The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-01-08
DISPLACED IN THE SENATE BY THE
ARMY REORGANIZATION BILL.
SOUTHERN SUFFRAGE LAWS
The Subject of a Heate Controversy
In the House "A Resolution Intro
nee to Investigate the Franchise
Provisions of North Carolina and
Other Southern States Democrats
Both Parties The Matter Sidetracked
SENATE.

SENATE.
Washington, January 3.-Without a
murmur of dissent and without a word
Of comment, the senate today displaced
the shipping subsidy bill from it's priv
ileged position as unfinished business"
which it has occupied since the second
day Of this session. and substituted for
it the army reorganization bill.
When the senate convened today the
army bill was taken up with a view to
pressing to a final vote as soon as pos
sible. It's consideration proceeded un-
til 2 o'clock-the end Of the morning
session-when the subsidy bill was laid
before the senate.
Senator Fettigrew. of South Dakota,
then objected to a request for unani-
nous consent to continue the discus
sion of the army bill.
By a vote of the senate. the military
measure was continued for considera-
ton. thus sending the subsidy bill back
to the calendar.
During the discussion of the army
measure h opposition senato4s indi-
Gated that their line of attack Upon
Tie pll WOulu De against the creation
of a large permanent standing army.
There was intimation that objection
would not be offered to a temporary
measure to provide an adequate force
to maintain h authority of the United
States in the Philippines.
At the opening the bill was laid be-
fore the senate and on demand of Sem
ator Pettigrew read In full.
enc Bacon, of Georgia, inquired
who would a " discretion in the fix
ing of the strength of the army.
1.-The president of the United States"
replied Senator Proctor.
"Aguinaldo will nave something to
say about it," interiected Senator Haw-
ley.
Senator Bacon retorted hotly. He
said the senate was here to discuss this
great question of the army reorgani-
cation seriously and with a due sense
Of it's gravity. He had. he said, asked
his question in good faith and resented
therefore the jocular interjection of
Senator Hawley.
Senator Hawley disclaimed any in
tention of being uncivil and said tina
h cause of the Filipino insurer
might be a determining factor in h
size of the army.
Senator Bacon inquired why the dis
c~retionary power of fixing the size of
the army shoul be taken from con-
SANOo, oAAo opoh LII pIOSA-
dent.
Senator Allison, maintained tina the
strength of the army from year to ear
would be determined by the appropria-
lions for h army made by congress.
Senator Hawley referred to the open
ing of the civil war. the firing upon
Fort Sumter-possibly in the presence
of Senator President Lin
coins subsequent call for rs, 200 men
without action by congress.
senator Bacon replied that he was
not at that exact point when Sumter
was fired upon. 1.-The time has come"
he said, when the statute of limita-
lions ought to bar s1lch discussion"
enato Bacon said he was ready
now to vote for a bill providing an ade-
auate army for the present needs of
the government, but limited as TO the
time of it's operation. He was ~itrevoca-
by opposed, he declared, to the present
bill becauSe it fastened Gpon the
try for all time an immense standing
army. He expressed his perfect will
ingness to support the administration
in its maintenance of it's authority in
the Philippines. He differed from the
controlling powers in their Philippine
policy, but he vas always willing to
support the authority of the United
States. He pointed out that among
the soldiers in the Philippines, his own
state (Georgia) had furnished it's full
proportion.
Senator Tillman, of South Carolina.
inquired whether any provision of the
bill required thai enlisted men should
be returned to this country when their
services no longer were required He
said he understood that a young man
in whom he was interested had been
court-martfaled for some trivial Of
fence and at the expiration of his SEN
tence had been discharged without
friends or funds. The war depa, tnent
had no trace of him. He declares that
no matter what the charge against the
soldier was, he ought to have been
returned to this country.
Senator Hawley said the necessity
for an adequate army was evident tc
all. In addition to conditions in the
Philippines, known to all. he SAID tina:
the United States might at any time
come within the pale OF war with some
European power.
Senator Bacon asked how long g
time would De necessary to keep sc
large an army in the Philippines.
Senator Carter replied that tht
word Indefinite fits the situation
very well.
Senator Daniel called UP and had req
the house resolution on the death Of tn
late Representative Wise. of Virginia
He then offered a resolution express.
ing the sorrow Of the senate and at Al:
Il OCIOCh u IL DIS d IuTInST HldTk Oh re
Spect the n adjourned.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
The radical element among the hous,
republicans who favor cutting dow
h representation from the southern
states in which the franchise is abridg
ed suffered defeat today because
number Of their colleagues refused t.
act with them. The issue was precipi
tated quite unexpectedly. The leader
had decreed that the reapportionmen
bill should be taken DIP today, but be
fore 1t could be called Mr.. Olmsted, o
Pennsylvania, offered as a matter o
privilege, a resolution reciting the al
legged abridgment Of The suffrage Il
Louisiana, Mississippi. South Caroin.
and North Carolina, and directing tn
committees on census to ~investigat
and report the facts to the house in or
der that a constitutional basis of rep
resentation could be established 70
those states The resolution created
sensation 1t was a surprise even b
several OF the republican leaders.
The leaders ~ the donnrrofic sid