Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-02-09
|ARMY BILL READY
FOR The PRESIDENT
Conference Report on Reorganiza-
ton Measure Adopted by
the Senate.
HOUSE HAD ACTED ALREADY
Number OF Republicans Vote with Demo.
Gratis I'm Opposition-Final Vote on
Conference Report stood
80 to 25.

Washington, Feb. 2.-After an event
full succession Of sessions beginning
with the present session OF congress
and covering about two months, the
bill for the reorganization Of the Unit
ed States army yesterday passed its
last stage in congress and now goes
to the president for his signature. The
final step was taken In the senate,
where, by a vote Of SO to %, the con-
ference report on the bill was agreed
to.
The house of representatives had al
ready agreed to the report. The on
ference report was kept before the SEN
ate constantly yesterday, even the
shipping bill giving way. The opposi-
ton to the bill continued to be vigor-
pusly active, Mr.. Teller making an eX-
tended speech in criticism of the war
department and of the measure In gen.
eral. An opposition developed on the
republican side to the report, based on
the alleged freedom which the con-
ferees had taken in introducing new
provisions. on the final vote seVerai
republican senators voted with the
democrats against the report.
The shipping bill was discussed dur
ing the latter part of the day and some
progress was made on amendments. a
speech by Senator Rawlins OF Utah
against the bill was in progress at the
close of the day.
Pettigrew Scores Administration.
washington, Feb. 2.-The senate to-
day resumed consideration of the con-
ference report upon the army reor-
g~anization bill, Pettigrew addressing
the senate upon II. He referred again
to the fact hat the senate had re-
fused to pass his resolution making an
inquiry for facts concerning the situa-
ton in the Philippines. He asserted MS
belief hat the full record would snow
the battle of February 4 was ordered
from Washington and he charged that
only such facts were given to the pub
lie as suited the purpose of the party
In power. He also charged that not
withstanding hat the instructions TO
the Paris commission q been sent to
the senate In secret the president had
quoted %copiously from them in his let
ter of acceptance, emitting such por-
tons as did not suit his purpose. And
YETI he said, 1.-The senate refuses to
make the document public" He also
charged that MacArthur's report had
been suppressed for partisan purposes
and the reports of the Taft commits
sion colored Upon orders from WASH
ington to fit the emergency. He assert
ed the Filipinos were not enemies OF the
United States and he hoped they would
be successful In their contest for lib
erty.
II hope the day will never come" he
said, "whenI shall cease to sympathize
with a people struggling for liberty,
no matter where they are"
Pettigrew took especial exception to
the provision In the bill authorizing
the enlistment Of F%ilipinos. He intro
duced and a read a long letter from
Thomas M~assardo, military governor
Of the Philippine provinces, in which
It was charged that severer torments
had been inflicted upon Filipinos by
American troops than the Spaniards
had ever been guilty Of. Robbery,
pillage, violation and murder" the let
ter said, ARE the first proofs Of the
protection we receive when American
soldiers enter q Filipino community"
The letter writer characterized Cen
eral Otis as a blind instrument Of am
bilious Mckinley"
Pettigrew said he would not cite
this letter II the charges made in it
were not confirmed by letters from
American soldiers themselves. He be-
lieved these barbarities were practiced
by Macabbees, Of whom 1t was now
intended to enlist 5000.