The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-02-23
BACK TO CONFERENCE
HOUSE NOT PLEASED WITH ARMY
 APPROPRIATION BILL.
Brief, but Spirited Debate fin Which General MiIes's Name Plays Prominent PaRt-Rivera and
 Harbors Measure,

Washington. Feb. 22.-After a brief but spirited debate the House today sent back to conference the army ap- propriation bill. All Senate amend ments were disagreed to, with the single exception of one appropriating $96,O00 for continuing the cable from Valdes to Seward, Alaska. There was renewed discussion of the provision regarding retired officers on duty, with the militia of the several States. the name of General Nelson A. Miles once more figured conspicuously in the de- bate. The rest of the day was devoted to consideration of the rver and har- bors appropriation bill.
 Upon the converting of the House to- day the chaplain delivered an elouuent prayer in which he spoke of the life and character of George Washington. who he said was clear in his concep- tions, strong in his convictions, wise in counsel. heroic in battle and mag unanimous in peace"
 The conference report on the army appropriation bill was called up by MT. Hull of Iowa.
 Mr. Hemingway Und) objected to the Senate amendment authorizing the assignment to duty in the paymaster generals office of paymaster cclerks He said 1t was q dangerous prece- dent, and might lead to maladministra- ton in office. It was his opinion that the conference reports should be de- feated unless the provision were stricken out. MT. Hull was opposed to such interchange of clerks, but it had been recommended by the pay master general
 It developed that the object of the amendment was to provide for several paymaster's clerks who had grown old in the service.
 Debate was cut short by Mir. Hull moving the previous question which was ordered, The report itself was disagreed to in It's entirety by an em- phatic mo"
 Various amendments made by the Senate were then considered. Mir. Ames (Mass.) insisted on an agreement to the Senate amendment regarding retired officers serving with militia, amended so as to make It effective Jan uary 1, 1908. While supporting the amendment he referred to the appoint ment of Lieutenant General Nelson A. Miles as Inspector General of Massa- chusetts, and said it was a political one Had Governor Douglass had the best interests of the militia of Massa- chusetts at heart the appointment would not have been made, but SSNAiSVi man "Oulu nave been select ed. The amendment, he said. was fa- vorable to General Miles, who had ac- cepted the appointment in good faith and the belief that he would receive his full pay
 Mir. Hull declared the attempt to put the whole fight on General Miles as un- fair to the House, and to the General himself He would rather havo the bill fail than yield to the cIamor raised by retired officers in their attacks on the Treasury
 The amendment of Mir Ames was supported by MT. Thayer (Mass ) be. cause he said it would become effective after General Miles's term had expired.
 MT. Grosvnor (o.) opposed the Sem ate amendment He said there never had been so foul an attempt to influence legislation ''in the direction of graft. pure and simple" or to bring forward the name of a distinguished man and cry out persecution against him. He did not know that General Miles was involved fin this graft" If the Senate amendment was adopted. he maintained. it would put millions into the pockets of gentlemen already munificentIy pro- vided for and for doing nothing D
 MT. Hay CVa.) also opposed the amendmenut The Senate amendment was amended by Mir. Ames then was disaErasd to and the report was sent