The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-01-11
final VOTE
STILL AFAR
SENATE CONTINUES DISCUS
SING ARMY BILL.
PROMOTION FOR sHAFTER
Amendment Adopted Permitting
President to Retire Him as
Major General.
PROMOTION FOR sHAFTER

| Washington, Jan. 1O-Considera BILE
progress was made today by the SEN
ate with the army reorganization bill,
but the final vote upon the mesure
seems to be as far off as ever. Today's
proceedings were characterized by
several sharp colloquies, some of
whi3h we're of decidedly pointed
character.
An appeal was presented by Teller
of Colorado from more than 2,OOO
persons in Manila urging the United
States government to cease its opera
tions against the Filipinos. The ap-
peal is sensational in it's statements
and SO unusual in form that Hawiey
of Connecticut made vigorous objec-
tion to its publication as document.
He declared that it was treasonable
denunciation of the government and
an attack upon our soldiers.
Consideration was concluded of the
committee amendments to the army
reorganization bill and the senate
took up the amendments proposed by
individual senators.
The amendments providing for the
appointment of Generals James Will
son, Fitzhugh Lee and General
Shafter to be major generals of the reg
ular army and retired, precipitated an
extended and on the part of Pettigrew,
bitter debate. The amendments
prevt.. ed, however, despite opposl!
tion.
Sewell offered an amendment to the
army bill authorizing the president to
select regular army officer not above
the rank Of brigadier general to be ap-
pointed as major general and retired.
In answer to an inquiy Of Teller, Mr..
Sewell replied that his amendment
was intended to apply to the benefit of
the man "who conquered the Spanish
nation-General Shafter.''
Pettigrew declared that nothing in
the history of the conflict at Santiago
warranted the proposed action by the
senate. cts comforting distinction
for honor not won,'' he declared,
land for services not rendered. -
II am opposed to it. If ] read the
history of that engagement correctly,
the credit for our victory certainly
does not belong to General Shafter. +"
Pettigrew then sent to the clerk s |
desk and had read chapter of Sena-
tor Lodges history of the Hispano-
American war giving an account of
the battle of Santiago. After the clerk
had read fol some time, Pettigrew
himself took up the reading, making
as he proce eded, sarcastic remarks
upon General Shafter's conduct of the
battle. ''Yet," said he, "this is the
man, who is to be specially honored
by congress after it has had laid be-
fore it this damaging testimony from
a most eminent historian of this body.
The victory at Santiago was won not
by General Shafter, but in spite of
Shafter. Now we propose to promote
him for mere laundering incapacity
and inef6ciency without parellel in
the history Of the battles resulting in
victory. We have already promoted
Corbin, who was not away from
Washington during the war and Aims
worth, who acted as clerk only, and
now we propose to put Shafter on the
list to emphasize the fact that congress
never promotes anybody, unless it is
sure that he has never done any fight
ing"
Seweu made a warm defense of
General Shafter and his amendment
was adopted.