Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-02-22
IN THE HOUSE.
Extended Debate on the Army APP
preparation Bill.

WASHINGTON Feb. 21.-Chairman
Hull of the military affairs commit
tee, in presenting the army appropria-
ton bill to the House today. urged
the necessity Of complete preparedness
as to our army and navy for trouble
in the Orient. He declared that any
nation not prepared to defend it's posi-
ton in China might as well haul down
its flag and quit the Pacific. lnclden-
tally. Mr.. Hull pronounced Minister
Rockhil at Pekin guilty of indiscre-
ton in indicating to Chinese officials
that the United States Intended re-
turning the .c20.000,000 sterling Boxer
indemnity. Statements of this kind,
he said, would be taken by the Chinese
as an indication that the United States
was afraid rather than liberal. Mr..
Hull secuted the idea that Japan was
interested in stirring up trouble in
China to injure the United States.
j pans interest in China, he said, We're
identical with those of the United
States and preservation of peace there
was the only manner in which they
could b" maintained.
Speeches on tariff. immigration and
the Payne customs houses bill con-
sumed the balance of the day. Mr.:
Hopkins. Ky. uncovered many methods
Of inducing immigration to the United
States. much of which he declared to
bo decidedly undesirable. Mr.. Shep-
pard. Tex, urged tariff reform to
obyiate retaliatory tariffs by other na-
lions. Mir. Powers. Ne. spoke against
the abolishment of customs houses as
Of
Ark. answered his arguments.
The army appropriation bill was TAX
en- up when the House met and agree
lnent reached to continue general de-
bate for eight hours. Before taking
up the order q Senate resolution was
agreed to appointing Richard Olney
of Massachusetts on the board Of re
gents Of the Smithsonian Institution.
Chairman Hull of the military COM
| mittee. explained the army bill.
The bill carries a total appropriation
of $69.6IS. S.592, which is less by $l,521,-
15S than the amount asked for by the
department.
! Referring to the provision aboishinE
the Office of lieutenant general when
/ it shall become vacant HUI said when
/ the Law Crediting the general staff was
created ii WAS stated that the liruten-
ant general would be the chief Of the
staff. Up to this time. that had been
the case. But the indications now are
and no one desires to curtail the
powers Of the President in this regard
that for the next two years at least
the lieutenant general Of the army will
have no power which would not be
exercised by a major or brigadier gen
eral. Instead Of being chief Of staff.
he Will be assigned to the command
of division and receive his order from
n junior in grade and rank. | do not
believe that this is good military or
ganiZation."
Hull said that since it had become
known that the committee had taken
action in the matter he had received
endorsements from many quarters.
Il DO not think it slandcring." he
said, TO say that the war with Spain
has made more lieutenant generals
than all other wars tie republic has
engaged in.
IF ! had my way" continued Hull.
Il would provide that every President
when he came into office might desig-
nate chief of staff who should have
the rank and pay OF j lieutenant gen.
eral. but who should not be allowed to
retire with that rank"
Hull made an interesting DEPRESSION
tn the situation in China to emphasize
his position that the fighting arms of
the government-the army and the
naVy-should be kept in efficient con-
dltion 10 meet all emergencies. He
fored no trouble would come. adding.
But there exists today conditions in
the Orient that make it necessary for
us 10 preserve our prestige. our power
and our rights, even to the extent of
being ready to fight for them" In this
connection Hull had read newsoarer
dispatch from Pekin which he vouched
for as entirely accurate which gave
an account of an interview between
Minister Rockhil and Mr.. Ma Tunr
| president OF the Waiwuru.
fo"Eh'n reminded the Chinese that
1@e tm;e3 Stltes intended t. return
-O"'.M0 lcunGS sterling. its part Of
/ the Puxer indemnity