The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-04

would not abuse the discretion given
him. He said that he had not abused it
during the late war.
| There is no parallel between the two,
said Mr. Bacon. The bill during the war
was an emergency bill. This is not pre-
tended to be an emergency bill. 1t is
measure to fix the size of the Army of
the United States
The bill will allow the President to
increase the army to 100000 at any t'me
he pleases. This bill places upon The
statute books law which can only be re
pealed when a Congress can be elected
which has the inclination to do so.
| Therefore. so long as a Republican Con-
gress is in this Capitol we shall have
| large standing army which will threaten
| seriously the institutions of this country.
| This is the scheme of this bill. This is
| a most serious matter and gives the FIX
| ecutive the power for all time to order
out 100000 men
! Mr. Butler then argued at length
against the bill and against giving the
! President dangerous powers.
The discussion continued before the bill
had been read through one-third and the
hlibustering tactics began to be apparent
TO Mr.. Hawley who announced that he
had no rights whatever
Mr.. Hawley angrily informed Mr.. Ba
con that when the Senator from Georgia
| tiar Bacon) fired on Fort Sumter. Presi-
dent Lincoln had called Congress together
without abusing his authority.
| Il wasn't at Fort Sumter" said Mr..
Bacon, with laugh, but l was else
| where
| Hannn's Bill sidetrncked.
! At o'clock the Ship Subsidy bill was
called up as unfinished business" Mr..
Hawley asked that the bill be laid aside.
! Mr.. Pettigrew promptly objected.
MIR. Hawley moved that the Ship Subsi-
dy bill be displaced by the Army Reor-
ganization bill. The motion was agreed to
without dissenting voice.
This action takes the Subsidy bill off
the calendar as unfinished business and
reduces its chances of consideration.
When the reading of the bill was re-
sumed, Ar. Hawley again appealed to the
Senate to cease the reading of the bill
and to vote the committee amend
nents.
Mr.. PettiErew objected. and the read
ing of the bill was resumed.
When the reading was concluded. Mr.
Pettigrew enquired as to the necessity
OF an army of 1000 men and Mr.. Sewell |
member of the Military Committee pro-
ceeded TO reply to the question and to |
explain the necessity for the passage OF |
the bill He did not suppose he said that |
any Senator desired an abandonment of |
the Philippine Islands. and If they were to |
be retained, the men to do it would have |
10 he provided. NO matter" he said |
how we got there. We are there and we |
must remain there Further on. he said. /
We are simply increasing the army, as a |
temporary measure, to the extent of the |
absolute discharge to be made under the |
present law
Mr.. Bacon said that he was ready to I
vote for bill limited as to time so as
TO cover the necessities of the present,
ana in so doing. he did not waive the OBJ
jections which he had heretofore express
ed as 10 the policy which led to the war
in the Philippine Islands. There was
nothing further from his thoughts than
me idea OF leaving the American Army
there IN weak condition. He would
change the policy of the Government if |
he could. but as he could not change IL.
the army there had to be maintained.
ihat, however. was not to be made the
excuse for permanent army He under
stood that one of the great METROPOLITAN
journals had declared last November,
that the war in the Philippines would
need, not an army OF 100. 600 but of sever
al hundred thousand. That was the "hor-
rioie spectre, that alarmed him. He pre-
terred that special army should be pro-
Vided for the Philippine Islards
MT. Hoar quoted some sentences from |
one oil The Presidents statements. which |
he thought inconsistent with the require
ment of 4 large army in the Philippines .
The President had stated that ''the effec-
i've opposition TO the authority OF the
United States is virtually abandoned" .
ana mr. Hoar wanted 10 know whether | .
that statement was correct or not
Mr. Sewell~The President thought that .
was so when he made that report
Mr. Hoar-Have those conditions :
changed with the conditions described by |
the Senator from New Jersey? .
Mr. Sewell-They have changed very .
materially. We have more skirmishes &.
there now than we have had almost since :
the commencement of the war.
MIR. HalvIcy Explains. .
IN the course OF the discussion Mr. .
Hawley, speaking Of the necessity OF pro- ;
Niding for an increase of the army. said | .
we are not out of sight of some possi-
biiity of war with some European power. .
understand that there has been jealousy .
about the Danish Islands. i.
MIR Carter remarked that this question !
had been raised by Senators Pettigrew,
Bacon. and Hoar. and required full and .
complete answer so to justify the pas :;
sage OF the bill. II a temporary force .
could serve the purpose quite as well as
I permanent one. then the temporary force l
ohbAA4 bt GtDNiAtu iDT- Inc experience ( =
Of recent years showed that a necessity u
existed fer at least an army OF 100. 600 4
men. II would take at least $4,000 men
TO police the Philippine Islands until the ;
people were educated to maintain law and !
order. a
Mr.. Bacon-How long will that take? /
Mr.. Carter-That remains to be seen. /
Mr.. Bacon-In the opinion of the Sena- n
tor, how long?
Mr.. Carter-I have not sufficient knowI- ;
edge to express an opinion that would be o
worth any reliance
Mr.. Bacon-Then the Senator recognizes J
nat 1t would be an indefinite time \
Mr.. Car -er-I think that the word ''in- :
definite" will fit the question we'll
Mr.. Teller called attention to General |
opinion that an army of 100 =
300 men was required for the Philippine NJ
Islands, and he asked why Mr. Carter d
spoke Of an army of only 60 600 or 50 GOO II
Mr.. Carter replied that army officers
we're very apt TO magnify the difficulties OF | Il
situation, but that he was unable to say.
and did not pretend to say. whether the
army in the Philippine Islands should be
30 coo or $4,000.
In conclusion Mr. Carter said: "The Fill
pino people must understand that it is 2
he set purpose Of the United States TO Il
establish law and order in those islands
md TO maintain law and order there. And
his purpose will be best subserved by =
lsying it understood that the army is to
Dc permanent and not temporary" -
The bill went over, without action. as p