The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-06
UNCLE JOE IS
AN AUT0CRAT 7
Hold UP Any Bill In the
House That He Does
Not Fancy.
HAY TO FIGHT
THIS AUIOCRACY
-
Runors Of War With Japan Will
Cause Congress to Open the
Purse Strings in Order
to Give the Country
Better De-
tense.
Y WALTER EDWARD HARRIS

pY WALTER EDWARD HARRIS.
WASHINGTON, February s.--Whilc tho
threat of war with Japan has 'undoubtod-
Is caused Congress TO be rather more
LIBERAL III the matter OF appropriations
for the national defense than usual. and
Miil probably work 10 secure enlarged np-
propriations for both the army and navy,
ST is apparent that the old-time niggnrdiy
policy which has been pursued as re-
cards naval and army appropriations has
not been entirely abrogatcd.
a member of the House Committee on
Military Affairs, talkins confdentiaily this
morning, said the committee had realized
that there was a possibility of war with
japan. not IN tho immediate future, but
that 1t was likely TO come IN the course
OF time.
The appropriations for coast dcfenses
were increased by 100000. he said. "Of
course. such an appropriation could not
accomplish anything In the way OF put
ting the country in aEstatc Of defense ln-
side of several years.
There is a bi! pending providing for
Tie reorganization of the medical de-
psrtnlcnt or the army, which has been
favorablr reported from the committee.
which should pass. but which. In In5'
opinion, will not PASS. The medical de-
Jartinent. as demonstrated by our war
with Spain, Is In bad state. The chief
arnent Is the lack of men. do not
care to cast any reflections upon any oi'i-
Ger or the department but 1t was sadly.
unfit TO cope w!th conditions In our last
war, More soldiers died from disease
than died from Spanish bullets. far more.
And in q very great measure the hlssi
3,nor.ality rate was due TO the lack OF
surgeons. Were veto have another war
without this additional Legislation affect
ing the medical corps of the army, We
should see tEat lack OF surgeons caused
more deaths than japanese bullets.
Held Up by Speaker.
."rhat the bill has not passed, and in al.
probability vii, not pass. is due TO the
rules OF tho House which give to one
man aboslute power TO say what shall
BECOME law and what shall not Tlis.;
I'm has been recommended and ever
urged by the War Department. The COM
anitsee reported it favorably by 4 unani-
NOUS vote. II / am not mistaken. Yet
Speaker Cannon steadfastly refuses to
allow 1t TO be called up. even though
st would receive practically the unan-
3tnous votc'o tie House. The bill would
1nyolyc the expenditure of less than
$50 u0p Speaker Cannon is absolutely
of the bill whc is needed as urgently as
nny other in putting our army on foot
ing where it will be in anything like 4
condition to cope with a situation result
Ing from Il war with a great power. or
nvcn minor power. His eacc Is set as
H!nt against It's passage, and do not
believe he Will recede from his position" ;"
Evil Of One-Man Rule.
Representative Hay, of Virginia, when
nskcd concerning this bill to-day, also de-
ilared that It's failure to pass was en-
3ircl3' due TO tho opposition OF Speaker
Cannon.
The situation as regards this bill IL
ins;rates Is nothing else has done re-
House said Mr.. Hay. II havo not been
able to discover sentiment against the
bill anywhere save at the Speakers desk.
Speaker Cannon has shut his teoth and
vowed 1t shall not pass. certainly not
until he Ii ready. very much doubt
whether l,e will allow it to be called
up this session. although Chairman HUI,
OF the Military Committee. introduced the
bill, and 1t received the favorable consld-s
Grafton Of the committee.
Il do not believe we arc on the verge
of war with Japan" said Mr.. Hay, al
though 1t may come some time. We could
not expect congressional enactment In
the way of appropriations for fortiticatlons
10 do any good, so far as war with Japan
In the course OF a year Is concerned. But
this bill relating to the medical depart
ment OF the army would put that depart
,ncnt in proper shape right away, ! be-
jievc this is admitted by everybody who
has examined 1t, yet 1t cannot pass. not
because q majority OF tho House so de-
cidcs, but because Speaker Cannon says
Eu.
con tho first day of the next session."
said AIr. Hay, II Intend introducing n res
'olution taking from tho Speaker this
power TO defeat legislation by simply
refusing to recognize Il member who may
want to have bill considered. shall
try to have tho rules changed so as to
provide that the question Of taking Ny
bill shall be decided by a majority Of the
house. ] shall introduce a resolution Of
this character into the Democratic eau
Gus, and conversations with number Of
Democratic members convince mo that
1t will be adopted, believe It will re-
ceive tho support Of q number Of Repub-
lican members.
If It should fail of adoption In tho
House" concluded MI. Hay. II am con-
WINGED we Will he able to induce the
minority to withhold unanimous consent
for consideration OF bills, which would
certainly bring the Republicans to terms
ms IT Is almost impossible to accomplish
Legislation without this unanimous con-
sent' ] am frank to- say there has been
too much acqulescence on the part or
democrats In purely Republican meas
llreS. 4.
f1Jtt.s