Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-01-03
CLEO BILL MAY FAIL.
Strong Opposition in the Senate
to the Grout Measure.
VOLUNTEERS AFTER APPOINTMENTS


Washington, Dee. 3l.-'rhe oleomar-
garine bill will encounter stubborn op-
position in the senate and it is in
serious danger of defeat in view of
the short time for disposing of i'm
portant measures. An effort will be
made to avoid fight over considera-
tion of the bill by attaching it as an
amendment to the revenue reduction
bill. The programme will encounter
hostility, however, and it may be i'm
practicable to carry it out. One of
the most alarming features of the
outlook from the standpoint of the
friends of the bill is its standing be-
fore the committee on agriculture.
The measure was sent to that commit
tee in the belief that it could be
promptly brought back to the senate
with a favorable report, but there is
now grave doubts of this. There are
now nine members of the committee
and only four are counted upon with
certainty by the friends of the bill.
II this indicates opposition by the
other five members, the bill may be
killed in committee or materially de-
layed. There promises to be some
vigorous speeches made by southern
senators against the use of the taxing
power to "stihe an industry"
Volunteers After Appointments.
Washington, Dec. Ex-senator Haw-
ley, of Connecticut, chairman of the
military committee of the senate, had
talk with the president Saturday
concerning the army bill, which has
passed the house and Is now in the
senate. The senator told the presi-
dent that he did not anticipate pro-
longed contest in the senate. In an
ticipation of the early passage of an
army bill, hundreds of volunteer Off
GERS are filing applications to the
war department for transfer to the
permanent branch. The patronage
from this source will exceed that at
the presidents disposal during the
early months of the Spanish war. It
is estimated that probably 700 Off
GERS will be appointed to the army
from the volunteer service. There is
little in the line for the volunteers
except in the lower grades, but there
is no dearth now of aspirants for
these places.
Miles May Not Repy to Alger.
| Washington, Dec. 31,-Gen. Miles is
not yet prepared to make any in
formal statement in reply to the pub
lished article Of former Secretary Al
ger regarding the use of canned beef
and embalmed beef during and after
the Spanish war. lie is still unde-
cided as to whether he will have any
statement to make, saying in reply
to questions on the subject that he
has not yet fully determined what
his course will be. Gen. Miles saws
he has not even read the full ex-
tracts from Gen. Ayers article pub
lished in the newspapers such as he
had seen being so full of misleading
statements that he did not care to 90
through with the entire matter. "One
hundred thousand soldiers have gone
home from the Spanish war and told
the story and the proper officers have
condemned the action of certain per.
sons said Gen. Miles, so that
question whether 1t is necessary Ia
say anything further about the con.
troversy."
The Naval Reserve Bill.
Washington, Dec. 3l.--A bill will be
introduced in congress uDon its reas
sembling for the formation of a nava
! reserve based upon plans prepared by
J a board composed of Admiral Dewey
/ Rear Admiral Crowninshield and Real
Admiral Evans. The features of tn,
, bill are the limitation Of the reserve
j force to total of 10000, the officer,
: not to exceed GOO in number, mad,
: up of ensigns, leutenants, juniol
grade, and lieutenants The term O.