The age-herald., 1900-03-27
THE HOUSE TALKED
 OF ARMY AFFAIRS Consideration of the Army Ap-
 propriation Bill. 1T CARRIES S11l,6OO,364 The System of Promoting Officers and Then Retiring Them Was Strong ly Criticised-Tendency To-
 ward Militarism

Washington, March 26.-The house today entered upon the consideration of the army appropriation bill, but the debate was with out exciting incident, being confined to the discussion of army matters. Chairman Hull, in charge of the bill, made state ment regarding its contents.
 The bill carries $111, ,6O0, ,364. The estimates were $127, TIP, ,133. The last appropriation bill carried about $50 0,O0O,000, and there was a deficiency of about 600. MT. Hull said he did not think there would be any con- siderable deficiency in any of the items in the present bill. He was followed by Mr. Jett, of Illinois, who expressed the opinion that the appropriations carried by the bill were not sufficient and there inevitably must be deficit.
 Mir. Jett criticised the system of cromot- ing officers for immediate retirement, es- pecially the higher officers who were rush ed, he said, through the final grades and retired at the highest rank possible. Under the law there could be but three major generals and six brigadier generals lie read a list of three major generals and 2 brigadier generals who had been promoted and retired almost immediately during the last three years. In some cases an officer was promoted to the grade of brigadier general one day and retired the next
 MT. Parker, of New Jersey, called atten- tion to the fact that nearly every one Of these officers had served in the civil war and said that men who had served their country for forty years were entitled to re- tirement as brigadiers.
 MiIitarism Denounced
 MT. Ridgeley, Kansas. denounced tho ten- dency toward militarism, charging that 1t was a menace to the peace and welfare of the people. He charged that the demand for a large standing army came from the officers who would be benefited and from organized capital, which desired large army to protect their property in time of discontent.
 MT. Cox, Tennessee, introduced the Phil ippine question into the debate, criticising the policy of the administration in using the army to put down the instruction there, and announcing that he could have his way not one dollar should be voted to subjugate the Fdlipinos. The sol diers serving in the Philippines he ac- quilted of all blame. They were doing their duty, and deserved well of their country. The fault lay with those who had inaugu- rated this unholy war. MT. Cox predicted that not in the memory of man now living would the army ever get back to its old peace footing of 25,000. When he came to congress the appropriation for the army was $2O,OOO,0O0. Last year they were $12O,- GOO, 600.
 MT. Griggs of New York favored the re- organization of the army that would in- crease the artillery and cavalry branches of the service and decrease the infantry arm.
 MT. Meyer, Louisiana, discussed the Phil ippine policy, opposing the retention of the islands, but If they were to De relayed he argued that American products should be protected against free competition from products of the island. His remarks had not been completed when the house at 5:15 ad- journed.