New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-24
LIVELY TALK IN HOUSE.
ARMY BILL CONSIDERED.
French NoreLs, Dreyfus Case and
Langley Airship Receive attention.

Washington. Jan. 2S.-The House devoted the
entire day 70 consideration OF the Army Appropria-
ton bill in committee OF the whole. Only twelve
of the thirty-one pages had been read for amend
ment when the House adjourned. The provision
for the construction of a submarine cable from
Stka TO Fort Iiscum Alaska. went out on
point Of order. resolution calling on the Sec
rotary OF the Navy for information as 10 the num-
Der of carriages maintained at government ex-
pense for the use Of his department was adopted
The para graph providing for the contingent ex-
penses Of the army. on motion of Mr.. Hemenway
rep. Ind. chairman Of the Committee on APP
propriations amended as TO restrict the
use OF the appropriated for the Office Of chief
Of staff purely military purposes, and not Tor
executive purposes.
Mr. Hemenway precipitated lively discussion
in which the Dreyfus case and French novels re-
ceived attention, by proposing 20 limit TO S2uo the
amount available for the purchase Of periodicals
and newspapers In offering his amendment he
made the general statement that the department
libraries we're full OF yellow novels ana DOCKS
OF no value. well good novels
Mr. Hcmenwav was closely questioned for spe-
oinc statement by members OF the Military Com
mittee.
Mr. Parker CRep. y j. called attention TO the
difficulty Of getting military information abroad
and he maintained that restrictions shouio ne
made. This matter Of secret information he saiu
was one Of the charges against Dreytus-
Mr. Hay Dem. VaD asked Mr.. HemenNay WHO
vas responsible in the War Department LOT 'iie
purchase Of French novels
The answer was that II had gone on TOT years
under various Secretaries Of War. Mt Hemen
way said that since he had been in congress 81
forts had been made TO incorporate these Depart
ment libraries in the Congressional Library or IN
some Of the public Libraries Of the District OF Co
lumbia.
Mr. Williams Dem. Miss) said that the House
Committee on Agriculture had eradicated TINS Same
abuse in the Department of Agriculture 1Aorar!
n, limiting the appropriation to the purchase or
technical works pertaining to the Work OF 're oe
partment
Mr.. slayden Dem Tex offered an amendment
10 this effect which Mr.. Hemenway accepted ana
withdrew his own.
NJ Robinson Dem. IndA saying that the ap-
propriation bill should be specific and limit the
use to which the sums appropriated may oe put,
took occasio critiCse the expenditure Oh 'Io"'
by the War Department In the Iahs'eS ,,r
experiments He declared that the expehdltur7
made FOR that purpose lacked the sanction or Con-
gress and characterized the airship as use4eSS
'I will charge directly TO the officers OF the gov
eminent to its officials and to It's oepa' 'i'e"'S'
Mr. Robinson said "A system OF twisting the con-
struction Of appropriations system" y. "
Iarsen1ent running wild. and in that charge see
that the War Department. yes and that the hea1
Of the War Department. has permitted an eNpei'
ture for scientific purposes OF over FIVo'' ." "
vain attempt 10 breathe life into an aFs"iP P'o,
oct which collapsed. and which ii was known "
s..n,s 10 me by every sensible man had no utih'y
about H. and this they did without the sancU0"
OF Congress by rnisconstructon Of an act
ReritinC the fact OF the establishment OF ue
Board OF Ordnance and Qualifications and OF the
provision for spending money for experiments Mr.
Robinson said: so that II has become sCahoai
that IanRley's airship, the result OF congress
action in general terms. has cost the government
over 500 COO when IL never had a grain or uuH'y
nhout f. and that IL was under the direct charge
Of the Secretary Of War and under the charge OF
war and navy officers. a board sanctioned by thls
Congress which gave them at That time over
81 O0O 600 with which 20 operate. and by the F3I-
tihcations bill OF last year gave them t'ti or the
pCople 5 money to be wasted this scientific aerial
| navigation experiment. that never had any NtHtS
because some man. perchance professor. wander
press upon the officers who were charged WIZ. ".
expenditure o. public money that THIS aeIlai HEIS
hypnotized them. / take IL that nobody upon tha'
side 81 the House this would eNpend even Nhere
IN the bottom OF tho Potomac River by this aerial
navigation, this Don QuiSoie scheme OF r'oIeSsoi
Mr. sIayden's amendment prevailed
Mr. Hitchcock Dem. Neb1 asked Nh HUI why
/ Il was that tho United states Army requires a
greater annual appropriation than mat OF ay o'e'
Because tho United States pays its soldiers more
money than Is p2d ny any otneT maJI I 10 bsS
the American troops wont 10 China they were the
best paid, best clothed and best fed Of any OF the
foreign troops that assembled on China shores.
The provision for three hundred acting quarter
/ masters at 800 a wear In addition. while So act
! ing. to their regular pay was stricken out on
MIR Palmer rep PENN said the medical and
/ Mr. Hay Dem. Va paid high tribute % the
medical corps for its contributions 70 science and
! efficiency.
! A bill permitting the construction ~ dam
| across the Mississippi River between Wright and
! Sherburne counties in Minnesota. was passed
| At ~ 2 m. the House adjourned until Monday.