The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-30
THE ARMY BILL PASSED
Appropriations for Maintaining
the Military Force.
The End of "a Four Days Discussion
ia the HOuse-A Number of Amend
in Fitting Out Transports Brought
Up-A Contested Election Decided.

The Army Appropriation bill was passed
by the House yesterday afternoon after
four days discussion. A number Of amend
ments were made. but none was Of much
Importance except one directing the ac-
counting officers OF the Treasury to settle
officers accounts for travel pay upon the
basis of tables Of distance prepared and
promulgated by the Secretary Of War. An
other opens the national soldiers homes to
veterans Of the Spanish-American war.
In the course OF the discussion Mr.. Par
ker Of New Jersey presented figures from
the Qusrtermaster Generals Office show
ing that the newspaper statements quoted
yesterday by Mr. briggs OF New York. as
serting that gross extravaganza marked
the fitting and furnishing OF the trans
port Sumner. were not true. Mr.. briggs
refused to be convinced without an inves-
tigation of the transport service provid-
ug for which he said he had introduced a
resolution.
Al 1890 the House went into Committee
OF the Whole to further consider the bill
The paragraph carrying the incidental eX-
penses Of the War Department made pro-
vision for transportation home Of the bod
les OF civilian employees Of the Army who
have died in the insular possessions OF
the United States. It was amended by
direction of the Committee on Military
Affairs SO as to authorize the transpOrta-
tion to their homes Of soldiers who die on
the ships while coming home. Under the
present practice the bodies Of such dead
soldiers are buried at sea.
Mr.. Fitzgerald offered an amendment,
directing the War Department TO nay to
the family of each officer dying in the
service 800 and to the family OF each
enlisted man $50. H. said that a regula
tiou Of the War Department noT required
these payments to be made but the Comp
troller Of the Treasury had held that the
payments could not be made to the
families Of officers or men who were buried
On the field of battle or elsewhere by the
Government. The amendment was ruled
out on point of order.
Mr. Ryan offered an amendment direct
ing the Secretary of the Treasury to pay
$50 for funeral expenses to the family Of
each soldier who died in the Spanish
American war or while at home on sick
leave. This also went out on q point Of
order.
Mr.. Calderhead of Kansas wautei SO
900 OF the $4,000 000 appropriation for bar
hNA9 bhN AAtlA ANiH SUI hPdl Abi lbAt' tiu
ing the work on the buildings at Fort
Riley. This post, he said, was the larg-
est owned by the Government, comprising
% 600 acres Recently he said powerful
had induced large appropria-
tiOns for Fort Leavenworth, while Fort
Riley was being neglected. The amend
ment was lost.
Mr.. Levy offered as an amendment his I
bill introduced yesterday to transfer the /
transport service from the War to the !
Navy Department. but it received no /
recognition, being ruled out on a point /
1f order.
The appropriation for clothing and camp /
and garrison equipage was increased by
500, O00 to SS7.0O0,00 000 The provision in the
pill to supply ammunition for buriaiS Of
soldiers at soldiers and sailors state
homes was stricken out on point OF order
made by Mr.. McRae Of ARKANSAS.
Mr.. Parker OF New York. referring to the
,harges made yesterday BY MIR. Driggs.
,asod upon the authority of a newspaper
Irticle taht the cost of changing the sum
Ter from a collier to a transport had been
$50 900, gave some of the figures regarding
he subject obtained from the Quar-; ermaS-
er General. which, It was claimed, showed
hat instead OF the cost being S750.00O, IL
vas but Sl6O. 600. Sl00.0 OF which was ex
ended in the navy yards.
The Department furnished figures viii h,
t was maintained. showed that the finish