Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-15

technical details of the army re-organ-
izatiOn bill, Teller, Col. speaking to
an amendment he had offered delivered
a sensational denunciation of Gen.
Egan, former commisSary general of
the United States army. His statement
included also the administration
An appeal for the early passage of
the pending bill was made by Garter
of Montana, who asked that Il time be
set for a vote, but Teller objected.
No progress was made with the
measure, today. not a single amend
nlent being finally disposed Of.
At the opening of the Senate a bill
with reference to the employment of
clerical assistance in the district of
Alaska was passed
WolcOtt presented the final report of
the postal commission appointed sew
cral years ago to investigate the charg-
es for carrying secondclass matter and
the charges of railroads for carrying
mail. He explained that the report
would have been filed earlier had ill
ness not prevented.
Allison. Ia. reported favorably from
the finance committee a bill concerning
the distilling of brandy from fruits, the
idea being to add cherries and figs to
the list Of fruits included in the present
law He asked consideration Of the
bill today
In response to a question from Petit
grew, Perkins explained that the bill
was To enable the horticuturists of
California to make temperance drinks
from cherries and syrup OF figs
0aughter). Pettigrew objected. be
cause there is no proof that the brandy
to be made is a temperance drink"
The bill went over.
Consideration was then resumed OF
the army reorganization bill the pend
ing question being an amendment Of
fered by Bacon Ga. striking out that
provision of the bill authorizing the
President to increase the number of
non commissioned officers and priVates
in any troop Of cavalry.
In response TO q question by Hawley,
Bacon declared that both the letter and
spirit of the Constitution We're opposed
to the idea of comforting upon the Pres
ident discretionary authority to in
crease the size Of the army. Such
power was vested only in Congress
and, the transfer of such authority was
departure from the principles fixed
by a hundred years of American his
tory.
After some desultoTy discussion Ba-
con withdrew his amendment and Of
fered another introducing the words
during the present eXiSency of the
service" so that the clause would
read: provided. that the President
during the present eXiSency of the ser
vice in his discretion. may increase the
number Of corporals in any troop Of
cavalry to eight and the number of pri-
Yates to &c.
Discussing the phrase 'eXgency Of
the service" Caffery, La. said he pre-
stunned it was the Presidential idea Of
war in the Philippines"
Mallory. Fla. said as to eXigcncicS it
was possible an cXigency might arise
for the use of an army in Cuba.
Speaking of the amendment last Of
fered by Bacon. Foraker of Ohio.
maintained that the army Of $1,000 the
minimum size of the army fixed by the
pending measure was not a large force
in all the circumstances. In view of
the necessity for caring for coast for
probable early construction Of the Mic
aragua canal. every soldier provided
for in the present bill would be needed
In the course of an extended reply
Bacon asserted that the pending
measure in which Congress abdicated
a part of its power when enacted
would be permanent law.
Hawley interrupted Bacon to say
that the act would not be permanent
law and the senator (Racon) knew il.
Allen. Neb.. inquired of Proctor:
Does the de facto but not de jure war
in which we are engaged in China.
come within the term present eXigen-
cy?'"
Il hardly think it worth while to dis
cuss that question" replied Proctor.
The situation in China. as l under
stand it. is growing much better"
Allison declared there was no pur-
pose in the pending bill to pass the
authority OF Congress to the President.
Hawley made an appeal to the Senate
to cease discussion and pass the bill.
Twenty thousand men" said he
VIII have to cross the Pacific before
the first of July. and yet senators are
here discussing matters llal were set
tied long ago.
Fellow senator's" concluded Haw-
ley earnestly, II beg you to let this bill
go through and to start the work of
raising troops to relieve the boys in
the Philippines. | want money and the
order to raise troops to supply the de-
fioiency and put down our enemies,
keep our flag floating in the Philip
pines. and maintain our honor
Spooner, Wis. advocated comforting
on the President fuller discretionary
authority to increase tie size of the
army.
Mallory, Fla. in opposing tie bill.
could see no reason why Congress
should take the dangerous and UMPIRE
cedented step contemplated by TIE
bill
A bill changing the time of holding
the circuit and district courts in the
northeastern division of the eastern
district of Tennessee. was passed.
At the request of Bacon further dis
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