The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-01-15
HARSH WORDS
FROM TELLER
COLORADAN PAYS HIS RE-
SPECTS TO EGAN.
ALSO TO THE PRESIDENT
Makes Singing Attack on Latter
For His Course in
Formers Case.


ment was offered by Teller of Col
orado to that section of the army bill
which authorized the president to
retire any officer who has been sus-
pended from duty either by sentence
of court martial or by executive order
in mitiagtion of such sentence, strik-
ing out the words has been' and SUBJ
stituting therefore, shall be here
after. - After saying that the section
had been incorporated in the bill for
the purpose of enabling the president
to retire General Egan, former COM
missary general of the army, Teller
declared it was retained in the bill in
order that an officer of the army,
Major Joseph W. Wham. might be got
rid of. "He cannot be gotten rid of
in any other way" said Teller, land
he ought not to be gotten rid of in any
circumstances.
Teller adverted to the case of Cen
eral Egan at some length. Of the
beef furnished the army, he said it.
was 'boiled and canned. and OF an
cient lineage, some of which had made
a trip to Europe and back, being fed
to our soldiers, after it had been con-
demned by European governments. -
Teller denounced General Egan IN
sensational language. GAS an officer
of the United States army" said the
senator, she made an exhibition of
himself and showed himself to be
miserable blackguard. Referring to
General Egan's denial Of General
Miles charges as to 'embalmed beef, III
Teller declared: Ellis language was|
brutal aud low and so bad that it !
could not be overlooked, although
there was very evident desire to-
overlook it.''
Teller made stinging attack upon
the president for having retired Gen.
eral Egan, asserting that the retire
ment under the circumstances, was
a promotion and not a punishment,
and many'o Of the American people be-
lieve it was decoration and reward
for his attack upon the general COM
manding the army
At considerable length Teller then
discussed the case Of Major Wham.
At the conclusion of Teller's state
ment, Carter of Montana, one of the
members of the military affairs COM
mittee, addressed the senate in an ap-
peal for passage of the pending meas
ure at All early date. He said that
on the Pacific there were only eight
transports at the disposal of the gov
ernment for transportation of troops
to and from Philippines. By begin
ming the work of transporting troops
at once they might be able to complete
it by July l, the date of the expiration
of the present law. Otherwise it
might be necessary to employ special
vessels, the chartering and fitting up
of which would involve an immense
expense. 81 think the senate ought
to know said Carter, "that each
days delay in the passage of the bill
will involve additional expenditure of
at least $500, 000."
81 suggest, said Cockrell of Mis-
souri,, also a member of the military
affairs committee, ''that the senator
ought to have made this statement
earlier in the session and not have
waited until majority had left the
chamber"
Carter said he would ask the senate
to fix day for the final vote upon the
measure.
Teller declared Immediately that he
would object at this time to any date
being fixed for the final vote. He
said he had unduly obstructed con-
sideration of the bill, but the PROPOSE
tions contained in it were such of a
character as to demand full debate.
"If the party in power" said he,
"desired to facilitate it's passage the1
senate could be asked to meet at IL
O'Clock each day.
"This bill is not party measure, III
Carter. ''It was reported
to this body by committee composed
of men of all parties. IF the senator
from Colorado insists upon considering
it as party measure THAT is a
gratuitious insult shouted Teller.
II was about to say, continued Car
ter, that if the senator from Colorado
desires to make this party measure
he will find it difficult to get q follow
ing in this chamber. Ii
Teller then renewed his suggestion ,
that the senate meet at II O'Clock to- ,
morrow or at 8 O'Clock or at any +,
other hour. IT do not care if this de-
lay does cost $500, 600 a day, he said.
1T involves the creation of q great
army that will cost this gov ,