The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-27
DISCUSSED IN THE House
The Army Appropriation Bill Under
Consideration.
Its Provisions Explained by Mr. Hull
of the Committee on Military AZ
Root Proposition-A Demand for
Reduction of War Expenses.

After passing 123 private pension bills
in siXtytwo minutes the House Of Repre-
sentatiyes yesterday. in Committee Of the
! Whole entered upon the discussion Of the
Army Appropriation bill No agreement
was made to close the debate, but in the
Committee on Military Affairs arrange
ment had been made to continue it until
2:3O O'Clock Wednesday afternoon. But
that could not be carried out in full. be-
cause there were not enough Republicans
desiring to be heard to occupy half The
time.
Mr. Hull Of Iowa, Chairman Of the COM
mittee reporting the bill, explained its
provisions, and the rest OF the afternoon
was spent in debate by the minority. Mr.
| Mcclellan Of New York spoke in favor Of
his bill to reorganize the Army. and Mr.
| Clayton of New York in favor of the reor-
! ganization Of the post at Fort Hamilton,
| y. Y. Among the other speakers were
| Messrs. Jett Of Illinois, Ridgely of Kansas,
| Cox Of Tennessee. Atwater Of North Caro-
! lima, and Driggs OF New York The bill
! carries S111 900. .2J4, a decrease from the es
! Inmates Of S16.671. 799
| Mr. Jett thought the measure would be
| followed by q deficiency bill as it did not
/ appropriate enough money. He said there
was no material opposition to the bill and
| complained that too many officers were
! being retired. He pointed to the case OF
! General Eagan, who was not retired, but
who was suspended on full pay.
! Mr.. Parker of New Jersey called Mr..
! Jett's attention to the fact that all the Of
| ficers mentioned by him had served in the
| civil war
| Mr. Jett did not intend to criticise the
/ officers themselves, he said but he thought
! that having gone into the Army they
! should accept uncompainingly the usual
/ incidents Of the service without asking to
be retired at a higher rate Of pay than that
! to which they were entitled. He was suic
the people did not desire and would not ap
| prove this expenditure Of money,
In Favor of Reorganization.
Mr.. Mcclellan of New York followed in
speech fayoring the reorganization Of the
Army. He said in part: The Regular
Army is too often looked upon as mere
machine and chattel for the Government
that should be kept as much as possible
out of sight until actual necessity occurs
for its use. The United States Navy is by
far more popular and closer TO the affec-
tons Of the people. Gentlemen with very
few exceptions are all agreed on the neces-
army Of some sort and of some size in time
Of peace but gentlemen differ as to the
sort and size Of the standing army.
Il do not favor a large standing army
in time OF peace. / do not believe in gov
eminent by injunction, nor do I believe IN
using United States troops for police duty
which can be performed as well by the or
ganzed militia Of the several States, but
do believe in the maintenance Of a stand
inc in mi s1f
and no larger, to be expanded in time Of
war to make a first line Of defence. strong
enough to hold oil a foreign enemy until
the volunteers can be organized 10 con-
stitute the second line. Our Army can only
be a nucleus but nucleus sufficiently
elastic and sufficiently mobile to permit
OF automatic expansion
Mr.. Mcclellan then discussed in de-
tail the bill recently sent to both houses
Of Congress by the Secretary of War and
the bill introduced by himself In discuss
ing the Root bill he said
when I first glanced over il il struck
me as being most excellent. but l regret
to say that the otteuer l read it and the
more / study il the less like il; so that
am now convinced that unless 10 is radically
amended and almost recast, its passage
would make conditions. already bad. even
worse We know that fayoritism has
greatly injured the efficiency of our ser
vice This bill will make matters inf
nitely worse. for its benefits will not
only be confined exclusively to the Oficers
of volunteer regiments but it will put
into the hands OF the President power
over the administration oi the War De
partment over promotions, transfers and
retirements in the United States Army
second only 10 thdl at present held oy
the German Emperor. go,
In concluding. ne spoke oi ms own nlIi,
t, NuilI - - +r,tIa1 ~, -; 81,
The event Of war as follows.
1t has been my purpose in drafting this
bill TO suggest methou Dy |hlcn our
q, Al my ''ta' ha hTong5f close to tba neonIe
tr,st tbat have not unduIv imp0sed upon
tho good nature of the House in NV fre-
80 snee,bes ON reorganization hut
NJ Cbairman il is a sllbiect very near
nv baart for I am soldiers son and
- is ono that in INV Judgment is of such
vast such overwhelming importance that
h is the duty OF every man of every
American who. by inclination or by acci-
dent NAV know little more of the sub
iact than his fellows to spare no effort
and TO SPARE no work to write and To
sneak dav after day and year after year
~ tbe bCna that sooner or later the in
feTeSt OF our people VIII ne SuUltleutAk
aroused to force Congress from its lethargy
into activity in Army matters. If any
feeble effort Of mine; if any words that
l may have spoken will sooner or later
help in the accomplishment OF my pur-
pose. / shall feel that my work has not
been in vain
Mr. Mcclellan was followed by Mr.. Clay
ton Of New York in an argument favOring
MIR. Riaser,', Argument.