Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-03-09
58TH CONGRESS.
Senate Discusses Amendments
to General Army Bill.
Two Amendmets, Which Were Pro-
posed Ultimately Accepted.
House, Tuesday, Considers a Number
Of Claim Bills.

Washington, March S.-The Senate
spent almost the entire day discussing
the committee amendments to the
army bill concerning provisional troops
in the Philippines and the consolfda-
ton of the adjutant generals Office
with the record and pension office. The
Porto Rican amendment was objected
to by Democratic senators as tending
to a more pronounced military form
of government. Both amendments ul-
timately were accepted.
The bill was amended so as to pro-
vide for an increase in the engineer
| corps. 1t was still pending when the
Senate adjourned.
Washington, March Sat the beginning
OF the SESSION of the Senate. today, New
| lands tNevada) spoke in favor of the
passage of his bill to preserve the Vista
| from the dome of the national capitol at
Washington monument by restricting the
erection Of public buildings to a line 400
feet on either side, a central line be-
tween the points named
He expressed the opinion that no more
public buildings should be erected on the
| mall, but that it should be reserved for
exposition buildings with the view Of hav
ing expositions in Washington every ~
| years as is done in Paris. The bill was
referred to the committee on district of
cation of the project for the Improvement
of the harbor at New Haven, CT.
The army appropriation bill was then
taken up and the reading of the commit
tee amendments proceeded with.
Teller moved to disagree to the Senate
amendment making the regiment consist
Of three battalions instead of two as fix
ed by the House. The suggestion caused
LII, l. 18th, ,,,s.l
corning the use of native troops in the
dependencies. Teller. Stewart. Spooner.
Foraker. Daniel. Carmack, Money. Nor
gan and Quarles participated.
In the course of his remarks Foraker
said that any intimatiOn that the Presi-
dent desired to use the Porto Rican troops
The President. he said. had no knowledge
of the proposed increase before it was
Incorporated in the bill.
Carmack said he took the proposition
as an indication of tendency towards
a military government. saying that the
DISTINGUISHED soldier" Mr. Root. had been
war with flying flags and blowing horns
and that his successor had been induct-
cd into office under similar conditions.
Now" he said, I'VE are to have q mil
itary display on the presentation of dip
lomats. l am sorry the order for that
system was too late for Bunau-Varilla.
should like to have had the system in
vogue on his arrival and would have been
glad to command 1t.
Teler's amendment was rejected and
the provision for three battalions was re-
tanned After some discussion the amend
ment was agreed to. CulberSon suggested
an amendment providing for an increase
in the engineering corps. explaining the
necessity of a larger number of engineer
officers in the river and harbor work of
the country.
With some notifications the amend
ment was accepted. 1t provides that the
-.,'. ~Nnn ~ "o~,r~red 20 10 col"rnlS III
L. z,,I
INNS Ia. first ueulenauts and 10 second
leutenants.
Teller proposed an amendment to the
committee amendment for the retirement
with advanced rank of officers who serv-
ed in the Civil war so as to make II re-
troactive. The amendment was accepted
With the bill still pending at $40 p. M.
the Senate adjourned after brief cXecu-
tive session.