The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-06-22
Interest in Philippine Bill Seems
 to be Tagging
CLAYTON OPPOSES BIG ARMY
Says Before spanIsh War It Cost S25,' 100000 Annually and Now It Costs ,ooo,ooo-Root Again
 Severely Criticised.

Washington, June 21.-Debate upon the Philippine civil government bill Jagged in the House today. There were seven speakers, MT. Reeves of I..inois and MT Cromwell of Ohio for the bi.4 and MT Maddox of Georgia, MT. Dinsmore of Ar kansas and MT. Thayer of Massachusetts against it. MT. McClelland of New York; a son of the late Gen. George B. McClel- land, delivered a short but eloquent speech in defense of the army. Earlier in the day the conference reports on the military academy and sundry civil ap- propriation bills were adopted.
 When the House met MT. Hill, chair man of the committee on military affairs, called up the conference report on the military academy appropriation bill.
 MT. Hay of Virginia, MT. Clayton of Alabama and MT. Mann of Illinois criti- cised the action of the House conferees In agreeing to the number of cadets at West Point proposed by the Senate. MT. Mann said that recently the number of cadets had been increased 100. The in creased membership of the House would further increase the cadets thirty, and now 1t was proposed to increase that num- Der still further. He did not believe we should legisate in the direction of great increase in the standing army.
 Clayton Opposes Large Army.
 MT. Clayton called attention to the fact that the army which cost annually $25,- 900 before the Spanish war now costs annually $125OO0,00O.
 oF defended the conference report, arguing that the increase was necessary in order to properly officer the army.
 MT. Clayton finally moved to adjourn, but the motion failed After waiting twenty minutes a quorum appeared and the conference report was adopted, SS to 50.
 MT. Cannon of Illinois called up the conference report on the sundry civil bill.
 MT. Cannon explained that the agree ment was only partial. Of the $6,547, 900 added to the bill by the senate. $5,043, coo had been agreed to by the conference, leaving 1t carrying $1,2S3,00O still in con- troversy. The report was agreed to without division.
 Philippine Discussion.
 During the Philippines debate which followed Mr. Maddox questioned Sec retary Roots figures as to the cost of the war in the Philippines. He said he could not understand how Secretary Root got his figures. T he actual amount ap- propriated on account of the war with Spain and the subsequent operations in the Philippines, he said, exceeded one billion dollars or abount half the cost of the civil war. He declared that the cost of the Philippines, including the present, had been in excess of $100, ,000, 900 annually and with the reduced forces would not fall much below $S5 0oO, 900. If the army in the Philippines for the fiscal year cost only $40, 900, 900, as Secretary Root alleged he wanted to know what had become of the rest of the $115, GOO appropriated in the army appropriation bill for that year.
 The last speaker of the days session was Mir. Thayer of Massachusetts, who made a strong anti-imperialistic speech. H said there would be no necessity for a large standing army in the Philippines If organized resistance has ceased, as d. legged.
 At o'clock the House took a recess until o'clock.
 At the evening session MT. Palmer, Re- publican, of Pennsylvania, denied that any imperial design lurked In the minds of the American people or of those re- spcnsible for tine conduct of affairs in the PhiliI pines.
 Result of Imperialism.
 MT. Cooney, Democrat of Massachu- sets. insisted that the heavy loss of life and enormous expenditure in the Philip pines was the direct evidence of the i'm perialistic tendency of the party in DOW er He took occasion to criticize Presi- dent Roosevelt's Memorial Day address as unworthy of the solemn occasion.
 MT. Green, Democrat, of Pennsylvania, who made trip to the Philippines last summer said that no one could go to the isls nds and honestly investigate tho peo- pie and conditions there without being forced to the conclusion that the Filipi- nos were capable of self-government.
 At 10:30 D. m. the House adjourned.