The Portland daily press., 1900-12-06
THE ARMY BILL
House Devoted Day To
Measure.
Mr.. Mccall Spoke in
Opposition.
Ills Speech Aroused Only Enthas-
iasm Of Day.
he Criticized Several
Features of Bill.
And Expressed Himself Against
Holding Philippines.
And Expressed Himself Against
Holding Philippines.

MashinRton, Decem Der O.--Ihe House
devoted the day to the army reorganiza-
tion bill, which was brought mp under a
special order adopted at the opening OF
the session, which limited general debate
to two hours on side. Lieut.. General
Miles and a number OF army officers were
interested spectators during the day.
Chairman Hull of the military commit
tee, who was In chargs Of the bill, and
Mr.. Parker Of New Jersey who is mem-
Der of the military committee, Republic
cans, spoke for the bill, and Messrs.
Cochrans of Missouri, Kelborg OF Texas,
Mcclellan of New York, Shafroth OF Col
orado, Cummings of New York and Cox
OF Tennessee, Democrats, against 1t. MIR.
Mccall or Massachusetts, Republican,
aroused the only enthusiasm or the day
against the measure. Several times dur
ing the last session, notably on the Porto
Rican tariff bill, he refused to follow his
party. Today ne attacked the whole
philippine policy of the administration.
Although temperate in language, he was
plain spoken in his warnings OF the
dangers which lay ahead of the govern
ment II a colonial policy was persisted
in. He also criticized technically several
features of the bill, especially that lodg-
ing in the President the discretion to ex-
pand or reduce the size of the army at
VIII. In conclusion he iikened the un-
conquerable spirit which opposed our sway
In the Philippines to that OF Washington
at Valley Forge. Love of independence,
he said, was the "noblest heritage of the
human heart.''
He declared that the United States
should Immediately give the Filipino peo-
pie honorable assurance that they should
have government of their own. Eleven
OF the twenty-six pages OF the bill were
disposed OF before adjournment. Tomor-
row the Grout oleomargarine bill under a
special order made at the last session viii
displace the army bill which viii go an
til Friday.
when the House met the Speaker an
nounced that he hal a communication
from the family of Mr.. Boutelle OF Maine
resigning his position as chairman of the
committee on naval affairs.s
He also announced the appointment of
Mr.. Shaw OF New York. as a member OF
the committee on invalid PENSIONS Mr..
Dalzell from the committee on rules,
then presented special order for the con-
sideration Of the army bill.
Mr.. Dalzeil explaining the necessity
for the immediate consideration OF the
army bill pointed out the fact thai July
/, 1901, hnder the present law the army
would be reduced to $1,000, less than half
the number now In the Philippines.
Legislation of some character was imper-
ative.
Mr.. Richardson on behalf Of the NIL
nority, said those on his side of the house
recognized the necessity for some legisia-
sion but they did not agree that this
bill, establishing a permanent standing
army should become law.
Mr.. Underwood OF Alabama, also
inveighed at armiLg the President with
discretionary power to expand or contract
the army at will.
Mr.. Grosvenor Of Ohio, in support Of
the resolution said that. personally he
was In ia vor OF . standing army Of 100,-
600 men. The people, he said, were not
frightened when demagogue said that
the purpose in increasing the army was
TO be subverted. As for the opposition to
s'ths sliding scaIe'' the President had al
ways been practically supreme In the use
of ths army; why should he not in the
use Of his discretion have the power In
time Of necessity to expand the army
One of the magnificent acts OF Grover
Cleveland had bssn his assumption OF his
duty to keep the peace In q great com.
monwealth by means OF the United States
army when the governor OF the stats did
not want MIN TO interiors. Mr.. Grosye-
nor said II there had bssn standing
army Of 5000 men ct the battle Of Bul