The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-15
Sensational Attack by the fearful
Statesman on the Former Commits
sary General of the Army.
PRESIDENT ALSO ASSAILED
FOR DECORATING AN OFFICER
WHO M~ALIGNED GEN. MILES.
CoIorndo's ScoId Unwilling to- Take n
lay Is Costing s1OO,OOO a Day.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 14-Just at the
close of a day of dreary discussion of tech
meal details of the army organization bill,
Mr.. Teller, of Colorado. speaking to an
amendment he had offered, delivered a
sensational d~enunciation of General Eagan,
former commissary general of the United
States army. His statement included also
the administration, because General Eagan
had been retired, according to the Colorado
Senator's charge, as a decoration and a re-
ward for his attack upon the command
ing general of the army. In an appeal for
the early passage of the pending bill, Mr..
Carter, of Montana, declared that the de-
lay now would mean an additional expendi-
ture of 100000 a day. He asked that a
time be set for a vote, but Mr.. Teller OBJ
jected. Absolutely no progress was made
with the measure to-day, not a single
amendment being disposed of finally.
Mr.. Teller's amendment was to that sec
ton of the bill which authorizes the Presi-
dent to retire any officer who has been
suspended from duty either by sentence of
court-martial or by executive order in
mitigation of such sentence, striking out
the wards has BEEN and substituting
therefor shall be hereafter" After saying
that the section had been incorporated In
the bill for the purpose of enabling the
President 10 retire General Eagan, former
commissary general of the army. Mr.. Tel
Ter declared it was retained in the bill in
order that an officer, Major Joseph w.
Wham, might be got rid of. He cannot be
got rid of in any other way" said Mr..
Teller, and he ought not to be got
rid of in any circumstances Mr.. Teller
adverted TO the case of General Eagan at
length. OF the beef furnished the army. he
said IT was boiled and canned, and of very
ancient lineage, some of which had made
a trip to Europe and back, being fed to
our soldiers after IL had been condemned
by European governments.
Mr.. Teller denounced General Eagan in
the United States army" said the sena-
tor. he made an exhibition of himself
ana showed himself to be a miserable
b~iackguard.' Referring to General Egan's
denial OF General Miles's charges as to
"embalmed beef" Mr.. Teller declared, ''his
language was brutal and low, and so bad
IL could not be overlooked, although there
was a very evident desire to overlook it"
MIR. Teller made a singing attack upon
the President for having retired General
Egan, asserting that the retirement. in
the circumstances, was a decoration and
not a punishment and many of the Amer
lean people thought it was a decoration
and a reward for his attack upon the gen.
eral commanding the army" AT consider
able length Mr.. Teller then discussed the
case of Major Wham.
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Teller's state
ment Mr.. Carter, of Montana, one of the
members of the military affairs commit
tee, addressed the Senate in an appeal for
the passage of the pending measure at an
early date. He said that on the Pacific
there We're only eight transports at the
disposal of the government for the trans
portation of troops to and from the Phil
ippines. BY beginning the work of trans
able TO complete il by July /, the date of
the expiration of the present law. Other
wise II might be necessary to employ spc-
cial vessels, the chartering and fitting up
OF which would involve immense expense.
II think the Senate ought to know said
Mr.. Carter, that each days delay in the
Passage of this bill will involve an addi-
tional expenditure of at least 10000"
II suggest" said Mr.. Cockrell. of Mis-
souri,, also a member of the military affairs
committee, that the senator ought 20 have
made this statement earlier in the ses-
sion and not have waited until a majority
had left the chamber"
Mr.. Carter said tomorrow he would ask
the Senate to fix a day for the final vote
upOn the measure.
Mr.. Teller declared Immediately that he
would object at this time to any date be-
Ing fixed for a final vote. He said he had
of the bill, but the propositions contained
in IL were of such a character as TO demand
full debate, IF the party in power" said
lCp dColl1 W It's DdSSdGe InG
Senate could be asked TO meet at IL o'clock
each day"
This bill is not a party measure sug-
geSted Mr.. Carter. 1T was reported TO
this body by a committee composed of
men Of all parties. If the senator from
Colorado insists upon considering it as a
party measure"
THAT is a %gratuitous insult shouted
Mr.. Teller.
II was about to say" continued Mr.. Car
ter. that if the senator from Colorado
desires to make this a party measure he
will find 1t difficult to get a following in
this chamber"
Mr.. Teller then renewed his suggestion
that the Senate meet at IL o'clock to-mor-
row or at 9 o'clock or at any other hour.
II do not care If this delay does cost $780,
600 a day. It involves the creation of a
kgreat standing army that will cost this
Vgovernment millions upon millions of dol
lars after we are dead and gone"
Mr.. Carter then moved that when the
Senate adjourn ii be until IL o'clock to-
morrow. Mr.. Pettigrew interposed with a
motion to adjourn, and finally on motion
of Mr.. Proctor the Senate at 5:55 adjourned
until noon tomorrow.
Senator Berry, of Arkansas, to-day Of
fered the following amendment as an adj
ditional section to the army reorganization
bill: THAT within ten days after this bill
shall become a law the President OF the
United States shall issue his proclamation.
declaring that the United States hereby
disclaims any disposition or intention TO
exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction or control
over the Philippine islands except for the
pacihcation thereof; and asserts its deter
minatior when that is ACCOMPLISHED to
leave the government and control of the
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