Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-03-27

chairman of the committee on lnSular
affairs. presented the BurleSOn resolu-
ton of inquiry calling upon the Presl-
dent for information relative to the re-
ported application of Lieut.. Gen. Miles
to be assigned to duty in the Phlllp-
pines for the purpose of putting in OPP
GRAFTON a plan prepared by him for the
qualification of the islands. The resolu-
ton was adopted without debate.
The House then went into committee
of the whole and resumed the general
debate on the army appropriation bill.
Warnock, Ohio the first speaker, pro-
tested strongly against the provision in
the bill which deprived retired army
officers from receiving an increase in
longevity pay after their retirement
He commended that this provision did
an injustice to officers who were
wounded or had become disabled in the
service The longevity pay, he argued,
should be increased up to the maximum
of 10 per cent. allowed by law to active
officers.
While Warnock was talking about
the sanguinary battles of the Civil war
and contrasting the percentage of loss
with other decisive battles of the
world. Burleson, Texas. raised laugh
by asking him to furnish some COM
parsons with the bloody battle of San
Juan hill.
Warnock replied that the question
was somewhat embarrassing, where
upon Burleson withdrew it. A moment
afterward Burleson asked for COM
parson of the brevets granted at Get
tysburg and San Juan.
Another laugh followed and Warnocl9
replied that he knew little about the
Spanish war.
II was not in it," said he. II ten
dered my services. but the President
thought l was a little too old to go to
Cuba or Porto Rico"
Burleson, Texas. then secured the
floor and reverted to the resolution
passed by the House some time ago
calling upon the secretary of state for
information relative to the refusal of
the state department to grant a request
preferred some time ago in behalf of
Rev DR.. Hiram w. Thomas and wife,
who desired to enter the Boer lines in
South Africa for the purpose of dis
tributing relief to non-combatants. In
doing so. he took occasion to renew his
criticism of Secretary Hay, who, he
said, had been charged with being an
"Anglomaniac, who had used this gov
eminent to further the cause of Great
Britain in South Africa.
He said that it was not a passport
for Dr. Thomas which was desired but
the good offices of the state depart
ment to secure a permit to enable DIR.
Thomas to get through the Boer lines.
Mr.. Hays letter to Hit. he declared,
was an evasion"
He read a second letter written,
March IL, to Secretary Hay by John Q.
knight, acting for the Boer relief COM
mittee, again calling attention to his
request of March II, to which, Burle-
son said. no reply had been received.
Furthermore, he said that the news
papers had announced that Secretary
Hay did not propose to make further
reply to the House resolution.
In the course of his remarks Burle-
son paid a high tribute to the fighting
Beers and expressed the hope that they
would keep up the struggle for liberty
until every British soldier was driven
from South Africa. He contrasted 1.-The
treatment of Gen.
Methuen by the Beers with the horrible
execution of Gen. Scheepers by the
English.
In concluding, Burleson predicted
that in less than one year there would
be another interchange of notes be-
tween the President and member of
his cabinet, and the little pro-British
secretary of state, the little author of
Little Breeches,' would follow the
other cabinet officers of a former Pres
ident into private life
Hit Ull), chairman of the foreign af-
fairs committee, replied very briefly to
Burleson. Everything Burleson had pro-
duced, he said, had been presented be-
fore. As far as the charge of evasion