Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-04


before the Senate.
Mr.. Pettigrcw of South Dakota, then
objected to a request for unanimous
consent to continue the discussion of
the army bill. BY vote of the Sen
ate the consideration of the bill was
continued and the subsidy bill sent
back to the calendar.
AT the first session of the Senate in
the 10th century, business was resumed
just where it was left off when Con-
SreSS took recess for the holidays.
President Pro TEN Frye called the
Senate to order.
At the conclusion of the morning
business. Hawlcy. chairman of the
committee on military affairs, asked
unanimous consent that the Senate
proceed to the consideration of the
consideration of the army re-orSaniza
ton bill. No objection being offered
the bill was laid before the Senate.
Bacon inquired if it was the purpose
of the committee to act upon the Sen
ate amendments, today, in the course
of the reading of the measure. If so
he would object to taking up the meas
ure.
After some discussion as 10 the
status of the bill, and the amend
ments made by the Senate committee
the bill having originated in the Sem
ate. then amended by the House.
which offered a substitute for it. and
returned to the Senate practically as a
new bill-Pettigrew demanded the
reading of the measure in full. The
bill was read, although Chairman Haw-
ley appealed to Pettigrew to withdraw
his demand.
During the reading Of the bill Teller
interrupted TO inquire as to the in
crease of the army provided by the
Senate bill as originally passed.
Proctor, member of the military
committee, replied that the original
Senate measure had increased only the
artillery arm. The amendment adopted
by the House as to the artillery arm
was equivalent TO five regiments in the
form of Il corps The Senate commit
tee proposed TO change the corps into
five regiments.
The bill provided in brief Proctor eX-
planned. for an army of $4,000 mini
mum strength and $4,000 maximum
strength.
Bacon inquired who would have dis
erection in the fixing of the strength of
the army.
THE President of the United States
replied Proctor.
"Agliinaldo will have something to
say about it," INTERCEPTED Hawley.
To Hawley's remark Bacon holly re-
torted.
Hawley. however. disclaimed any in
tention of being uncivil to Bacon in in
teriecting his remark about Aguin3ldo.
He had meant to convey the idea that
the cause of the Filipino insurgents
might be determining factor in the
size of the army
Allison maintained that it was not
the purpose of the military committee
or the idea of the bill that the dScre
tionary power of Congress should be
taken away and conferred upon the
President He held that strength Of
the army from year to year would be
determined by the appropriations for
the army made by Congress.
In the course of the discussion HaW-
lev referred to the opening of the Civil
War. the firing upon Fort Sumter
possibly in the presence of Bacon and
President Lincoln'S subsequent call
for 75Cc0 men without action ~ Con
Srcss.
Eacon replied that he was not at the
exact point when Sumter was fired up
on.
Il hope" said he, that in this dis
cussion we shall limit ourselves to the
conditions rs they are now, and that
-. If a
re brought up
At : o'clock Frye. the President Pro
TEN, stopped the debate and laid be-
fore the Senate the unfinished bust
ness-thc shipping subsidy bill.
Hawley asked for unanimous consent
that the shipping bill be laid aside
temporarily and that the considera-
ton of the army bill proceed
II object" shouted Pcttigrcw.
II expected that" said Hawley. sar-
cast!cally.
Hawlcy then moved that the Senate
proceed with the consideration of the
army bill.
''Nill that motion if carried have the
erect of displacing the subsidy bill as
the unfinished business" inquired Ba-
con.
1T will" replied the chairman.
Without division the motion prevail
cd and the army bill become the uniin-
ished business.
After Foraker. Ohio. had commented
briefly upon the authority conferred
upon the President by the bill, warm
" commencing it. the reading of the
r.aasvrp WIS resumed.
At the conclusion of the reading of
the bill Hawley proposed that the Sen
ate proceed to the consideration of the
amendments
Pettigrew protested that some ex-
pIanatio OF the measure ought to be
made by somebody. The necessity Of
an army of 100. 900. he said. had not
been pointed out. He did not think it
existed.
SewaH, n. J.. said the United States
had had as high as 5000 troops in the