100000 per year, an amount
greater than the joint military ex-
penses OF those two armed rivals,
France and Germany"
In conclusion Mr.. Mccall pleaded
that in dealing with the Philippines
We pursue the American precedenta,
aud 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 FIVE, if need be, in
setting up q government of their
own, symbolized by their own flag,
and we will leave with them all that
is most glorious in the meaning OF
another a,g-liberty,, independence
and self:government.'
When Mr.. Mccall finished the
Democrats applauded him vigorous
ly. :. ,.,.
- -. >
He Fooled the Surueors.