The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-26
Lodge Objects to House
 Provision.
Other Senators show Sympathy With Contentious of the Massachusetts Statesman, But No Vote is
 Taken On the Matter.

tiOn with the consideration of the | army appropriation bill, there was an- imated discussion in the Senate today I of the assignment of General Miles to | State militia. The controversy was l begun by Mir. Lodge, who criticized in sharp language the provision of the | army bill prohibiting the awarding of 1 extra pay 0 rallowance to retired of- 1 ficers assigned to active service when they exceeded those of a major on the active list.
 MT. Lodge declared the provision l was directed at General Miles and was | most unfair.
 Messrs Lodge. Proctor, Platt (Conn.) l Spooner. Bailey, Patterson, Carmack | and Money took part in the debate. | which followed. Messrs. Spooner. l Platt and Money contended that the enactment would have the effect of | limiting the salaries of all retired of- ficers assigned to active duty to a majors pay regardless of rank. l The oath of office as a Senator was administered to MT Knox for the short term closing March {. next. at the opening of the session, and his creden- tials for the long term, beginning March {, were presented by his col- league, Mr. Penrose.
 | Mir. Algerf also presented the creden- | tials of MT. Burrows for the six year 1 term beginning next March,
 On motion of Mir. Hale, the Senate postponed the hour of meeting tomor- row until 1 o'clock to permit Senators | to attend the wedding of the daughter | of Senator Warren.
 At the instance of Mir. Clay, a resn- l 1utfon calling on the Postoffice Depart ] ment for information covering the dealings of that department with the railroads since 1873 was adopted. 1 Army Bill Up.
 The army appropriation bill was then taken up. When the provision in the bill depriving retired officers of the army who have received militia ap- pointments from full pay was reached. Mir. Lodge moved 10 strike 1t out, say ! ing that it was aimed at General Niles. who had taken office in connection with the military of Massachusetts. | MT. Scott said he did not believe in the assumption that the provision Is aimed at an individual officer. Mir Lodge replied that the debate in tho House had developed such to be the 1 case.
 Mir. Platt (Conn) criticized the pro- vision as obscure and said that as he construed the provision. 1t prohibits higher pay than a major to any re- tired officer, no matter what his pay, if he accepts service on active duty.
 MT. Spooner also took this view and thought the provision should be omit ted from the bill, because wrong in principle. He did not agree that 1t Is necessarily aimed at General Miles.
 Tt is," he said, "a cowardly way of preventing the assignment of general officers to active duty. It affects a class and is not necessarily aimed at any individual. It has come to be that anything which touches General Miles. even though 1t include hundred oth- CTS, Is regarded by General Miles and others as directed especially at him ' MT. Proctor, MT. Warren, MT. Cock rell and other Senators did not accept the view that the effect of the amend ment would be to reduce the pay of major.
 As Viewed by MT. Proctor.
 "The intention,' said MT. Proctor, lis that a retired brlgadier general do- ing active duty, shall receive three- fourths of his active pay and allow ances."
 MT. Spooner declared that it was perfectly plain that the provision was t"to accomplish indirectly what some one did not want to do directly"
 MT. Patterson announced his in- dorsement of the provision except in- solar as it was retroactive. He sug- l gested amendments making 1t applica- ble only to the future. He said he had been informed that in rendering the position at the head of the Massa- 1 chusetts militia to General Miles, Gov ernor Douglas had volunteered com pensation from the State which had been declined by the General
 MT. Bailey made an argument against any pay to retired officers. He | did not believe, he said. that the pro- | vision was meant to cover the case of General Miles. He would not vote for the provision in any shape. he said.
 MT. Scott gave assurance that the Senate Committee on Military Affairs had had no one person in mind when | tho paragraph waA adopted. He said such assignments.
 MT. Proctor suggested. the following substitute for the House provision:
 That hereafter retired officers of | the army above the grade of major shall. when assigned to active duty in | connection with organized militia Tn the several States and Territories, on | the request of the Governor thereof. receive their full retired pay and also commutatIon of quarters unless gov | ernment quarters are available, and 1 shall receive no further pay or allow - ance, provided that a lieutenant colo mel so assigned shall receive the full pay and allowance of a major on the active list."
 Does Not Remedy Evil. Mir Fulton contended that the amendment does not remedy the evil and Mir. Lodge said 1t had the effect of accentuating the injustice of the provisions.
 MT. Nelson said the real desire Is to place officers in position to get not only their full pay. but also an addi- tional $2,00O or s3,0O0 from the States That Is the germ of the Senator's con- tention," he said. referring to MT. Lodge
 i On the suggestion of MT. Proctor. the amendment went oyer to be voted l on tomorrow.
 Tn connection with the provision for the support of a provisional regiment l of native troops in Porto Rico, MT. Clay called attention to the fact that 1 Secretary Root had recommended the l discontinuance of that regiment Mir. | Proctor replied that MT. Root subse- | auentIy had changed his mind and had | urged the retention of the regiment.