The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-16
Bacon's Amendment to Deprive the
President of Discretionary Power
Defeated by n Vote of 30 to 20.
SENATOR HANNA AR0I
PROVOKED INTO A BRIEF COLLOQUY
WITH THE GEORGIAN.
Debate on the Philippine and Other
QuestiOns-Mr. Teller Again in Ev.
idence with q Speech.

was made by the Senate to-day in consid-
ering the army reorganization bill. One
amendment that has created much debate
was disposed of and a tacit agreement has
been reached for vote very SOON" Mr..
Cockrill of Missouri, to-day. emphasized
his opposition TO the increase in the army
proposed by the bill and his intention to
vote against it, but expressed his opinion
that the bill ought to be disposed of
speedily. Mr.. Sewell of New Jersey. also
urged speedy action on the measure on ac-
count of the serious embarrassment the
government was laboring under in prepar-
ing for the return of the volunteers from
the Philippines. The principal speeches
against the bill were made by Mr.. Berry. of
Arkansas, Mr.. Bacon, of Georgia, and Mr..
Teller, of Colorado. Mr.. Warren, of Wyo-
ming, delivered an extended argument in
support of the bill During the speech of
Mr.. Bacon a colloquy between him and Mr..
Hanna, of Ohio, as to the issues in the
November elections created much interest.
Mr.. Bacon's amendment striking out of the
bill the discretionary authority conferred
upon the President to increase the size of
the army was laid on the table by the de-
cisive vote of 80 to 20.
AT the opening of to-day's session of the
Senate a bill granting a pension CT $50 a
month to Horatio 1. Davis. father of the
late Senator Davis, of Minnesota, was
passed. Mr.. Davis was captain in the COM
missary department
AT the conclusion of the routine business
Mr.. Morgan, chairman of the committee
on interoceanic canal, asked unanimous
consent that final vote upon the Mica
ragua canal bill and it's amendments be
taken at 5 p. m. on Feb. II. Mr.. Daniel
objected.
A resolution, presented few days ago by
Mr.. Teller. providing for the printing. as a
public document, of the petition OF zoos
Filipinos, offered to the Senate, was laid
before the Senate.
AN UNTRUTHFUL RECITAL.
Mr.. Stewart declared his opposition to the
resolution on the ground that it was an
"untruhtful recital of the conditions in
the Philippines He discussed at length
the situation in the islands. declaring that
the treachery of Aguinaldo had been es-
tablished by authentic documents, ard that
any petition or appeal sent here by such
people was unworthy of consideration. be-
cause they did not come with clean hands
The petition he said, contained every pos
sible threat against the United States. In
view of it, Congress ought speedily to pass
the army bill. THE government has been
defied." declared Mr.. Stewart. 1--WE can
not possibly hesitate to put down this re-
bellion and vindicate the honor of the
United States. This is simply a demand
for surrender on the part of the United
States In the form of a petition. 1t Is q.
wicked conspiracy and ought to be put
down."
Mr. Berry said the appeal was phrased
in respectful language, was spendidly
written and fully represented the aspira-
lions of a great body of the people of the
islands. He was of opinion that the Sen
ate could not afford to refuse TO make pub
lie the appeal by printing it.
Mr.. Lodge said as 1t was most unusual
for the names signed to petition to be
printed and as the resolution pending in
cluded the names he thought it ought to
be referred to committee. 1t was re-
ferred to the committee on Philippines.
Mr.. Teller said he would expect a report
from the committee, and If one were not
made he would know how to get it,
Consideration of the army reorganization
bill was resumed informally Mr. Bacon
withdrew the amendment he offered yester-
day and proposed the amendment he Of
fered originally, striking out of the bill the
words comforting upon the President the
power to increase from the minimum to
the maximum limit the strength of the
infantry, artillery and cavalry arms of
the service. Mr.. Bacon declared that the
army was not intended to control our peo-
pie and there was no logic in the PROPOSE
ton that the army ought to be increased
In proportion to the population.
Does the Senator think" INTERRUPTED
Mr.. Scott. that the vote at the polls last
fall indicated that the American people
are afraid of standing army?"
Mr.. Bacon said he did not think the
A ,orin bod
question of increasing the army They had
not voted upon the question whether the
United States should pass from a free re-
public to an imperialistic government. He
declared that the Republicans i'm the cam
paign took advantage of serious mistakes
of their political opponents" and skillfully
used those mistakes to their advantage.
They won the fight declared Mr.. Bacon.
upon the financial question and the full
dinner-pail."
BACON AND HANNA.
Mr.. Bacon reiterated his statement that
the American people had not passed upon
the question of imperialism" and Mr.
Hanna, chairman of the Republican ma
tional committee, interrupted him to say
that every issue made by the Kansas City
convention was met and disposed Of
Mr. Bacon replied that the newspapers
had quoted Mr.. Hanna, when 1.-THE dis
tinguished leader of the Republican party
made his brilliant tour through the
Northwest as saying that there was mo
question of Imperialism involved in the
campaign.
1.-The question was not one % imperial
ISM" suggested Mr.. Hanna. but whether
the policy of the administration should be
supported. / said there was no such thing
as Imperialism in our gov Srnment and
could not be. Without any offense to the
party on the other side, L regard imperial
ism as fake issue.
Mr.. Bacon maintained that MIR. Hanna's
statement bore out his assertion that the
American people had not passed upon the
question of imperialism.
Mr.. Foraker contended that there were a
number of instances in congressional leg
islation where discretionary rower had
been conferred upon the President.
Mr.. Bacons amendment was laid upon
the table. 80 10 90 as follows
Yeas-Allison. Bard, Burrows, Carter.
Clark, Dolliver, Fairbanks. Foraker Fos-
ter. Frye. Galllnger, Hanna. Hansbrough.
Hawley. Kean. Kyle. Lindsay, Lodge. Nc
Comas. McCumber. McEnery, McLaurin
Mcmillan, Morgan, NeiGon Perkins. Platt
OF Connecticut. Plat of New York. Pritch-
ard. Proctor. Quarles, Scott, Sewell,
Shoup, Spooner. Stewart, Thurston, War
rem. Wo.cott-39.
Nays-Allen. Bate. Berry. Butler. Caffery.
Clay; Cockrell. Culberson. Daniel, Harris
Heitfeldt, Jones of Arkansas Pettigrew,
Turley, Turner-20.
Mr.. Teller then offered his amendment
TO the section of the bill authorizing the
President to retire an army officer under
suspension by sentence of court martial.
He alluded TO a statement made few