New-York tribune., 1905-02-23
ARMY BILL SENT BACK.
FIGHT OYER MILES'S PAY.
House Also Has LiUelg Session on
RiUer and Harbor Bill.

RiUer and HnrbOr Bill.
Washington. Feb. 22.-After a brief but spirited
debate, the House to-day sent the Army Appropria-
ton bill back to conference All the Senate amend
ments were again disagreed to- with the exception
OF appropriating S50 600 for continuing the cable
from Valdez to Seward. Alaska There
newed discussion of the provision regaruIng retired
officers duty with the militia OF the States, the
name of General Nelson A Miles more hgur-
ing conspicuously in the debate Determined OP-
position developed to motion by Mr.. Anes. OF
Massachusetts TO agree 70 the Senate amendment
on that subject which is favorable the retention
Of full retired pay by General Miles and other off,
GERS of high rank serving with militia organizations
The remainder OF the day was devoted 10 con-
slderaton of the River and Harbor Appropriation
bill The feature OF the debate the protest Of
members of the Pennsylvania delegation against
the requirement chat before the government
pends 10000 additional for improving the Della
ware River. below Philadelphia. the State OF Penn
sylvania should appropriate equal sum. Under
threat by Mr. Burton 10 insist an amendment
striking out the improvement provision, the opposi-
ton vanished.
Mr.. Ames, referring to the appointment Of Cen
eral Miles as inspector general OF Massachusetts.
said 1t was a political one. Had Governor Douglas
had the best interests Of the militia of Massachu-
setts at heart. the appointment would not have
been made, he said, but a younger would
have been selected. The amendment he said.
favorable to General Miles, who had accepted the
appointment in good faith and in the belief that he
would receive his full paw
Mr Hull declared that the attempt to put the
whole fight on General Niles was unfair the
House and to the general. He would rather have
the OIL fai he said. than yield to the camor raised
by retired officers in their attacks on the Treasury
The amendment Of Mr.. Arnes was supported by
MI Thayer. of Massachusetts. because, he said il
would become effective after General AIles's term
had expired
Mr. Grosvenor. of Ohio. opposed the amendment
he said there been so foul an attempt to
ihnuence in the direction Of graft. pure and sim
ple' or to bring forward the name Of a distn-
gulsned man and cry out persecution against him
he did not know that General Miles was involved
in this graft" II the Senate amendment was
adopted. he maintained it would put millions iDto
the pockets of already munihcently provided
for. and for doing nothing
Mr.. Hay Of Virginia, also opposed the amend
ment.
The Senate amendment as amended by Mr.
Ames, then disagreed to and the report was
sent back to conference
Resolutions adopted declaring It 20 be in
eApedient at this time to Investigats the legality
of the election Of delegate from Hawaii to the
59th Congress. and also requesting the Secretary
Of the Interior 10 report to the House whether there
is any foundation for the complaint Of the Ma
tional Business League of Chicago that under pre-
existing laws certain persons have been and
sUrreptiously obtaining possession OF large tracts
OF public lands set apart to promote the irrigation
Of arid lands.
The House then. in committee OF the whole. took
up the River and Harbor bill.
CONTEST OVER RIVERS AND HARBoRs.
Mr. Burton. of Ohio. having it in charge made a
careful explanation Of the bill He said that the
demand for legislation becoming so pressing
that Of three alternatives must be adopted.
To proceed on larger scale. select some few i'm
provements to prosecute to completion devise
some plan by which part OF the expense should
be borne by the communities localities affected.
Messrs. Adams Bingham and McCreary of Penn
sylvania- called attention the sums spent by
Pennsylvania the Delaware River channel be-
low Philadelphia based promises Of fair gov
eminent appropriations. which. they said had not
been given.
Mr. Burton took exception to the criticism and
said that more money had been spent at PhiIadel-
phia since 1909 than for the New-York channel
since 1899. Philadelphia had been generously pro-
vided for. and to say that the COMMITTEES had not
been fair was to make an assertion that was con-
tradicted by the facts
The committee was taken to task by Mr.. Gaines
OF Tennessee, for charging up Tennessee $500 OO
whereas, he said. only SS5OOO had been allowed for
river improvements in that State the rest going
to points in other States bordering on the Cumber-
land and Tennessee rivers.
Alluding to the remarks of Mr. Burton regarding
the Delaware River improvements Mr. AIorreH of
Pennsylvania declared he did think that Penn
sylvania should be required TO give anything to
secure what should go to her voluntarily as her
offer an amendment relieving that State from the
requirement of an appropriation equal to that OF
the government before improvements are made
Mr.. Burgess, of Texas member of the commit
tee, explained that IL was not the desire force
rom Pennsylvania contribution for a great i'm
provement Unconditional appropriations in the
past had been allowed TO that State but said il
ments were to go on, for Pennsylvania to tax her
self and help in the enterprise
Awaiting himself OF the license OF general de-
bate, Mr.. GrOsvenor pleaded for an efficient mer-
chant marine. He spoke OF the naval victories OF
Japan over Russia. and said they were accounted
FOR by the fact that Japan had paid careful atter-
ton to that subject
Mr.. Sulzer. of New-York. criticised Mr. C.rosve-
until late in the session. He provoked laughter bv
inquiring why the Dill should not be passed and
sent over TO the Senate. that tomb all rood
legislation - The Democrats, he said had fled a
SlC1es rather than to discriminating duties
The River and Harbor bill then was read for
amendment.
The reading interrupted by Mr. MADDOX Of
Greek, mentioned in the bill. could not be CHANGED
to salt River This reference the home u Ir6rs
Parker caused cOnsidera bic uerriment
In view of the inferenttal charge that the COM
propriate 100000 in order get a Similar amoup+
from the government for the Delaware River NJ
Burton offered an amendment striking out the pr0-
vision instantly Messrs. Brown, Adams and Butler
the appropriation without the requirement. OF a
contribution from their State
On the plea that the Delaware River tba
hlghway TO an important navy yard and should not
priations for its Improvement
Mr.. Burton withdrew his amendment bur in 10
ing so. and in reply 10 Mr. Grosvenor declared that
the commerce Of the country could not be brushed
aside for the benefit OF navy yards
The bill laid aside for the dav after Soma
minor amendments had been adopted