The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-12

The Senate yesterday began disposing O
the many individual amendments offere
to the Army Reorganization bill. Tn
Hoar amendment, prohibiting the furthe
use of armed force by the United State
IN the Philippines until a committee o
t1hpinos could come to Washington an,
state their case to the President was de
feated by an Overwhelming majority. Tn,
amendment offered by Mr. Daniel maxim,
volunteer officers eligible to appointment
In the Regular Army with rank up t.
the grade of captain was adopted after ;
long speech by its author.
Section 81 of the bill for the retiremen
of officers now on the active list below
the grade of brigadier general who served
| during the civil war was withdrawn b,
the Military Committee
| Mr.. Hoar offered an amendment prohib.
( ltlng the further use of military force in
J the Philippine Islands. except such as NAV
! be necessary to keep order in places in
| the actual peaceable control of the United
| States, until the President shall have first
| proclaimed an amnesty for all political
/ offences committed against the United
! States in me Philippines, and shall have
If in his power, agreed upon an armistice
with persons now in hostility to The
| United States, and shall have invited
such number, not less than ten.
as ne shall think desirable, of the
leaders or representatives of the
there to come to the United States and
state their wishes and the condition
character, and wishes of the people of
the Philippine Islands to the Executive
and Congress, and shall have offered to
secure to them safe conduct to come.
abide, and return. and shall have pro-
vided at the public charge for the ex-
penses Of their transportation both ways
and their stay in this country for rea-
sonable and sufficient time for such pur-
pose.
Mr.. Carter moved to lay the amendment
on the table, and that motion was agreed
to, yeas 80, nays 10. as follows:
leas-Allison. Bard Burrows, Carter.
Clark, Deboe, Dolliver, Fairbanks. Fora
ker, Foster, Frye, Galllnger, Hanna,
Hansbrough. Hawley. Kean, Lodge, Nc
Comas, McCumber, Mcmillan, Morgan,
Nelson, Perkins, Plat Of Connecticut.
Proctor, Scott. sewell, shoup, Simon.
Spooner, Stewart, Thurston-32.
Nays-Alien. Bate, Berry. Butler. Clay.
Cockrell, Daniel, Hale, Harris, Hoar,
Jones of Arkansas, Mallory, Pettigrew,
Pettus, Rawlins, Teller, Towne, Turley,
Wellington-19.
Mr.. Pettigrew's amendment giving one
third of the new appointments in the Reg
ular Army to volunteers was rejected
yeas, Is; nays, 80.
Mr. Daniels amendment urnyidino that
volunteer officers may be examined for ap-
pointment TO the grades of second lieu
tenant, first lieutenant, and captain If
found capable, was then taken up. Mr.
Daniel made long speech in favor of his
amendment, stating that the bill discrim-
mated against the volunteers who had
fought in all of the battles in favor of the
regulars who had not seen so much active
service
Mr.. Proctor spoke against the amend
ment saying that it would open the field
to both the deserving and the undeserv-
ing.
yea and nay vote was called for and
the amendment was adopted by vote OF
"a to %.
Mr. Money moved to strike out all The
committee amendments to the section fix
ing the number of paymasters.
Mr.. Bate offered an amendment increas-
ing the force of the Signal Corps, as rec
commended, he said, by General Greedy.
Mr.. Sewell. a member OF the Military
Committee. said that the Secretary Of War
was opposed 10 the increase.
On the other hand, it was stated by
Mr. Foraker that the proposed increase
was favored by General Miles. The amend
ment was opposed by Senators Sewell and
Carter on the ground principally that it
would destroy symmetry of the military
machine and make the Signal Corps top
heavy with officers. The amendment was
rejected.
Mr. Bacon moved to strike out the words
the President TO increase the
number of corporals in cavalry troops TO
eight and of privates to seventy-six. He
pointed out the bad policy of allowing the
President to reduce or increase the army
at his own will.
Mr. Plat of Connecticut argued that the
decision as to what the strength of the
army should be was a matter which might |
be safely left to the President-an honest, |
patriotic man-and to Congress, IN max
ing appropriations for the army. II poll
tics could be eliminated from the Senate
Chamber there would be, he thought, a
unanimous agreement that there should |
be some nexibility to the army.
Mr.. Bacon contended against Mr.. Platt's
views as highly dangerous to civil liberty
and as leading to the exercise OF the
bill Mr. Bacon said would mark an epoch
in the national history. Senators might
scoff at il. but a law which authorized
the President to fix the size OF the army
between $4,000 and 100, 600 was a move
on the march TO empire. He asserted also
that the great aim of the bill was to
eliminate the volunteer army system and
establish in lieu great regular army.
THE issue" said, Mr.. Bacon. is not
IN be eyaded. Shall It be in the, prov
ince of the President of the United States
TO raise armies without the authority of
Congress, or shall it be, in the future, as
in the past. the province of Congress to
determine it? I would rather see the
party to which l belong condemned to
universal and neverending Punishment
from power than to see this principle
fastened on the statutes OF the country,
that the President shall be allowed TO
determine the size of the army.
Il am ready to vote for an army of
100 600 men for Two or even for three
wears. but not for such an army for all
time"
Mr.. Hoar said that he did not regard
he measure as authority TO the President !
TO Increase the Regular Army beyond the |
number fixed by Congress. 1t was. prac- |
tically. a fixing by Congress OF point far |
within the limit of domestic safety to |
liberty at home and authorizing the PresI |
dent TO reduce the army still further.
II THAI were the only dlfnculty IN the |
bill. it was a difficulty which would not |
trouble him at all. The Executive never |
could keep an army for period of twelve |
l. 4. l.,