The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-02-10
UNABLE TO LOAD
THE GUNS ONCE
SpaniSh-AmeriCan War Found
Uncle Sam Exceedingly
Short of Powder.
ARMY BILL IN THE SENATE
DEBATE OVER ARMINe STATE
MILITIA.

washington. Feb. 9.-The army an
preparation bill was taken up in the
senate today. An amendment authoriz-
iis the secretary of the interior to ex-
ittase pubic lands for private lands.
"heh private lands are needed for en-
iai seu military organizations, went out
oh point of order Senator Carter
coIltended that il gave too much lee
ny ~ Tor the swapping of lands.
me auopticn of an amendment au-
tnorizing the secretary of war to sun
ply militia of the various states with
arms and equipment used by the regu-
iar army created considerable discus
sion Mr. Burkett asked for Informal
ton as 10 the number Of rifles the gov
ornment had I'm reserve.
Caught Onprepared.
will say" replied Mr.. Warren.
that when the Spanish American war
Droke out we had not powder enough
TO load once the guns we had. and we
had not guns enough to arm 10000 re-
serves, when we appropriated money
and went abroad and bought the guns
submit that is not reply to my
question. The senator is not stating
anything about the guns we now have
exists now. the secretary sOf war has
not done his duty" replied Mr.. Bur
kett.
Does the senator think il would be
p good thing for me to stand here and
tell to the country and to foreign ma
tons just how much powder and ball
we have on hand?" asked Mr.. Warren.
i am sorry the senator shows irri-
tation," said Mr.. Burkett.
Mr. Warren III fbot 70 tho hoct Of
his knowledge, the government had no
reserve rifles except those in the hands
OF the state militia, and the incident
closed.
Bacon Raises a Question.
Senator'S Bacon and Tillman asked
number of questions concerning the
status of the affairs of the United
States i'm Cuba. Mr.. Bacon raised the
question as to the right of the pTesi
dent to set up a government without an
act of congress. but he said he would
not press the discussion at this time.
MIR. Tillman inquired of Mr. Cullom.
chairman Of the committee on foreign
relations, whether he had any informa-
ton concerning the period of Ameri-
can occupation, and when the United
States troops would be withdrawn. Mr..
Cullom said he had rothing TO add to
the presidents message on that sub
ject. Mr. Tillman declared he was not
satisfied. but said. of course that if he
could not get the information he would
be compelled to subside.
Rate Bill Too Strong.
Senator Clapp. discussing the transpor-
tation amendment. suggested Il should be
so framed as TO give the government the
benefit of "A REDUCTION of rates.
Senator Warren made a plea for the
right of army Officers to accept passes.
calling attention to General Funston :
| declaration that they are now getting
/ less than hod carriers in San Francisco.
! This ELECTED from Mr.. McCumber sar-
| castle reply that his heart also bed for
| the poor miltiamen who drive TO the
! railroad stations in their carriages" and
| he cOntrasted their condition with that OF
the ordinary man to their great advan-
tage.
Mr. Scott suggested the hardship occa-
| stoned when the officer was ordered from
one army post to another in which case
he had to bear the expenses of transpor-
tation for his family and household goods.
Some High, Others Low.
Mr.. McCumber replied that this was a
hardship placed upon government en-
ployes of all kinds He also criticized the
great differences between the salaries of
the officers of the higher and lower
/ grades. The compensation of the latter
he regarded as inadequate. 1t was the
/ greatest privilege that could come to a
young man in this country. he said. to be
educated by the government. assured of
a commission in the army and then of
/ retired Dav-
MIR. Warren pictured the hardship of
the enlisted man in the Philippines when
/ compelled to pay his own transportation
\ TO reach home.
! The hardships of the army officer were
pointed out by Senator SpoOner.
Referring to the rate bill Mr.. Spooner
remarked:
Spooner's Opinion.
'I think il we could have proceeded to
| the enactment of the rate legislation in
the usual senatorial way. with less fric-
ktiOn and more of conference and discus
sion such as is usual when the senate
acts within itself. perhaps some provisions
OF the bill which are today found objec-
tionable and the others the objections to
which have not yet been discovered.
would not be found existing in il. But
| IL there is anything in the rate bill so
far as army officers are concerned. which
Is not just. il ought TO be eliminated. and
this IS q good place to eliminate It"
Mr. Spooner contended that the propo-
sition i'm the bill was not a gratuity be-
cause the government had given these
roads hundreds of millions Of dollars in
land grants. Mr.. Aldrich replied that the
proposition would reduce the roads which
had no land grants to the level Of those
which had received such grants.
1t was not compulsory replied Mr.
Spooner: 1.-The roads may grant the re-
duced rates they are not compelled to
do So
Violation of the Principle.
But Il violates the principle we estab-
lished" persisted Mr.. Aldrich
rs there any evidence here interposed
Mr. Tillman. 'of the transcontinental roads
competing against the land grant roads.
with which the government has already
performed its cOntract-are any of these
roads asking the privilege OF handling
government material at half rates? If
that is so. It is Overwhelming proof an
upanswerable argument for a reduction of
railroad rates ali over the country.
~ don't know OF a single railroad or a