Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-01-17
THE ARMY MEASURE.
Tacit Agreement by Senator's tor
Speedy Vote on the Bill.
COCKRELL AGAINST INCREASE IN ARMY

southwest Missouri Gets q Division Of the
United States Court The House De-
bated the River and Harbor BILL
Without Completing II.
Washington, Jan. 16.-some prog
ress was made by the serate yester'
day In the consideration o. the army
reorganization bill. One amendmen;
that has created much debate was
disposed of and a tacit agreement has
been reached for vote very soon.
Senator Cockrell, of Missouri, empha-
sized his opposition to the increase in
the army proposed by the bill ami
his intention to vote against it, but
expressed his opinion that the bill
ought to be disposed of speedily.
Senator Sewell, OF New Jersey, also
urged speedy action on Tie measure
on account of the serious embarrass.
ment the government was laborins
under in preparing for the return
of the volunteers from The Philip
pines.
The principal speeches against the
bill were made by Senator Berry, oil
Arkansas; Senator Bacon, of Georgia,
and Senator Teller, of Colorado. Sen
ator Warren, of Wyoming, delivered
an extended argument in support OF
the bill. During the speech of Sena-
tor Bacon a colloquy between him
and Senator Hanna, Of Ohio, as to
the issues in the November elections
created much interest. Senator Ba-
cons amendment striking out of the
bill the discretionary authority con-
ferred upon the president to increase
the size of the army was laid on the
table by the decisive vote Of 80 to 20.
Senator Morgan introduced reso-
luton declaratory of the non-effect
Of the Clayton-Bulwer treaty upon
the right of the United States to con-
struct the Nicaragua canal.
The senate passed the bill which had
previously gone through the house es.
tablishing the Southwest Missouri di
vision of the United States court
The district embraces Jasper, Newton,
Barton, Vernon, Barry, Lawrence,
Macdonald and Stone counties. The
terms of court will be held at Joplin.
While the senate was in executive
session an effort was made to secur
confirmation of the nomination OF
Mr.. James s. Harlan, son of Justic
Harlan, of the United States supreme
court, to be attorney general of Porto
Rico. hut the action was prevented
by the objection of Senator Petit
grew, WHO said that he had no doubt
of Mr.. Harlan's personal fitness for
the position for which llc had been
named, but his opposition 10 his nom
nation was based on higher grounds
lie then recited the fact of the nomi-
nce's relationship to Justice Harlan
and declared that the nomination wa;
entirely out of place, in view of the
fact that important litigation affect
ing the island to which Mr. Harlan
is appointed is now pending before
the court of which the father is 4
member.
River and Ilarbor Bill Debate.
Washington, Jan, l6.-The house
spent another day on the river ant
harbor bill without completing it
Twenty-six pages were disposed Of
yesterday. The friends of the bill
successfully resisted all attempts to
load down the bill with new project:
and only one or two important
amendments were adopted. The west
ern members labored unsuccessful,
to secure an entering wedge for thei
pet scheme for the reclamation of tn,
arid lands, but received only very lin
tied support.
speaker Henderson called the hous,
TO order with gavel presented b,
Col. McCaskey, Twentieth infantry
U. s. A.. who is stationed at Fort San
tiago, Manila. The gavel is part o
the official flagstaff of the Philippine
islands from which the Spanish color
were lowered and upon which thos
of the United States were hoisted OF
the day of the surrender, August 81
1898.
The senate resolution to appropriat
$1,000 to enable the secretary Of tn
senate to pay the expenses of the in
auguration of the president and vic
president March 4 was called up an
precipitated lively discussion, be
cause 1t did not recognize the hous
as participating factor in the In
auguration ceremonies. The resolr
ton was recommitted with instrut
tlons to report back resolution pre-
viding for inaugural ceremonies III
der the auspices of join. committe
Of the senate and house.
May he an Ohio Burning.
Warren, o., Jan. 16.-Luther Pott