The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-12-11
BY THE HOUSE AFTER VOTING DOWN
MANY AMENDMENTS.
SOME CHANGES MADE IN THE BILL
The Provision for Retiring Generals
Shafter, Lee and Wilson stricken
Out-The Sale of Intoxfcants at Army
Posts or on Transports Prohibited.
The Senate Spends Most of the Day
in Executive Session-The Montana
~Senatorshfp Contest.
SENATE.

Washington, December 6.-The SEN
ate today transacted no business of
Importance in open session Through
out almost the entire afternoon it was
in executive session. The ship subsidy
bill, therefore. received no considera-
ton.
Senator Hoa presented a resolution
OF the Massachusetts, legislature in ia
vor of the purchase by the United
States government of Temple farm
and Moore house at Yorktown, Va.
Senator Martin, of Virginia, express
ed qualification that the project had
met with favor in Massachusetts, and
said a bill would be presented at an
f-arly day intended to carry out the
Sypose OF the resolution.
"lnator Clay. of Georgia, presented
y the credentials of Hon. A. o. Bacon,
his colleague, reelected to the senate
for a term of six years beginning
March 4, 1901. They were filed.
Senate Carter, of Montana. gay no
tice that or Tuesday next he would
call up the pending resolution relating
to the contested Montana seat in the
SCldIC, SIdlIIICu JUL ny W. "a SldTh
and Martin Maginnis.
The senate then at 12:40 o'clock, on
motion of senator Lodge, of Massachu-
sets, went into executive session, and
at 4:30 o'clock p. m. adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The house today at the end of a long
sitting, passed the army reorganization
bill by a vote of 166 to 1873. Three dem
10000 G----- Hill
and Underhill and Clayton, of New
York, voted with the republicans for
the bill and Mr.. Mccall, of Massachu-
SettS, with the democrats against it.
Otherwise it was a strict party vote.
The proposition which some Of the
democrats attempted to commit their
side to it in CAUCASIAN extension of the
present temporary army until July l,
- was voted upon indirectly
on a motion to recOmmit, commanded
the votes of only about half the oppo-
SitiOn n of two republicans, Mr.. Nc
Call, and Mr.. Mann. of Illinois. Many
Of the democrats. however, voted
against the motion because they were
opposed not only to the reorganization
bill, but also to continuing the tempo
rary army at its present strength.
Quite a number of amendments were
placed upon the bill before it was pass
ed. The liveliest fight was made upon a
substitute offered by Mr.. Littlefield, of
Maine, for the canteen section. The
AsubStitute absolutely prohibited the
sale of intOXicants at military posts.
The sections designed to retire Cen
al Shafter as a major general and
leneralS FitZhugh Lee and James II.
IL wilson. as brigadier generals, were
stricken out.
Among the amendments adopted were
those providing for 80 volunteer sur
geOns and $50 assistant surgeons for
~ service in the Philippines; for 80 dental
surgeons and for a Veterinary corps
with actual rank. The officers of the
pay corps were increased IL and of the
signal corps %. The age limit was re-
moved from volunteer officers eligible
to appointment as first and second lieu
tenants and the provision for retiring
officers who served in the civil war as
of next higher grade was stricken out.
The Hepburn mendmen to provide
that vacancies in the quartermaster's
department could be filled from civil
life or from volunteer officers commits
stoned since April 19.1S9S, which was
pending when the house adjourned
yesterday, was voted down without
division
Mr.. McDermot, of New Jersey, offer
ed an amendment to make it manda-
tory upon the president to reduce the
enlisted force of the army to 5000 or
December l, 1902. The amendment was
defeated.
Mr.. Littlefield. of Maine. offered the