Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1903-01-08

Commanded Entire Attention Of
Senate on Coal Situation.
REPUBLICANS BITTERLY SCORED.
Charged Them with Being Silent and
Dumb to the State Of Anairs-Gen-
srAi star for the Army Bill
Passed the House.

Washington, Jan. 7.-Tuesday In
the senate was eventful because of
q notable speech by Senator Hoar
on his bill regulating trusts and an
attack by Senator Vest on protected
industries through the operation OF
the Dingley law. Senator Hoar's ut
terances were listened TO with
marked attention. He said that near
ly all thoughtful men In this country
are agreed that some legislation,
state or national, ought to be had
for the regulation and control OF
what are called trusts" He argued
that II his bill should become law
and prove effective no corporation
engaging In the commerce which is
within the Jurisdiction Of congress
could keep its condition secret.
Senator Vest used as text for
his remarks his resolution introduced
Monday, instructing the committee
on finance to prepare and report
bill removing the duty on coal. Fee
BILE in the extreme and supporting
himself on his desk, he called atten-
ton to the condition Of distress which
had arisen as result Of the short
age in the coal supply. He said that
the question was no longer partisan
one, but one of humanity, and that
we are not on the verge of crisis,
but actually in it. He charged the
republican senator's with being silent
and dumb to the state of affairs, hay-
ing only In mind the party cry,
"stand pat" He characterized the
Dingley tariff act as q sacred eie-
plant" with which nothing was to
be done. He sarcastically remarked
that II the whole question was one of
raising money for the next presiden-
tial compaign, that was the end OF
the discussion.
At 1880 the senate adjourned after
q brief executive session.
The house passed the bill for the
creation of a general staff for the
army by vote of 1853 to So. BY the
terms of the bill it becomes the duty
Of the general staff to prepare plans
for the national defense and for the
mobilization of the army In time OF
war; to investigate and report on
all questions affecting the efficiency
Of the service and to render profess
sional aid to the secretary of war
and to general officers and other SUI
perior commanders. The general
staff corps Is to consist Of one chief
Of staff and two general officers, all
to be detailed by the president from
officers Of the army at large not be-
low the grade of brigadier general;
four colonies, six lieutenant colonies
and ~ majors, 20 captains to be de-
tailed from officers of the grade of
captain or first lieutenant, who, while
so serving shall have the rank, pay
and allowances of captains mounted.
All officers in the general staff shall
be detailed therein for periods Of
four years.
After the general staff bill had
been disposed of six members in sue
cession, Messrs. Cooper, Of Wiscon-
sin; Lamb, Of Virginia; Marcel, Of
Pennsylvania; Burke, of Pennsyl-
vania; Cassel, of Pennsylvania, and
Adams, of Pennsylvania, arose and
ienied published reports to the effect
that they had Joined with other
members to pool" their clerical
work.
A number of, bills of minor, char
ucter we're passed, the most impor-
tant being one to increase the PEN
sion of soldiers totally deaf from
$50 to $40 per month.