The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-02-13
A RECORD FOR BUSINESS
The Army Appropriation Bill
Passed by the House.
The sundry Civil Measure Taken Up
and Considered by the Committee
OF the WhoIe-PrOpOsed Purchase
"f Lnnh for the Government Hos
pitnI for the Insane Recommended.

The House transacted an unusual amount
of business and in one or two matters
made new record yesterday. The Army
Appropriation bill was passed and con
sideration Of the Sundry Civil AppIopria
tion bill was begun Then at a late hour
in the afternoon announcement was made
of the death of General Shaw. late Rep
resentatlye from the Twenty-fourth dis
trict Of New York which occurred Sun
day morning. This was the first time in
the history Of the House that sucn IN
announcement was delayed over whole
legislative day.
The House at 12:35 went into Committee
of the Whole for consideration of the
Army Appropriation bill Mr. Sherman
took the chair. The first reading Of the
bill was dispensed with and MIR. Hull.
Chairman of the Committee on Military
Affairs. explained the general provisions
of the measure
The total amount appropriated by this
bill is Sli7.99i $3.50. The estimates were
on a basis OF an army of 60. coo men md
were s1l3.0i9.0iL21.
Since these estimates were sent TO Con
gress an act has been passed fixing the
strength OF the army at 100.0 900 men. and
the Paymastsr General and others having
charge of the appropria tions were called
before the Committee on Military Affairs
and asked to give new estimates, which
they did.
The estimates furnished aggregate $780,
34a. 1888
Mr.. Slayden spoke against the passage
of individual bills to remove charges OF
desertion from the records of soldiers. He
said there were over 2.GO0 bills of this
character before the Committee on Mill
tary Affairs.
Messrs. William Alden Smith. Boutell
of Illinois, and Clayton of Alabama dis
scented from Mr.. Slayden's general propn-
sition that none of the bills on the subject
had merit. and they cited meritorious
cases which the general law did not cover
and where justice and right demanded
special action.
Mr.. Mcclellan gave the comparative
cost OF the military establishments of the
United States, Germany, and France with
Oul EOHliHSHl. ne HSuTeu lne lDldl Gust
Of the army for the year 1902 at $f2S, ,Sjf,
S5f. an average annual cost per soldier
OF 81 .2lj and per capita cost of S1.64. If
fortifications and pensions were included
the total cost would be S2S3, ,S5l $50; per
soldier. s2.S2S, and per capita, $3.50. The
average cost per annum of a soldier of
the German army was 1927 and his per
capita cost $3.50. In France the average
cost of each soldier was S232 and per cap
ita 1925.
When the reading of the bill for amend
ment was begun an amendment was
agreed to restricting the reimbursements
of money expended for burial purposes to
claims arising subsequent to April 81.
1898. Mr. Hull stated that under the pres
ent law claims we're piling UP for ex-
penses incurred as far back as the civil
war.
without further material change con-
sideration q, the bill was concluded by
the Committee of the Whole which then
took up the Sundry Civil Appropriation
bill This comprises 1874 printed pages.
carrying smaller sum. however, Of S59
7G3. .264.
Dehate progressed in Che absence of an
agreement 10 limit it. Nr. McRae wanting
six hours. and Nr. Cannon. in charge Of
the bill insisting on four hours only, and
with night session to provide for it.
An nouT NstH .OstupltN III hcSulLbTy
discussion of the proposition to buy 1f5
acres of land for an extension OF the Gov
ernment Hospital FOR the Insane in the
District of Columbia. which the House has
twice refused TO do.
The report OF the Committee on Appro-
priltions concerning the proposal to buy
the land indicated. follows:
The committee recommend in the ac-
companying bill the purchase OF land ad-
Joining the present site OF the Govern
ment Hospital for the Insane. The para
graph is on page a Of he bill, and is as
follows.
.' For the purchase at the discretion Of
the Secretary Of the Interior, of not less
than 145 acres of land Immediately ad-
Joining the present building site OF the
hospital on the south and extending from
Nichols Avenue to the tna"ostia River
to be acquired by condemnation or other
wise. sum not TO exceed $4,000. to be
Immediately available.
''In view of the fact thar the proposition
for the purchase OF this land was debated
in the House at the last session of Con
gress and defeated. the committee deem
it due to the House to explain fully the
reasons which have led them to recon-
mend the appropriation in the present
bill. The present hospital buildings are
located upon land belonging to the Gov
ernulent, lying between Nichols Avenue
and the Anacostia River The Govern
ment also owns land on the other side of
Nichols Avenue. which it uses as farm
.-'hrfa - 10 the hospital. The land which