The age-herald., 1901-01-12
BACON ATTACKS
 THE ARMY BILL Opposes COnfening Discretionary
 Power on President PASS REAPPORT|ONMENT BILL Measure Is Carried Without Objection Just as It Came from the
 House-Goes to President
 to Be Signed.
PASS REAPPORT|ONMENT BILL

Washington, January 11.-In the Senate today vigorous attack was made upon that portion of the army reorganization bill which confers upon the President dis cretionary power to increase the strength of the army to the maximum limit fixed by the bill. MT. Bacon of Georgia began the attack and MT. Platt of Connecticut, replying, maintained that discretionary power ought to be conferred upon the Pres .dent and expressed astonishment that any body should entertain a fear that the power ever should be abused. MT Bacon declared he would rather see his party condemned ito universal and never-ending punishment from political power than to leave thls matter in the hands of the President.
 MT. Carter of Montana called up the bill apportioning the Representatives Of the United among the several States. Without debate it was passed precisely as it came from the House. It now goes to the Pres ident for his signature.
 Only seventeen Senators appeared on the floor at the opening of todays session or the Senate The prevailing epidemic of grip and the indictment weather accounted for the absence of many Senators.
 MT. Carter the chairman of the commit- tee on census, reported favorably the bill passed by the House making apportionment of representation in the House Of Repre- sentatives among the States of the Union The Senate committee had made no amend- ments to the bill as passed by the House. Owing to the importance of the matter, MT Carter asked for immediate considera- tion. Mr. Hawley, fearing that it's consid- eration might interfere with the army re- organization bill, was inclined to object, but was prevailed upon to withhold his ob- 5ection.
 At the conclusion of the reading of the measure Mr. Pettus of Alabama objected to it's consideration, and it went over.
 The Reorganization Bill.
 Consideration was then resumed of the army reorganization bill.
 Mr. Hawley, chairman of the committee on military affairs, withdrew the commit tee amendment to section 31 of the new bill providing for the retirement of officers on the active list of the army.
 MT. Teller then also withdrew his amend ment to that section.
 MT. Hoar of Massachusetts formally of- fered the amendment, of which he had heretofore given notice, providing that no further military force shall be used in the Philippine Islands except such as may be necessary to keep order in places in the peaceable possession of the United States, tc.
 MT. Carter, a member of the committee on military affairs, moved that the amend ment be laid on the table The motion pre- vailed-32 to 19.
 NIT. Pettigrew's amendment providing that one-thfrd of the appointments to com- missioned ranks in the regular army should be made from officers from the volunteer army-+the amendment which was under discussion when the Senate adjourned last evening-was defeated-33 to 16.
 MT. Daniel of Virginia offered an amend- ment providing that volunteer officers may be designated for examination and those who establish their fitness may be appointed to the grade of captain in the regular army as we'll as to the grade of first and second lieutenants, as provided for by the Senate committees amendment
 Mir, Proctor said that unfrequently the United States has had no system whereby an officer or enlisted man in the army could be promoted for gallant or conspic- nous services He believed however, that the proposed amendment would operate as a great injustice to scores Of officers m Hhe regular army. The amendment was agreed to-24 to 22
 Presidents PoWer.
 MT. Bacon of Georgia moved to strike out the provision that the President in his dis cretion may increase the number of cor porals in any troop of cavalry to eight and the number of priyates to 76. He said he did not believe the President should have discretionary power to regulate the size of the army.
 Mir. Platt of Connecticut said he had none of the fear that seemed to worry come Senators as to the increase of the army to 100000 men. Such an army could do the country no harm and it could not be considered a menace. In response to question by MT. Berry of Arkansas MT. Platt said he feared the pending bill did mot confer upon the President the authority to increase the army from 5S,000 to 100000 at any time. That power, he thought, bught to be conferred upon the President.
 Continuing, MT. Platt said he was aston ished at the fear exressed by some Senators 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 Prsident 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 a conscientious, able and patriotic man.
 .If we could eliminate politics and argu- ment for political effect from this chamber for single day." he declared T believe 1t would be the unanimous sentiment that there should be some f1exibility in the army" .
 Replying to MT. Platt, MT. Bacon said he thought the country had fallen upon an evil day when Senator could rise in this 1hamber and express views which he re- carded as dangerous to the liberties ot people and productive of one-man
 luI, and it was an evil day truly when
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 Hinued on Third Pagel.