Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-07
ON THE ARMY BILL
Partial Conference Report
Adopted by the House.
A MILITARY SECRETARY
AGREEMENT INCLUDES CONSOLE
DATIoN PROPOSITIONS.
Four Senate Amendments in Disagree
ment Taken Up for Dis
cusston.
A SECRETARY

A partial conference report on the army
appropriation bill was agreed to by the
House today. Four Senate amendments
were still in disagreement.
The final conference on the provisions OF
the army appropriation bill to create the
office of military secretary resulted in the
acceptance by the House conferees of the
amendment inserted by the Senate. In the
amendment a provision was Incorporated
In relation to appointments to the office
when it becomes vacant. The provision is
as follows:
That when the Office of military secre-
tary. with the rank Of major general, shall
hereafter become vacant it shall not be
filled with said rank, and thereafter the
chief Of the military secretary's department
shall have the rank Of ~brigadier general,
with the title of military secretary, and
there shall be only one officer above the
rank of colonel in the said department"
Mr.. Parker On. j. endeavored to secure
debate on an amendment included in the
agreement consolidating certain War De-
partment bureaus. Mr.. Hull, In charge OF
the report. declined to yield for the pur-
pose. and in doing so paid a high compli-
ment to General Ainsworth. who received
a promotion by the amendment.
Advancement of Army Officers.
The four amendments In disagreement
We're taken, up for discussion.
The first provides for the advancement OF
officers below the rank of brigadier gen.
erals who served in the civil war who are
now on the retired list or who may be
hereafter retired, and their assignment in
certain cases by the Secretary of War to
duty as militia recruiting officers, as mill
tary attaches in military courts-martial,
etc.
Mr.. Mahon, (Pa.l }, offered a substitute
eliminating the latter provision of the Sen
ate amendment and changing the verbiage
or the retirement provision, leaving its
purpose the same.
Mr.. Hull favored this amendment as con-
sistent with the same action with respect
to naval officers.
Mr.. Hay Va.). Mr.. Underwood (Ala) and
Mr. Siayden CIex-) opposed the amendment.
Mr.. Goulden IN. " favored it as Justice to
aged officers who deserved the increased
pay the promotion would carry.
The amendment was agreed to by a rising
vote of 121 to 10.
Military Road in Alaska.
The second Senate amendment appropri-
ated S25O,O0O for a military road from Val
DEE, Alaska, to the interior of that terri
tory at Eagle City. Mr.. Cushman wash
moved that the House concur in his amend
ment. He was proceeding to emphasize the
necessity of the road when he was inter-
rupted by the hum of conversation on the
floor 90 49,
II trust, Mr.. Speaker" he calculated
loudly, that l am not disturbing any one
by my remarks"
The House laughed and gave attention.
MIR. Gaines (Tenn.), in opposing the
amendment. declared 1t to be the first step
in the construction of a road 400 miles long.
That is just what -I-said and l did not
stutter when l said t." interiected Mr..
Cushman.5 . - =
well. 1 haven't suffered, either" re-
torted Mr.. Gaines, land when 1 talk I say
something, which Is more than the gentle
man does" daughter.)