The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-27
.OISRE ESPECT NOT
 MEANT FOR MILES Army Bill is Passed by Senate
 After WrangIing SENATE CONFINES LATE MT. Hale Condemns the General Staff System in the Army and Wants
 Nothing of the Kind in
 the Navy.

after modifying the provision concerning the assignment of retired army officers to active service with militia organizations. The effect of the change Is to relieve Gen eral Miles from it's application. .dr. Gallin- ger and others criticized the amendment regulating the sale of army transports. claiming that the use of government ves- sels were unfair competition upon the owners of private vessels. MT. Hale con demned the operation of the general staff system in the army, and said he would oppose any effort to establish such a sys- tenn in the navy.
 In accordance with yesterdays adjourn ment resolution, the Senate did not con vene until o'clock today. At that hour there were an even dozen senators pres ent, but routine business was proceeded with. The following bills and resolutions were passed
 Transferring a portion of the Yosmite National park to the Sierra Forest re- serve; authorizing the incorporation of the trustees of the grand encampment of Knights Templar of the United States; authorizing the use of stone and ..mber in the public lands in the construction of public irrigation works in connection with the reclamation.
 Want Transports Held.
 When the army appropriation bill was taken up MT. Gallinger inquil ed the pur- pose of the committee amendment requir- Ing the consent of Congress for the sale of the government transports and MT. Proc tor replied that 1t was due to conviction of the members of the committee that the vessels might be needed and they should be so placed that no executive department could dispose of them In this connec- ton he expressed the opinion that should any future trouble occur In the orient, the effect of holding the transports would be manifest
 MT. Galinger opposed the maintenance of a transport service. saying that as chairman of the merchant marine com mission ne hau heard much complaint against the competition of the govern ment with private shipping. He thought that at least the transports out of com mission should be sold
 MT. Gallinger criticized the House resolution excluding privately owned ships from engaging in the transporta- ton of government supplies between the United States and the Philippines, and MT Hale agreed with him that the pro- vision if adhered to would be prohibitive. "It Is most remarkable" he said, for it strikes a blow in the face of the Amer ican shipping"
 Mr Perkins supported the amendment requiring Congressional endorsement be- fore selling transports, saying that If 1t should be necessary to buy in time 1 of emergency, high prices would have to be paid. In the Spanish war more had 1 been paid, he said, for transports, than l they were worth.
 MT Alger who was Secretary of War at | that time warmly said:
 q would like bill of particulars; we bought no ship at that time except upon the advice of the best shipbuilders and | I feel that the business of the transac- | ton was properly cared for"
 Mir Perkins disclamed any intention to reflect on the War or Navy Department
 The amendment was agreed to. as was also the amendment striking out the House provision prohibiting the use of private vessels in the transportation of government supplies to the Philippines.
 Cockrel Offers Amendment.
 In connection with the amendment pro- viding for succession to office of assistant | chief of the record and pension office, ] MT. Cockrell offered the following:
 officers holding permanent appoint ments in the grade of major and lieu tenant colonel in the military department shall be entitled to promotion in the order of their standing in their respec- | tive grades to any vacancies that may occur in the grades next above them In said department"
 | MT. Hale pointedly criticised the law creating a general staff.
 "The general staff" he said, makes the Secretary of War a figurehead all his authority Is ursurped."
 Asked by senator what functions were left to the Secretary, MT Hale replied:
 1 He has been on a trip to Panama and is going to the Philippines. He Is ar active man, not given to dangerous ease but he is compelled to find ex- ercse for his activities in. other than l the old line The result is to drive pro- fessional men in the army and navy to assume powers such as will result in eliminating civilians from all authority l in those departments"
 He declared that so long as he re- mained In the Senate he would not con- sent to extending the system to the navy.
 Defend Tariff System. 1 MT. Proctor and MT Cockrell united | in defending the staff system. Mir Proc l tor suggested the foi-owing addition to l the amendment:
 "The officers designated by the title of assistant chief of the record and pen sion office, and by the title of assistant | adiutant general, shall hereafter be de- signated by the titles of the military secretary"
 The amendment was accepted and the amendment as amended was agreed to- The Senate then reverted to conSldera- | tion of the House resolution repeating the | pay of retired officers assigned to active service. and Mir. Lodge read the follow ing message from the Governor of Ohio: Columbus, O. | Hon. H. c. Lodge.
 'Ohio is deeply interested in the army | bill. If 1t is desired to huu1iliate Genera al Miles In which we have no sympathy here. it should not include splendid ar.ny officers on the retired list. and who are rendering special service to national guards of several states We are special lv interested in the bill n Ohio.
 "MYRON T. HICKS"
 MT. Cockrell expressed confidence that there had been no idea to humil.ate Gen eral Miles.
 Order Is Modified. The order was modified al Mr l.;dSeS suggestion and was passed as follows. Retired officers of the army above the grade of major shall. when hereaf- ter assigned to active duty in connection with the organized military in the severA. states and territories upon the request of the governor thereof, receive their fGn retired nav and also communication of quarters. unless government quarters are available, and shall receive no further nav or allowances; provided further that a lieutenant colonel so assigned shall re- ceive the full pay and allowance pr major on the active list
 The conference report on the eSis,s- tive. executive and judicial appropriation bill was agreed to, as was also the con
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