The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-05
ARMY REORGANIZATION BILL.
THAT IMPORTANT MEASURE PASS
ED by THE SENATE.

Major General-Egan to BE Retired. |
A Veterinary Corps-FOrtifications
Bill Passed.
Washington, May 4.-To-day's session |
of the Senate was rendered especially |
notable by the passage. after debate |
lasting only three hours, of the army |
reorganization bin.
In military circles the measure is re-
garded as one of the most important of
the present session. 1t practically revo-
lutionizes the present system of perma-
nent appointments in certain staff corps
to one of detail by gradual process, as
the officers now in those corps go out of
active service. AS vacancies occur in
departments of the Adjutant General,
the inspector general, quartermaster gem
eral and commissary general, they are to
be filled by details from the line, the de-
tails to be temporary and not exceeding
four years.
The new system is not applied to the
corps Of engineers, medical department.,
pay department, nor judge advocate gem
erals department. The bin discontinues
the regimental organization of the artil-
lery and establishes an artillery corps of
two branches viz: 126 batteries of coast
artillery and IS batteries of field artillery,
with total of II, 44S.
The bill provides for an increase of 100
in the corps of cadets a West Point, two
at large from each state and ten more to
the present number of twenty from the
United States at large.
Two of the most important provisions
of the bill are those raising the rank of
the general commanding the army to that
of lieutenant general and that of the ad-
infant general prpnara1 a laf-
ter during the incumbency of the present
adjutant general, Gen. Corbin.
Section Relating to Egan.
The President is empowered TO place on
the retired list any officer who has been
suspended from duty by sentence of court
martial, or by executive order in mitiga-
ton of such sentence, for a period ex-
tending to or within one year of the time
of his compulsory retirement for age.
This is well understood to apply to Com
missary General Egan.
The amendment creating a veterinary
corps tor the army consisting of a colonel
and thirty five other commissioned Off
GERS, was attached to the bill after a spir-
tied debate, the amendment being adopt
ed hy vote of 25 to %.
The foriifcaiions appropriation bill,
carrying about $7,5Oo,000 was passed.
Mr.. Woicott reporyed the postoffice ap-
| preparation bill and gave notice he would
1
Mr.. Teller gave notice he would call up
| the refolution expressing sympathy for
| the Beers, stter routine business to-mor-
| row. The army reorganization bill was
then called UP.
Others Besides Miles.
| Mr. Tillman moved that the fifteenth
section of the measure be amended so as
| to read as follows:
THAT the senior major general COM
] rnan6fnp he bal ha
| pay and allowances Of a lieuf enant general
| and his personal staff shall have the rank
/ pay and allowances authorized for the
/ staff of Il lieutenant general.
The amendment proposed ty Mr.. Tillman
had the effect of striking out the provision
making the section Apply only 10 Gen.
| Miles the present commander OF the army
| IL was agreed to.
Mr.. Berry Of Arkansas moved to strike
| out the section as amended.
| Mr.. Bate of Tennessee also objected 10
| the increase Of rank and tendency to in
/ crease the strength of the army.
| Mr.. Sewell pointed cut that the Confed-
| eracy had nineteen lieutenant generals
and eight full generals, and said that
! any European army of our present
strength would have two lieutenant gen.
erals and one full general.
The motion was defeated, to A, as fol-
/ lows:
Yeas-Bate, Berry, Butler, Clay, Gull
berson, Kenney, Money, Vests
Nays-Allison. Bacon, Baker, Bard,
Burrows Chandler, Cockrell, Davis, De-
| Doe, Elkins, Fairbanks, Foraker. Foster,
Frye, Gallinger, Gear, Hale. Hansbrough,
Harris, Hawley, Hoar, Jones of Nevada,
| Kean Kyle, Lindsay, Lodge, McComas,
Mason, Nelson, Perkins, Pettigrew Pet
tuS, Plat of Connecticut, Proctor,
Quarles, Rawlins. Ross, Sewell, Shoup,
simon Stewart. Teller, Wellington, VOL
cott--i4.
The Veterinary Corps.
Mr. Kenney of Delaware offered an
mendment creating a veterinary corps
and strongly advocated its adoption.
Mr. Proctor presented a letter from the
Secretary of War strongly against the
amendment. The amendment was agreed
| to. % to %.
Mr. sewell offered an amendment which
was agreed to- providing fer one chaplain
for each caval,y r glment, wi h The rank,
| pay and allowances of a captain, mount
ed: and one for each infantry regiment
with the rank pay aud allowances OF a
captain of Infantry; provided, that the
office Of post chaplain, United States
Army. is abolished and the officers now
holding commissions as ehaplaips shall be
| ass gned to reg ments.
1t also requires chaplaius to he at least
thirty-fve years old and to establish fit
ness.
| Inc Dill as dultHhtu was IepOTlt1 u the
Senate the amendments were agreed TO-
and the bill was passed without division.
Mr.. Perkins then called UP the fortifca-
tions appropriation bill and it was read
| for amendment. As reported 1t carries
81. .733 G2S, and increase of $6i0,1 over the
! amount passed by the House.
The committee amendments were agreed
| to. An amendment offered by Mr.. Kean
authorizing proportional payments for
pneumatic dynamite guns. carriages and
| ammunition, was agreed 20. The bill as
amended was passed.
A bill was passed appropriating $500 o
for the purchase of site and erection Of
a public building at Durham, ". c.
AZ $40 p. m. the Senate adjourned until
Monday.
Free Entry for Exhibits.
Washington, May 4.-The House Ways