The Savannah morning news., 1901-02-13
The HEATH LETTER
BXPUNGED FROM RECORDS AFTER
WARM DEBATE.
EXPENSIVE
OUR
ARMY.
FAR MORE COSTLY THAN GERMAN
on FRENCH.


Times as Much as a German or "a
French SOIdicr-DemOcrats Vote to
Expunge Objectionable Letter.
SuIzer Declares That He Is Per-
sOnaIIy Responsible, and VIII Re-
peat the Statements.
Washington, Feb. 12-The House to-
day passed the army appropriation bill
and entered upon the consideration of the
sundry civil bill the last but one of the
big money bills. The debate on the army
bill was confined largely to a discussion
of the question of passing bills to remove
the charge of desertion against soldiers
and was made notable by a statement of
MIR. Mcclellan of New York comparing
the cost of the soldier in European armies.
with the cost in the United States. Ac-
cording to his figures, including the oost
of pensions, etc, each United States SOL
dier involved an expense of s., 1928, while
a German soldier costs $227, and a French
soldier s232.
Previous to the considera ton of the ,ap-
preparation bills the anonymous letter re-
fiecting upon Mr.. Perry S Heath, which
Mr.. Sulzer introduced into the proceed
ings yesterday, was expunged from the
Record. During the debate upon the
motion to expunge Mr.. Sulzer renewed
his attack upon Mr.. Heath reiterating
his statement of yesterday that he was
willing to father the statements in the let
ter, and declaring that if action was
brought against him he would not plead
his Constitutional immunity.
At the close of the day the House
adopted the usual resolutions of regret
upon the death of Representative Albert
D. Shaw of New York and adjourned out
of respect 10 his memory. Owing to the
tangle in which the House found itself
just before adjournment last night (being
without quorum) the announcement of
Gen. shaw's death could not be made yes
terday.
The chaplain, in his invocation, referred
to the fact that this was the anniversary
of the birthday of Lincoln and prayed
that his life might be an example and in
spiration to those now living.
The struggle over. the question of ex-
punging from the Record the Heath let
ter was resumed.
The letter appeared in the Record this
morning. Mr.. Knox of Massachusetts
called up the alleged infringement of the
privileges of the House. He contended
that when a member introduced paper
the House obtained jurisdiction. He argued
that. If, for instance, a scandalous docu-
ment, an indecent or obscene document
were introduced into the proceedings no
one would contend that the House would
not have the power to strike it from the
Record.
The resolution recited the occurepce of
yesterday and directed that the document
be stricken from the Record.
Mr. Bailey of Texas asked Mr.. Knox
to withdraw the preamble of the resolu-
ton.
81, myself" said he ''intend to vote to
strike this anonymous communication
from the Record Republican applause)
Mr. Knox consented to strike out the
preamble.
The CuIprit Smoked Out.
Mr.. sulzer said he was at a loss to un-
derstand the anxiety to protect the char
acter of Perry S. Heath my life" he
said. 'fs an open book, and when the
gentleman from Pennsylvania yesterday
attacekd me 1 felt justified in smoking
out the culprit who was responsible for
the charges. And l did smoke him out.
If Mr. Heath thinks there is anything
libelous or scandalous in that letter |
will not plead my constitutional privi-
lege. / will plead the truth of the state
ments. This morning a gentleman, a for
mer member of this House, said to me
The man who wrote that letter knew
Heath like book every word in it is
true have no objection to striking tho
letter from the Record. But / serve notice
that am going to say everything in that
letter and / want Perry S. Heath to an
swer. If he does he will be fit for the
penitentiary. 1 want him to understand
that ! am responsible in damages for
what 1 say. The House has no compunc-
tion Of conscience when he attacks me,
but when 1 attack him he squeals like a
pig under a gate. l got that letter in the
Record. That was what i was after. l
cm now content to have 1t stricken out"
Mr.. Knox's motion to expunge the letter
from the permanent record was then
adopted without division.
The House went into committee Of the
whole and took up the consideration of
the army appropriation bill. Mr.. HUI,
chairman of the Military Affairs Com
bill carries S117994,640 or $12,355,l3S less
than the estimates.
Mr.. Slayden of Texas pointed out that
during the present Congress of the 23 0
private bills referred to the Military
Committee 1900 were to remove the
charge of desertion.
Our Expensive Army System.
Mr.. McClelland Of New York made an
interesting statement as to the total cost
Of our military establishment, which he
said was $128, ,799, ,76O. To this must be adj
deV, he said, $l54.O52,O94 for the cost of
past wars, pensions, etc, bringing the to-
tai up to $2S2. .s51. S54 The cost of each SOL
dier, not counting pensions, etc, would
therefore be S1,2SS; including pensions
81, ,s2s.
The cost OF the German soldier, inciud-
ing pensions and expenses Of past wars
was but $227, and of the French soldier
also including pensions and the expense
of the Franco -Prussian war, was 1882 Be-
fore the end of the year, he said, our
military establishment would cost over
100000, co., This grand total did not in
clude any of the expense of maintaining |
the navy.
Mr. Gilbert OF Kentucky, delivered a !
general argument against the ship-subsldy |
bill.
The bin then was read for amendment. /
under the dve-minute rule. An amend /
ment was adopted on motion OF Mr.. Fitz- |
gera.d, Of Massachusetts, 70 give the 4
equivalent Of two months extra pay 20 |
ali soldiers Of the volunteer and regular /
establishments who had served beyond /
the limits Of the United States.
Mr. FtfzRerald offered an amendment. \