The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-01-27
MILES Is EXCEPTED
NEW PROVISION IS NOT APPLICA-
 BLE TO HIM.
Army Bill Passed by the senate-Haie Criticises General stan, Saying it Leaves secretary
 Ffgurehead.

Washingtoa, Jan. 2s.-The Senate today passed the army appropriation bill after modifying the provision con- corning the assignment Of retired army officers to active service with militia organizations. The effect or the change is to relieve General Miles rom | Its. application MT. Galiinger and others criticised the amendment regulating the sale of army transports, claiming that the use
 of the Government vessels forced un- fair competition upon the owners of private vessels.
 MT. Hale condemned the, operation of the general stan system in the army and said he would oppose any effort to establish such system in the navy.
 In accordance with yesterdays ad- journment resolution, the Senate did not convene until 1 o'clock today. At that hour there were an even
 dozen Senators present. but routine business was proceeded with. The fol- lowing bills and resolutions were passed:
 Transferring a portion of the Yose- mite National Park to the Sierra forest reserve; authorizing the incorporation of the trustees of the grand encamp-
 ment of Knights Templar of the United States; authorizing the use of stone and timber in the public lands in the construction of public irrigation works in connection with the reclama- tion.
 When the army appropriation b'T was taken up, MT. Gallinger inquired the purpose of the committee amend ment requiring the consent of Con- gress for the sale of the Government transports and MT. Proctor replied that it was due to conviction of the mem bers of the commission that the ves- sells might be needed and they should be so placed that no executive depart ment could dispose of them. In this connection he expressed the opinion that should any future trouble occur in the Orient the effect of holding the transports would be manifest.
 Mir. Gallinger opposed the transport service saying that as chairman of the merchant marine commission he had heard much complaint against the competition of the Government with private shipping. He thought that at least the transports out of commission should be sold.
 MT. Gallinger criticized the House resolution excluding privately owned ships from engaging in the transporta- tion of Government supplies between
 
 and Mir. Hale agreed with him that the provision if adhered to would be pro- hibitive. Tt is most remarkable" he said, flor it strikes a blow in the face of the American shipping"
 Mir. Perkins supported the amend msnt requiring Congressional endorse ment before selling transports, saying that if it should be necessary to buy In time of emergency. high prices would have to be paid. In the Spanish war more had been paid. he said, for transports than they were worth, MT. Alger warmly said: q would like a bill of particulars; we bought no ships at that time except upon the advice of the best ship builders and feel that the business of the transae- ticn was properly cared for" MT. Perkins disclaimed any inten- tion to reflect on the War or Navy Department.
 The amendment was agreed to as was also the statement striking out the Hogce provision prohibiting the use of private vessels in the transportation of Government supplies to the Philip pines.
 In connection with the amendment providing for succession to office of as- sistant chief of the record and pension
 office, MT. CockrelI offered the follow ing: .
 "oh1cers holding permanent appoint
 ments in the grade of major and lieu tenant colonel in the military secre- tary's department shall be entitled to promotion in the order of their stand | ing in their respective grades to any vacancies that may occur in the
 grades next above them in said de-