The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-05-05

of the Government The estimates OF
the Department have been practlcaiiy
accepted by Congress, with the only
reservation, as stated by distin-
euished gentleman who has charge or
the origination of appropriation bllls
elsewhere, that they would try ana
keep the appropriations down within
the revenue limits; and to do that
they were compelled to adjourn this
Congress without making appropria-
lions of any consequence for the great
rivers and harborS of the country
But there has been no reduction in
expenditures for the Navy and the
Army We are constantly met with
efforts to increase the rank and pay
of officers, and the army appropria-
ton bill contained such a provision
for retiring officers.
'It is true that the Senate in it's
wisdom and because of it's rules in
two cases voted and prevented another
effort to increase the cost of the Army
in the future by providing for the ac-
QUESTION of four or five great camp
sites.
1.-The organization of the Army of
the United States has been entirely
changed by your party. 1t is now
fashioned practically after the organi-
cation OF Germany, and it would seem,
from all we can gather, that it is the
intention of the Department to pursue
the policy of Germany and England IN
its drill and management. From our
War Department was transmitted to
Congress a recommendation for the
selection of four great camp sites, TO
cost 100000, and to be used as per
manent camp grounds for the lnstruc-
ton of the Regular Army and the Ma
tional Guard.
'It is not only seriously proposed to
follow the example or the great mill
tary governments of Europe IN this
particular for the purpose of encour-
aging the military spirit at an enor-
nous cost, but in 1903 an act was APP
proved entitled "An act to promote
the efficiency of the militia and for
other purposes" which, under certain
conditions and to an extent never be-
fore suggested, puts the militia of the
States and Territories practically I'M
der the command of the President OF
the United States. Bringing the regu-
lar troops and organized militia to-
gether in these great camps, under the
proposed scheme, will, in my judg
ment, change the whole trend and
thought of our people and will be a
long step i'm the direction of strong
military government. Fortunately,
Mr.. President, the Senate has refused
to sanction such an unwiSe and un-
necessary provision
Mr.. President, l think the Senator
from Iowa will not deny it is a we'll
settled purpose of the Administration
and the party to which he belongs,
and of which he is the representative
in the consideration of appropriations.
to increase both the Army and Navy.
Why do we want it? What reason is
there for it? A distinguished Repub-
lican in another place, whose princi-
pal duty it was to provide appropria-
tons for increased facilities for COM
merce, made this true statement, and
coming from that high Republican
source I commend it to our friends on
the other side, and the country will
take note of it.
What is the reason for this unuSu
al increase of the Navy" says this
distinguished gentleman, Hon. T. E.
Burton, of Ohio.
What is the reason, then for
this great expenditure of $685.
100000, an amount approaching
the total that is expended for the
strictly civil side Of the Govern
ment, bearing in mind that the
Post-O Office is nearly self-sustain-
ing? 1t means that we are in
viting the nations of the earth to
declaring to the world that we are
going to enter into a field entire
ly different from that which we
have occupied in the past; that
we are striving to dominate poll
teal affairs in other portions of
the earth.
'"That is the candid statement of a
Republican, and his Americanism is
greater than his party fealty. 1t is
sentiment that, in my judgment, the
people of the country will indorse;
and the time is approaching and, | be-
lieve, is near when they will indorse
the statement by their votes and pre-
vent this great Government, which is
theirs, from becoming Il great military
power.
"Mr. President the present session
of Congress is about to expire. 1t has
been said in the public prints, as well
as by the Senator from Iowa, that
these propriations-these matters of
public concern have been passed with
out any great struggle, without any
great debate. without any unusual
protest from this side of the Chamber.
cit is true, sir, that a more strenu-
Gus fight could have been made. 1t
is true that we could have consumed
more time in the discussion of these
measures. 1t is true that statistics
could have been presented to the SEN
ate and the country more in detail,
and that the adjournment of Congress
could have been possibly delayed for
a month or six weeks.
But we recognize, Mr.. President,
that that would be a useless consump-
ton of time. We realized that our
efforts to reduce appropriations would
be ignored. We knew that our at
tempts to investigate the Departments
had been rendered fruitless. We felt,
and now know, that the great party
on the other side of the Chamber, was
determined to quietly submit to the
exercise of power by the executive
branch OF the Government, which Com
eress heretofore had never tolerated.
I'VE understood perfectly that the
party in power had decided upon an
extraordinarily early adjournment of
Congress without considering meas
ures of general legislation which the
country had a right to expect would
be considered at this session. The re-
sponsibility rests with you. But Mr..
President, the great jury of the
American people will pass judgment in
November next, and, il l mistake not
the signs of the times, they will de-
cree more equal and just measures OF
taxation, rigid economy in the eXpen-