The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-03
DEBATING THE ARMY BILL.
senator Turner's Pien ON Behalf OF
Discharged Volunteers

Discharged Volunteers.
Consideration of the Army Appropriation
bill was continued by the Senate yester-
day afternoon. Senator Hawley OF Csnnecti-
cut called up the bill and Senator Tiilman
asked that several war claims be included
in the appropriations. This was objected
to. Senator Turner OF Washington offered
an amendment providing that officers AID
soldiers who continued IN service In TIA
Philippine Islands after the expiration OF
their term. and who were afterward trans
ported to the United States. shall be err
titled to travel pay and to Communication OF
subsistence, minus the actual cost TO the
Government Of their transportation and
subsistence
He stated that these men did not num-
Der more than 10000 and come from every
State in the Union, and on being dis
charged were entitled to travel pay. TIE
law had been charged, he stated. and tic
men were not discharged at Manila. but
brought to the United States and here
discharged, thus depriving them OF trave!
pay.
The men who remained for a year in
the Philippines after they were entitled
to their discharge, have not been given
this pay, but we're packed like lot Of
swine in the holds OF dirty, rotten, sinking
old tubs at the expense of the Government.
These troops ought 10 get double pay fer
the manner in which they were brought
home"
The Secretary OF War. he said had been
imposed upon by somebody when he sug-
gested that the proposition would require
an outlay Of s., 600, 0GC. His own calcIIa-
he.
a half million dollars. But even IL 1t did
take 100000. had not the Cubans re-
ceived $4,000, 000 for a lot OF rusty old
guns and had not 100000 been given the
Porto Ricans for roads and schooiss And
were the broken frames and ruined health
of 10000 American soldiers who had given
all to their country. less entitled to the
grateful consideration Of great and rich
Government. Il their behalf he appealed
TO the Senate's sense of justice. and he ap-
peaied particular to the Chairman of the
Committee en- Military Affairs tMr Haw-
ley), as an old patriot of 1861, TO do JUS
tice to the patriots OF 1898.
Mr.. Hawley remarked that the Govern
ment had paid him all that he was entitled
to. and he made point Of order against
Mr.-Turner's amendment as changing ex-
listing laws
The Presiding ofhcer suss aimed the point
of order
Mr.. Rawiins of Utah pointed out the
distinction made in the treatment Of the
Aston Battery and that 60 a Utah battery
and declared that the distinction against
the Utah battery was an outrage and wrong
which no man loving justice would con-
sciously be guilty of. M Pettigrew made
similar charge as to tie treatment of a
South Dakota regiment He sent to the
Clerks desk and had read numerous com
nlunications from officers and men of the
First South Dakota Regiment, complain
ing of having been kept in the Philippine
Islands against their will after their terms
of service had expired. Some OF them were
very bitter in their expressions against the
President and General Otis Among the
letters produced and read was one from Mr.
Pettigrew himself to the President, dated
April IL, 1899. in which he said:
II feel that the blood Of the South Da-
kota boys sacrificed in that contest must
be laid at the door Of your Administration
and that impartial history must place you
among the most dishonored rulers in all
time Your effort to subjugate these peo-
pie by force is the international crime of
the century; in fact, must be classed
among the greatest OF all international
crimes OF all centuries"
The action of the Army officers in these
matters was upheld by Senators Forake,-.
Proctor, and Nelson. The latter said that
II the volunteers from South Dakota had
heard the remark of their Senator today.
that they were required to fight in an I'M
holy war, they would have resented it as
an attack on their loyalty. 5@
Mr. Pettigrew replied angrily to this re-
mark, and scoffed at Mr.. Nelson for boast
ing last week that he was Scandinavian
a man of the race which had fought under
Gustavus Adolphus-and for boasting yes
terday that he had been a soldier and a
patriot during the civil var.
Without finishing his speech Mr.. Petit
grew yielded the floor and the bill went
over.