The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-03-27

contents. The bill carries s111 500 s64
The estimates were S27,7i2.l6s.
The last appropriation bill carried about
100000 and there was a deficiency of
about $47 600 600
Huh said he did not think there would
be any considerable deficiency in any of
the items in the present bill
Hun was followed by lett, member
Of the committee who analysed the bill,
and expressed the opinion that the APP
propriations it carried were not sufficient
and there must inevitably be a deficit
Jett criticised the system OF promoting
officers for immediate retirement and es-
peclally the higher officers, who were
rushed. he said. through the final grades
and retired with the highest rank possi-
BILE. Under the law there could be bat
three major generals and six brigadier
generals. He read a list OF three maj or
generals and twenty-seven hrigadier
generals who had been promoted and re-
tired almost Immediately during the last
three years. In some cases an officer was
promoted to the grade of brigadier gene
raj one day and retired the next
Mr. Parker called attention to the fact
that nearly every one of the officers had
had served the country for 40 years were
entitled to retirement as brigadiers
Steele called attention to case OF Col
Burke, who had served actively for over
40 years in the army, but who through
misfortune, had not reached the rank to
which he was entitled before he had to
retire because of age He had very prop
erly been retired, Steele said. as a briga-
der general
Jett agreed that there might be excep-
tional cases. saying what he complained
of was the wholesale practice of crowding
men through the higher ranks simply
for the purpose of giving them more re-
tired pay.
Mcclellan discussed the necessity for
the reorganization OF the army. He
believed, he said. in the maintenance of
the standing army In time of peace large
enough and no larger. TO be expanded in
time of war to make the first line strong
enough to hold off foreign enemy until
the voters can be organized to constitute
the second line.
Ridgley OF Kansas denounced the ten
dency toward militarism, charging that
IL was a menace to the peace and welfare
of the people. He charged that the de-
mand for large standing army came
from the officers who would be benefited
and from organized capital. which de-
sired large standing army to protect
their property in time OF discomfort
What is there in this bill that increases
the army" asked Hull.
within three years. replied Ridgley
1.-THE standing army has been increased
three-fold and its cost to the people four
fold"
Cox introduced the Philippine question
into the debate, criticising the policy
OF the administration in using the army
to put down the instruction there, and
announcing II he could have his way not
one dollar should be voted TO subjugate
the Fiipinos. The soldiers serving in
the Philippines he acquitted OF all blame
They were doing their duty aud deserved
well of their country. The fault lay with
those who had inaugurated the unholy
war Cox predicted that not in the mem.
DRY OF the man now living would the
army ever get back to its peace footing
of Is. 600 When he came TO congress the
appropriations for the army were 10000. =
600. Last year they were Si20. 10000
Griggs favored reorganization of the
army that would increase the artillery
and cavalry branches of the service and
decrease the infantry arm.
Meyer OF Louisiana opposed the reten-
ton Of the Philippine islands. But. Il
they were to be retained, he argued that
American products should DO protected
against free competition from products
OF the islands.
His remarks had not been completed
when the house at $50 p. m, adjourned.