The Savannah morning news., 1901-01-15
TELLER SCORES EGAN
AND SEVERELY CRITICIsEs THE
ADMINISTER ALTON.
"BEEF OF ANCIENT LINEAGE"
BACON LEADS THE FIGHT, ABLY
SECONDED ny TELLER.

Beef Fed to Our Troops After Ii
Had Been Condemned by European
GOvernments-Repu Senator's
Plead for Action, but No Progress
Made.
Washington. Jan. H.-In the Senate to-
day Mr. Teller of Colorado, speaking to
an amendment he had offered to the army
reorganization bill, delivered a sensa-
tional denunciation of Gen. Egan, former
commissary general of the United States
army. His statement included also the
administration for its action in retiring
Gen. Egan. Absolutely no progress was
made with the army measure to-day, not
a single amendment being disposed of
finally.
The pending question at the opening of
the session was an amendment offered by
Mr.. Bacon of Georgia, striking out that
provision of the bill authorizing the Pres
ident to increase the number of non-com-
missioned officers and privates in any
troop of cavalry.
Mr.. Bacon declared that both the letter
and spirit of the constitution were oppcs-
ed to the idea of comforting upon the
President discretionary authority to in
crease the size of the army. Such power
was vested only in Congress and the
transfer of such authority was a depart
ure from the principles fixed by hun
dred years of American history.
After some desultory discussion Mr.
Bacon withdrew his amendment and Of
fered another introducing the words
during the present exigency OF the ser
vice" so that the clause would read
provided, that the president, during the
present exigency of the service, in MS
discretion may increase the number OF
corporals in any troop of cavalry to eight
and the number of privates to 76.'
Discussing the phrase "exigency of the
service" Mr.. Caffery Louisiana, said he
presumed it was 1.-The presidential idea
of the war in the Philippines"
Mr. Mallory, of Florida, said as to exi-
gencies it was possible an exigency might
arise for the use of an army in Cuba
Speaking to the amendment last offered
by Mr. Bacon, Mr.. Foraker of Ohio, main
tanned that the army of 5000, the mini
mum size of the army fixed by the pend
ing measure, was not large force in all
the circumstances. The conference QI
authority upon the President to Increase
the size of the army within a maximum
limit, Mr.. Foraker declared, was distinct
ly in line with precedents.
Mr.. Bacon replied that the pending
measure, in which Congress abdicated
part of it's power when enacted, would
become permanent law.
Mr. Hawley interrupted Mr.. Bacon to
say that the act would not be permanent
law, and the Senator (BacoD knew H..
There is no such thing as permanent law
Mr.. Allison declared there was no pur-
pose in the pending bill to pass the au-
thority of Congress to the President
Congress would be able at any time to
increase or decrease the size of the army
The power conferred by the bill upon ths
President could be exercised only with
the consent of Congress,
'"These matters" he said "are con-
stantly within the control Of Congress,
and no President can or will go con-
trary to Congress-"
Mr.. Hawley made an appeal to the
Senate to cease discussion and pass the
bill. He pointed out the necessity of ac-
tion in order that the volunteers now in
the Philippines might be relieved and
withdrawn
Mr.. Spooner of Wisconsin advocated the
provision which conferred upon the
President discretionary authority to in
crease the size of the army. 1t added
desired fexibility to the law.
Mr. Mallory of Florida, in opposing the
should take the dangerous and unpre
cedented step contemplated by the bill"
He attacked particularly the discretion
ary power conferred upon the President.
At the request of Mr.. Bacon further
discussion of his amendment was post
poned until tomorrow.
An amendment was offered by Mr.. Teller
of Colorado to that section of the bill
which authorizes the President to retire
any officer who has been suspended from
duty. either by sentence of court-mar;ial
or by executive order, in mitigation of
such sentence, striking out the words,
"has been" and substituting therefor,
Shall be hereafter"
After saying that the section had been
incorporated in the bill for the purpose
of enabling the President to retire Gen.
Egan, formerly commissary general OF
the army Mr.. Teller declared it was re-
tanned in the bill in order that an officer
OF the army, Maj. Joseph w. Wham,
might be got rid of. HE cannot be Eot-
ten rid of in any other way" said Mr..
Teller, "and he ought not to be gotten
rid of in any circumstances"
Mr. Teller adVerted to the case OF Gen.
Egan at some length. OF the beef fur
nished the army, he said, IL was boiled
and canned and of very ancient lineage,
some of which had made trip to Europe
and back, being fed to our soldiers after
it had been condemned by European gov
ernments.
Mr. Teller denounced Gen. Egan in SEN
sational language. LAS an officer OF the
Trnited states army" Senator Teller said,
she made an exhibition of himself and
showed himself 10 be a miserable black
guard" ,,.. a..
ouape was brutal and low, and so bad
q could not be overlooked, although there
WIS a very evident desire to overlook II.
Mr. Teller made a stinging attack upon
the President for having retired Gen.
Egan asserting that "the retirement, un-
der the circumstances, was decoration
and not a punishment and many OF the
American peopIe believe Il was decora-
,Ion and a reward for his attack upon the
general commanding the army.
At considerable length Mr. IelFer theh
discussed the case of Maj. Wham.
Nr Carter. of Montana. one or the
nernbers of the Military Affairs Commit
ace. appealed for the passage OF the peho-
ing measure at an early date. He sald
that ON the Pacific there were only eight
TRANSPORTS at the disposal of the govern
s,a,,t for the transportation OF troops o
and from the Philippines. BY beginning
10 transport the troops at once tney
rnight he able 70 connlete the work by July
/ fine expiration of the present law.
othervise special vessels may have to be
ebartered and htted up az immense ex-
pense. A.. -, o.,
said Mr.. Garter. "that each days delay
A. MI