The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-01-12
GEN. MILES GETS THE APPOINTMENT Was Principal Matter Discussed
 in the House COTTON PRICES ARE AIRED MT. Johnson Wants New York specu- lators to Come South and Try
 to Produce Cotton
 at AZ Gents.
COTTON PRICES ARE AIRED

Washington, January 1.-The appoint ment of Lieutenant General Nelson A. Miles as inspector general of the state of Massachusetts overshadowed all other matters in the discussion of the army ap- propriation bill in the House today.
 The debate had proceeded leisurely un- til MT. Hull, in charge of the bill, offer ed an amendment declaring that retired officers above the grade of major should not receive the full pay of their grade when assigned to duty with the militia of the several states. Several members de- clared that the amendment was directed especially at General Miles.
 But MT. Hull insisted that he had no such thought in mind and argued that the best results were obtained from officers of the lower grades. He asserted that not until the law was passed allowing increased pay for officers assigned to the militia, did retired officers of the higher grades apply for the appoint ments. He said it was such increased pay and not patriotism which prompted them and he characterized their conduct as unseemly. This statement reused MT. Cochran of New York, who declared that it was simply penalizing superior off cers to the advantage and profit of in- ferior officers. After a lively debate the amendment was adopted.
 Mr. Johnson of South Carolina in a short speech favored an agreement among the cotton growers to curtail the cotton production for the next year and half.
 Consideration of the army bill was not concluded when the House adjourned un- til tomorrow.
 Bear Down Cotton Prices.
 Under license of debate MT. Johnson of South Carolina, declared there was a systematic effort, unfortunately sue cessful, to bear down the price of cot ton. 'I know" he said, there are some kid glove gentry in New York who would not know cotton patch from a pea patch, who are undertaking to tell the world that the farmer can make cotton at AZ cents." If he had power, he said, he would have every man who gambled in cotton on the New York cotton ex- change and who said that cotton could be produced at AZ cents, go down and with his own naked hands pull the bell
 
 that price.
 MT. Douglass of New York remarked that most of the men speculating on the New York exchange were southern men, which caused MT. Johnson to declare that whether they were southern men or not they were enemies of the southern peo- ple and of good morals everywhere. The people of the south were holding cotton which they had no more idea of parting with at the present price. than the own CTS of United States bonds had of selling them at % cents on the dollar. He pre- dicted that before September 1, 19O5 thousands of spindles in the Unites States and abroad would be idle because of their inability to get cotton to spin
 Mir. Johnson argued that it would be right for the southern cotton growers to agree among themselves to a 50 per cent reduction of the cotton crop.
 Mir. Slayden of Texas. eontended that curtailment of cotton production here would encourage greater production abroad, and warned southern members against any idea that the south possess ed the only climate or soil which could produce cotton profitably
 Don't Want Big Navy
 In regard for large appropriations for the army and navy MT. Holiday, Indiana. declared that the grandchildren of mem- a with which the present navy of the United States would not be able to cope. He disagreed with the idea of a great standing army, or a great navy maintain ed simply for the name or glory of having them.
 An amendment was offered to the bill by MT. Hull providing that no retired officer of the army above the grade of major shall be assigned to active duty with the organized militia or shall re- ceive from the United States any pay or allowances in addition to his pay as a retired officer
 MT. Cockran New York, opposed the amendment as penalizing superior of ficers while inferior officers were being encouraged
 MT. Williams, Mississippi asserted the real motive behind the amendment was an attack on General Nelson A. Miles, inspector general of Massachusetts, who is extremely persona non grata In high circles in the republican party"
 It was he said, no new thing for the republican party to slight the heroes of the nation. and to push it's favorites to the front. It had not been long. he said. since the country went wild over the manner in which Admiral Schley was treated, and the way In which General Miles was snubbed in public, for what reason it was not known
 But" he said, amid laughter and ap- plause. 'don't snub him in his new state militia uniform. Don take that away from him in this time of his pride" He said that if economy was wanted, the democrats could say how to be econom- ical He then attacked the principle of large standing army. or a great navy. Economy, he said. should commence with the military establishment. but he added don't take it all out on General Miles additional pay, and his Massachusetts state uniform"
 Challenges Williams Statement.
 MT. Grosvenor favored the amendment. He challenged MT. Williams statement that General Miles was a democrat
 That is the first time l ever heard of it l,e said "Genefal Miles had re-