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
in the House-A Number of Amend
ments Made-Aiieged Extravagnnce
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 Quartermaster 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-
ing for which he said he had introduced
resolution.
At Z 80 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-
Nloiou iOl II tduolbl NdllOli lpillt vi tit Dtt-
les of civilian employees of the Army who
have died in the insular possessions OF
the United States. 1t 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,
the War Department to pay TO
the family of each officer dying in the
service 800. and to the family OF each
enlisted man S35. He said that regula-
ton OF the War Department nov 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 ny the
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
American war or while at home on sick
leave. This also went out on a point OF
order.
Mr.. Calderhead of Kansas wanted So
300 of the $4,000 600 appropriation for bar
racks and quarters set apart for continu
ing the work on the buildings at Fort
Riley. This pest, he said. was the larg-
est owned by the Government, comprising
%. .000 acres. Recently he said powerful
influences had induced large appropria-
tions for Fort LeavenwOrth, while Fort
Riley was being neglected. The amend
nent was lost.
Mr.. Levy offered as an amendment his
bill introduced yesterday to transfer the
transport service from the War to the
Navy Department. but it received no
being ruled out on a point |
If order.
The appropriation for clothing and camp |
and garrison equipage was increased by |
500. .O00 to SsT,000,O0O. The provision in the |
,ill to supply ammunition for buriaiS OF
soldiers at soldiers and sailors State
homes was stricken out on point OF "sa-'r
made by Mr. McRae of ARKANSAS.
Mr.. Parker OF New York. referring to the
charges made yesterday by Mr. Driggs.
,ased upon the authority of a newspaper
rticle taht the cost Of changing the SUM
Ter from collier to a transport had been
$50. 900, gave some of the figures regarding
he subject. obtained from the Quartermas-
er General. which, 1t was claimed. showed
hat instead OF the cost being s750.000, II
lss but $4,000. sl00. 900 oi which was ex-
ended in the navy yards.
The Department furnished figures viii h,
was maintained, showed that the finish