The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-01
ROW OVER MILES IN HOUSE.
Williams Seeks 10 Have Amendment Aimed
at Him Made General

WARRINGTON. Jan. 3i.-The Gen. Mile4
retired pay matter came up again in the
House Of Representatives to-day when Dir
Hull (Rep,. la. chairman of the Com.
mittee on Military Affairs, reported the
Army Appropriation bill with a recon-
mendation that the Senate amendments
be non-concuued in and a conferences
asked.
Mr.. Williams dem, Miss). the minority
leader. moved to concur in the Senate
amendment relating 10 the pay Of retired
officers assigned TO active duty, with an
amendment making the provision apply
TO all such officers detailed to active duty
of any kind, "a well "a those assigned TO
the State militia
He said the Hull amendment, which
passed the House, was bad legislation be-
cause retroactive in character. besides
being tainted with a suspicion that it was
actuated by sinister motive to hurt Lieut.
Gen. Miles, recently detailed for duty with
the Massachusetts, militia at the request of
the newly elected Democratic Governor of
that State.
Mr.. Willams's motion was advocated by
Mr.. Lawrence (Rep., Mass } and opposed by
Messrs. Hull and Hay Dem. Va.). who said
that If Gen. Miles or Gen. Anyone Else
should be affected by the legislation he had
no tears TO shed over it. He said that,
in his opinion, any Democrat would have
difficulty in satisfying his constituency if
he voted against this eminenty Democratic
proposition.
Concluding the debate on the proposition
Nj Williams seemed TO devote himself per-
sonaly to Mr.. Hay OF Virginia who Is chair
man of the Democratic caucus. Speak
M Wit nrn pf,hn gfa 81 tf,Ar,
directly at Hay. he said. Il am not at all
afraid Of the covert attack upon my Democ-
racy made by the appeal by the gentle
man from Virginia to the Democrats Of this
House.
Il share the feeling which Southern men
generally entertain regarding Gen. Miles
conduct when he put shackles upon the
ankles Of Jefferson Davis and / do not be-
lieve that it will sound in history TO his
credit, or that 1t will sound in history 70
the disoredit of Mr.. Davis that he was COM
PEELED TO submit TO 1t, old and helpless and
sick as he was at the time. Now if this
legislation had been pointed at anybody
else than Gen. Miles, ! would have taken
exactly the same course that l have taken,
except that | would have taken it much
more anxiously and much more warmly.
Il say to men who are actuated by that
sort of motive. II you want to punish Miles
or anybody else for what was done in those
days-it is long ago now-if history is to
hold out its condemnation. all right, this il
not the time and this is not the place and
this is not the way to get even II II not
Southern magnanimity. They do not pun
ish in little ways like that loud APP
plause.
Mr.. Willams's appeal did not sohdify
the Democratic vote. for his motion 10 con-
cur was rejected-7g TO 10. The bill was
then sent to conference on all the Senate
amendments
The conference report on the Philippine
administration bill, which the Senate had
hitherto approved, was presented and
agreed to.
Consideration was then resumed in COM
mittee of the whole Of the Post Office APP
preparation bill.
In the course Of the debate which related
not at all TO the measure itself. Mr.. Payne
Rep.. y. W, the Republican floor leader,
asserted that the deficit in Government
receipts for the current year would not
much exceed so 600 ,OO1, instead Of amount
ing TO SOL 600 900, rs has been assumed on
several occasions by Mr.. Littleheld (Rep
Me) When questioning the committee
chairman in charge Of appropriation bills
as 70 what was going TO be the policy of
the Administration, to reduce sppropria-
tons or TO increase revenues, Mr.. Payne
the opinion that it would be
found when Congress adjourned that APP
authorized for the next fiscal
year. would be within the Government