The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-04-22
TIE BACON RESOLUTIONS
Both Adopted by the Senate After
General Discussion.
The Secretary of War Requested TO
Furnish Information Concerning
Pay and EmoIuments of Army Of
fcers i'm Cuba and Porto Rico
Criticism From Mr. Pettisrew.

After long general discussion the Sen
ate yesterday adopted the two resolutions
introduced by Mr.. Bacon on Friday calling
upon the Secretary of War for Information
relative TO United States Army officers
who are, or have been, performing civil
duties in Cuba or Porto Rico, the first
as to salaries or other compensation al
lowed them in addition to their regular
pay as officers. and the second as TO the
amounts expended for quarters, servants
and equipages intended for their use
Messrs. Pettigrew, Bacon, and Daniel ar
gued in support of an investigation of the
matter, and against the right of the Presi-
dent or the Secretary of War to authorize
such additional expenditures, and Messrs
Carter, Hawley, Stewart and Plat Of Con-
necticut told of the necessity for extra
allowances in the cases referred to, and
defended the action of the officials who
were said to have granted them.
When first laid before the Senate both
the Bacon resolutions were adopted With
out opposition or discussion, but upon Mr.
Pettigrew's rising to make some remarks
upon the subject, the second resolution
was recalled for consideration at the sug-
gestion of Mr.. Chandler, who said that
action would be necessary in order to per-
NIT discussion of the resolutions.
Mr.. Pettigrew's Resolution.
Mr. Pettigrew referred to a resolution
introduced by him last February calling
upon the Secretary of War for Informal
tion, which, he said, If it had been fur
nished would have answered the questions
asked in the Bacon resolution. He had
introduced the resolution because he be-
lieyed he had accurate information that
Army officers in Cuba and Porto Rico were
being paid large salaries and that great
sums of money were being expended in
identifying and enlarging the palaces in
which those officers lived; that expensive
carriages and horses, etc, were used, and
that-the officers were living in a regal
style as was customary with the officers
Of Spain. He read extracts from the reply
10 his resolution sent by the Secretary of
War and said that it contained a mass
of figures that gave no information what
ever.
Mr.. Pettigrew said he hoped the reso-
luton of Mr.. Bacon would be more sue
cessful in eliciting information, and that
in the case of the enc introduced by him
the Administration had simply Teen car
lying 1Ns putty Vi udNlIS
calling for unpleasant Investigations either
buried in committee or left unanswered
by the officer from whom information was
asked.
Mr.. Hawley, Chairman of the Commit
tee on Military Affairs resented the "reck-
less and unsupported statements" made BY
the Senator from South Dakota (Mr. Pet
tigrew) that the Administration desired
TO keep cer.ain matters of this nature from
the knowledge Of the public. He
stated that all of the reply to Mr. Pet
tigrew's resolution had not yet been sent.
but was In process of preparation and
that when completed it would certainly
furnish all the information asked for
Mr.. Pettigrew interposed the remark
that his resolution was passed three months
ego Mr.. Carter then made some remarks
In which he supported the action of the
various officials. both in regard to answer
Ing the enquiries and TO granting extra al
lowances TO Army officers in Cuba. He
said that he had been TO the War Depart
ment that morning and had seen there four
bound volumes OF typewriter matter watch
had been prepared in response to the
Pettigrew resolution. Mr.. Carter said that
he had Investigated the subject and that
additional salaries had net been granted
10 Army officers on duty either in Cuba
or in Porto Rico. When the United States
assumed the functions OF government in
those Islands Army officers were assigned
TO perform both civil and military duties
and their expenses were of necessity con-
increased. He instanced the
case Of ar officer Of his own acquaintance
VINO found ii impossible to met his addi-
uonal necessary expenses out of his regu-
lar pay. He therefore asked TO be re
lieved from duty In Cuba OF given an al
iowance for expenses. He was given an I
allowance of $500 a year, because the /
Secretary of War and the President felt I
that the officer ought not virtually to- be (
fined for the performance of duties 10 !
which he was assigned.
Expenses Which Are Necessary.
Replying to an enquiry by Mr.. Cockre,I |
as to the kind of expenses which made /
these extra allowances necessary. Mr.. Car ,
ter said that there were any number of |
expenses attendant upon positions such as
those officers were occupying which no 1
gentleman could or would refuse TO NEE. |
i ms, ne said, was true of the President /
d the United States. and it was true of
ne Governor General Of Cuba. IL was evil |
lent that the officers in Cuba needed th,.
additional money for expenses which thew
would not incur in the discharge Of their /
regular military duties
ne allowances made in such cases, he
declared, were not extra pay but we're
temporary allowances made by the Presi-
tent 10 meet expenses incurred in connec-
non with their duties. Lue President h.
SAID was In supreme command In Cuha
insweTable, III measure, to Congress. bur
Vas not disposing of any money over which
Congress had direct control. The amounts
paid were not paid out of the Treasury of
ne United States, but out of the revenues
hn fgla4 a
he expenses Of the military occupation.
Mr.. Tillman suggested that ii might be
Well TO wait until the resolutions were an
;wered before entering upon a discussion
u them. We on the other side" said he
want TO know something on this question.
IND have not had the advantage OF inside
Information from the War Department"
How can the Senator know he will be
N the other side, interrupted Mr.. Chand-
er, until he hears the evidence?"
I'm always safe in being on the oppo-
lite side from the Senator from New
hampshire, retorted Mr.. Tilman, though
les usually with me in trying to prevent
teals, and hope that when he hears the
acts he will fall into line in opposition
O this one"
Mr.. Stewart spoke in support of the
etion Of the War Department in granting
llowances 10 officers in Cuba for extra
rdinary expenses made necessary by rea-
on of their duties
Mr.. Bacon. the author OF the resolutions,
inferred into long discussion Of the mat
err lie strongly opposed the argument
hat the President could collect and dis
'urse the revenues OF Cuba as he saw
Il. and without restraint. and declared
bat he did not have that power. He main
aimed that the laws OF the United States
expressly forbade the giving TO Army Off
ers of any additional compensation above