Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-12
PASSED IT WITHOUT DEBATE
Discussion of the Army Bill Resumed-
Democrats Object to Giving Prcsi-
9
dent the Power Proposed.


In the Senate yesterday afternoon a yig-
| orous attack was made upon that portion
OF the army reorganization bill which con.
| fers upon the President discretionary power
to increase the strength of the army to
| the maximum limit fixed by the BILL Mr..
Bacon OF Georgia began the attack and
Mr.. Platt Of Connecticut. replying, main.
| tanned that discretionary power ought to
Be conferred upon the President. and ex.
| pressed establishment that anybody should
entertain a fear that the power ever would
be abused. Mr. Bacon declared he would
rather see his party condemned to univer.
sal and never-ending Punishment from poit.
ical power than to see such authority placed
| in the hands Of the President
Just before adjournment Mr.. Carter Of
Montana called up the bill apportioning the
representatives of the United States among
the several states. Without debate 1t was
passed precisely as 1t came from the House.
1t now goes to the President for his sigma
tUre.
Mr.. Bate tTenn.). member of the mill
tary affairs committee, offered an amend
ment providing for an increase in the sig
nal corps, so that, beside one brigadier
general and one colonel, the corps should
| have two lieutenant colonies, five majors,
nineteen captains and nineteen first lieu
tenants and ten companies Of non-commis-
| stoned officers and privates.
The amendment was rejected without di.
vision.
Power of the President.
Mr.. Bacon (Ga-) moved to strike out the
provision that the President in his discre-
tion may increase the number of corporals
in any troop of cavalry to eight and the
number of privates to seventy-six.
Mr.. Bacon said this was one of the para
graphs of the bill which conferred upon
the Presidents discretionary power to reg
u'ate the size of the army and made q
speech in support of his amendment.
MI Platt Conn., discussing some of the
general features OF the bill, said he had
none of the doubt or fear of trouble that
seemed to worry some senators to the in
crease of the army to 100000 men, All the
talk about the danger of such an army to
the country was uncalled for and based
upon no sound principles. Such an army
could do the country no harm and it could
in no wise be considered a menace.
In response to question by Mr.. Berry
(Ark.), Mr.. Platt said he feared the pend
ing bill did not confer upon the President
authority to increase the army from IS. 900
to 100000 at any time. That power he
thought, ought to be conferred upon the
President.
Continuing, Mr.. Plat said he was aston
1shed at the fear expressed by some sena-
tors that the President would not exercise
such an authority with due regard to the
country's interest There need be no fear
that the United States would ever have a
President who would abuse the power con-
ferred upon him. He urged that the power
to Increase the army be left in the hands
Of the President who ought to be regarded
as conscientious, able and patriotic man.
eff we could eliminate politics and ar
gument for political effect from this cham
Der for single day he declared, Il be-
| lieve 1t would be the unanimous sentiment
| that there should be some fiexibiIty in the
| army"
! Replying to Mr.. Platt, Mr.. Bacon said
| he thought the country had fallen upon an
whom tnr ris in
| chamber and express views which he
garded as dangerous to the liberties of the
| people and productive of one-man power.
and 1t was an evil day truly when that
| senator reflected the attitude Of the domi-
| nant party.
An Epoch in American History.
1.-The passage Of this BILL" declared the
| Georgia senator. will mark an epoch in
the United States. Senators may scott, but
| 1t Is nevertheless true that the passage Of
| bill by which the President shall control
the size of the army Is a march toward
empire. It is a great revolution that will
| be effected when this bill is put upon the
| statute books. 1t is the evident purpose OF
| the bill to eliminate for all time the volun-
teer system from the military establish
ment Of the country and create for all time
| great standing army.
1.-THE issue is not to be evaded. Shall 1t
| be in the future the province OF the Pres
| ident to raise armies, or shall that be the
| province OF congress!
| IT would rather see the party 1 belong to
| condemned to universal and never-ending
| Punishment from political power than to
| see such an authorization of power placed
| upon the statute books"
| In course Of an extended discussion OF
the bill Mr.. Hoar expressed the opinion
! that an army Of 10000 at present would
| not make the executive more formidable
| than he was made by an army of $4,000
| when that limit was fixed. He did not re-
gard an army Of 100000 as a menace, as
| that number, in his judgment. was far
| within the limit of domestic safety to lib
erty The bill in addition authorized the
President to reduce the number of the
army still lower. If the size of the army
| as fixed by the bill were the only question
| at issue he would have no hesitancy In
| supporting the measure. but he felt that
| on account Of the use to be made OF the
| army he would have to vote against 1t.
The ReappOrtiOnment Bill.
| The army bill then laid aside. and
| Mr. Carter CMont), chairman Of the cen.
| sus committee, asked for unanimous con-
| sent that the House apportionment bill be
| considered. A strong disposition was mani
| tested to oppose immediate consideration
| of the measure, but actual objection was
not offered, and while two or three sena-
| tors were discussing among themselves
| what should be done the bill was passed.
The senate then at SOS pm. went into
| executive session, and five minutes later
| adjourned.
<-VTy tn COMPARE.