The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-01-12
FIGHT OYER The ARMY BILL.
GEN. MILES THE STORM CENTRE
or A LIVELY CONTROVERSY.
An Amendment Passed That WIN Deprive
Retired Onicers Above the Rank Of
Major OF Active Pay when Assigned
10 DUTY With Militia OF Amy state.

w Au'y UiNh VI FhhJ W'ehN'
WASHINGTON, Jan. li.-Iieut Gen. Miles
was the storm centre about which ragged
a lively controversy In the House OF Repre-
sentatives to-day.
The Army Appropriation bill was under
consideration, and Mr.. Hull (Rep., Iowa.,
/ chairman OF the Committee on Military
Afais, moved an amendment providing
that from officers OF a higher rank than
Major on the retired list who are assigned
for duty with the organized militia Of any
State or Territory there shall be withheld
the difference between active and retired
pay &c which they are now entitled. He
explained that the provision for increased
pay was made year ago and whereas
previous TO that time no general officer
had applied for assignment to such duty.
since then nine B1gadier Generals had been
40 assigned He said they had sought
the assignments merely for the increased
pay and not from patriotic motives.
Democrats generally and a few Repub
licans from Massachusetts opposed the
amendment, for the reason that it would
affect Lieut. Gen. Miles, who had within
few days been appointed chief of STAFF
by Gov, Douglas
MI AOChIdIl NDtlut ~ - llAulIth IL
the House could afford to assume the posi-
ton OF antagonism to merit; of penaliz-
ing those whom the country has been
taught TO look upon az its military heroes
with something akin to reverence, and OF
deprivng States Of the right 10 secure
the services Of the men who by their abilities
and services. have risen to the highest
rank
Mr.. Hull repeated that up to the time the
provision for full pay was made no general
officer had applied for these ASST gnments;
within the year nine BriEaders had sought
and secured them, as he believed, for the
reason that they would secure additional
pay, not from patriotic motives
Mr. Mccall (Rep. Mass said he hoped
Mr. Hull did not include Gen. Miles within
his structures, and Mr.. Hull discamed
any such purpose.
Mr. Stevens (Rep., Mimi advocating
the amendment, said that the present law
had led to unseemly scrambes by general
officers FOR assignment with the State
militia. Hefavored the amendment because
he wanted the militia TO have the services
OF officers best adapted TO their needs,
and these were not officers OF high grade.
MIR. Williams dem, bilss.) SAID lie would
make no charges. but he feared that the
amendment was directed at Cen Miles
because he. was persona non Drdtd in
Republican Administration circles We
have read he said. that Gen. Miles was
snubbed IN public. for what reason ] know
not; but Ipleadinglyl do not snub him in
the uniform of the Massachusetts, militia
before he has chance TO display it.
lLanghter.l
Gen. Grosvenor, referring 10 the polit
ical feature Of the discussion. asked Mr. |
Williams upon what authority he claimed
Gen Miles as a Democrat THE public |
prints reported that the General sought |
the Presidential nomination on the Pro-
hibition ticket and certainly the antipodes /
met in that combination Laughter |
Closing the discussion. Mr. Thayer Dem, |
Mass) warned the House that the people |
OF Massachusetts, would look upon the |
amendment IA an insult 10 Con. Miles; |
and If you want 10 make that state solidy |
Democratic vote for IT.
The Hull amendment WAS agreed to, !
i08 to ii. During the discussion Mr.. Denny /
Dem, Md protested against increased |
expenses for either tho army or the navy |
at the expense Of the Improvement of rivers |
and harbors demanded for the transao-
ton Of the commerce at the world.
Mr.. Little Dem, Ark.l moved to reduce
the strength of the army TO 1900 officers |
and men, Last year ne said there were |
more than 5000 desertions because the aver |
age American was fighting soldier. Many |
OF these, MIR. Little said. are now in peni- |
tentiaries, In case OF real war they would |
be found rather behind the guns than be- |
hind the bars
The amendment was rejected. so to 10.
MIR, Prince rep, I'D presented the !
facts In connection with the retired list !
Of the army. refraining from any comment |
on the subject, contenting himself az he |
said, with stating the facts-let Congress |
and the country be the judges. As COM |
pared with the number Of officers on the |
active list the showing is as follows
A<fl-s