The National tribune., 1901-01-10
CONGRESS-.
A Synopsis of the Proceedings
of Both Branches.

On Thursday, Jan. 3, Congress reassem-
bled after the holidays, and on that day in
| the Senate the Army Reorganization bill
was debated. Nearly four hours were
| consumed in the discussion of the discre-
| tionary power given to the President and
| the condition of affairs in the Philippines
| Senator l'ettigrew introduced Il resolution
requesting the President to inform the
Senate what necessity exists for increasing
the army ut this time, the conditions in the
| Philippines and how many men are re-
| quircd there; also to send copies of all
communications from our officers showing
| the conditions and the number of men re-
Quired now and in the future.
Mr.. Pettigrew suggested that some one
| ought to explain why 100000 were needed
| which, in his opinion, were excessive.
Senator Sewell replied that there were
| 5000 men in the Philippines, divided
| among 400 posts. If we were to hold the
| Philippines we would have to keep large
army there, perhaps several years. We
We're now Withdrawing men, and it would
take till July to bring them back, and
troops must be provided to take the places
of the volunteers.
Il think no Senator" said Mr.. Sewell,
SIS in favor of abandoning our flag in the
Philippines, or anywhere else, unless it he
the Senator from South Dakota. There
may not he any great shock of battle, but
the conditions demand the presence of a
considerable force. The country must face
this question boldly. No matter how we
got there. We are there, and we ought to
stay there.
Senator Bacon opposed n permanent
standing army, but said he was willing to
vote for a special Philippine army, and
Senator Hoar quoted portions of the
Presidents message, depicting a cessation
of effective opposition, and stating that
what opposition remained was, for the
most part, scattered, operating by the
methods of guerrilla warfare.
These conditions have changed materi-
ally" said Mr.. Sewell. I'VE have now
more skirmishes than ut any time almost
since the beginning of the war;
A lengthy discussion over the status Of
the bill ensued, upon request of Senator
Hawlcy that the Senate proceed to its
consideration. In the course of the de-
bate Mr.. Hawley said it was SANDER
upon every soldier to intimate that
standing army would lead to an empire or
a dictatorship, and incidentally referred TO
the opening of the civil war, the firing on
Fort Sumter, when President Lincoln
called for 10000 men without action by
Congress.
Mr. Carter defended the proposed in
crease of the permanent army in view of
the temper of the Philippine people. The
Paris Treaty had imposed duties that the
President could not avoid if he would. In
view of the present guerrilla warfare, Mr..
Carter said it would be necessary to con-
tinue to police the islands for an indefi-
mite time. He thought 10000 men would
be necessary for that purpose.
Routine business was then taken up and
the Senate adjourned out OF respect to the
memory of Representative Il. 4. Wise.
In the House of Representatives NJ. e.
0lmsted, of Pennsylvania, introduced
privileged resolution that caused q bitter
debate. He was prepared with Parlia-
mentary reasons for consideration of the
resolution. and expressed them vigorously,
and was met by filibustering by the Demo
Gratis, until, after two or three roll calls, a
number of Republicans having left the
hall, the Democrats were able to force an
adjournment and prevent consideration.
The resolution was aimed at the restricted
voting in the South, and directs the Cen
sus Committee to make complete reports
as to where and to what extent votes have
been restricted in Mississippi, South Caro-
lima and Louisiana, by changes in their
Constitutions and statutes, for reasons
other than participation in rebellion and
other crime" and states very emphatically
that such restriction of suffrage has taken
place. The resolution also cites figures,
showing, for example, that in the seven
districts of South Carolina the total vote
for Congressional candidates III 1890 was
1882, and in 1898, 2S,S31, and that one
Member of the present House, from Mis-
sissippi, representing 10 counties, with
population in 1890 of 1S4, 297, received
only 2,O6S votes. Similar figures were
given for the other States mentioned. The
resolution merges into the reapportion-
ment question, bill involving reappor-
tionment being on the programme for con-
sideration, If possible.
There was a long technical discussion
as to whether the resolution was priv
LEGGED, etc, the aim being TO get it to
committee and shelve it, and the cry of
no quorum was raised by the Democrats
several times. Mr.. Olmstcd argued ably
that the resolution was entitled to the
highest constitutional privilege, because it
involved representation in the House The
Speaker declared that Section of Article
XIV of the Constitution, relating to the
reduction of representation in States
where the suffrage was abridged, covered
the point, and he Overruled the point of
order that the resolution was one of in
quiry. Before Mr.. Olmsted could get tue
resolution considered an adjournment was
secured by the Democrats, pending a call
for quorum, after a vote on considera-