Omaha daily bee., 1906-03-01
ARMY BILL ~ THE HOUSE
Provision for Three Hundred clerks
ia STRICKEN ont

WASHINGTON. Feb. R.-1-he details OF
the provisions Of the army appropriation
bill occupied the house throughout the day.
Several pages OF the measure yet remain
to be considered.
Throughout. members of the appropria
tions committee, headed by Chairman Taw-
ney. were In controversy with Chairman
Hull and the members of the military COM
mttee. Each contest was an effort either
In the direction of reducing or restricting
the amounts carried in the bill. In some
cases the appropriations committee was
successful and in others the military COM
mittee.
Incidents of the day included an unsuc-
cessful effort to recognize the heroism of
two OF San Franciscos firemen who lost
their lives in the recent fire on the trans
port Meade. Mr.. Kahn Of California pre-
scented an amendment to pay their widows
S.oo each. and many members approved
but point Of order was fatal to the at
tempt Mr.. Hull retracted his former criti-
cism Of Minister Rockhill on the question Of
the return of the United States share Of
the Boxer indemnity"
Provision for more than 800 clerks EN-
ployed i'm the STAFF and at army division
headquarters went out of the bill on point
of order by Mr. Tawney, who developed
the fact that there was no authority of law
for their employment.
Before proceeding with the army appro-
priation bill today the house passed several
bills of minor Importance by unanimous
consent
The army bill was then taken up. By
sustaining a point of order made by Mr.
Tawney, Chairman Boutell ruled out Of
the bill a provision for appropriations for
ing to more than 300 clerks, messengers
watchmen, char-women. carpenters and
one gardener employed in the office of the
chief of staff and at headquarters OF divi-
sions and departments of the army.
The point of order was made to para
graphs Of the bill containing increases in
the clerical force, and by the ruling of
the chair not only the increases. but the
whole force were declared to be without
authorization of law.
Chairman HUI remarked that an effort
would be made elsewhere" indicating the
senate. to get the appropriations replaced
in the bill
Commenting on this action. Minority
Leader Williams said the point of order had
developed the fact that there was between
100000 and 100000 in the bill without any
authorization of law. 1t also revealed that
Notwithstanding the army had been de-
creased from 10000 to $1,000 men, the cler-
ical force was continually increasing. He
predicted that the bill would come back
from the senate with all these clerks back
in IT, besides others.
Mr.. Williams saw cause for criticism IN
the provision for gardener He had just
been told he was for the million-dollar war
college with its seven students Why
should we not provide BARRIERS and boot
blacks for the army, he asked.
The provision in the bill requiring that
officers above the grade of colonel shall
serve one year in their higher rank before
retirement was amended at the suggestion
of Mr.. Prince Gll). excepting retirements
for disability or where an officer has
reached the age of 81 years.
\ plea for the Porto Rican regiment pro-
vided Tor in the bill. was made by Com
missioner Larrinnga OF that island.
Since his criticism of Minister Rockhill.
made in the house last week, Mr.. Hull said
lie has been informed by the State depart
ment that the Chinese newspaper state
ment on which it was based had been
denied by Mr.. Rockhill. 1T seems I was
! mistaken" continued Mr. Hull. ''and | re-
gret that ! made any criticism OF Mr..
! Rockhill on this proposition which admit
while I may criticise him for many others "
MI Hulrs criticism was that MIR Rockhill
| In effect had offered the Chinese a bribe Of
S20.OoO0OO, the amount Of the Boxer indem-
nifty to offset the effect OF the boycott.
| fight against making the 100000 ap-
preparation for barracks and quarters in a
lump sum was made by Nh Tawney but
! his amendment limiting to $4,000 the eX.
pe'ldlture at any one army post was de.
| tcated after n protracted debate.
Mr.. Williams and other members criti.
cised the cost Of buildings for officers He
said $1,000 had been the cost OF a band.
stand at Fort Riley. Kansas,
Mr.. Hull said this included quarters fol-
membe:s of several bands.
Consideration of the bill was SUSPENDED
at o'clock, when the house passed a reso.
lutior calling upon the postmaster genera
foo all information upon which he baseG
his order Withholding the rights and privi
leges Of the mails from the Peoples United
States bank of ST. Louis.
At SOB o'clock the house adjourned unit
tomorrow.
BILLS IN INTEREST OF LABOH