The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-02-10
Describes Situation in Cuba in
Discussing ArmyApp
priation Bill
SENATOR BACON
ASKS QUESTIONS
Concerning Amount Army Expendi-
lures Are Swelled BY Occupation
of the Isand-consider
Transportation.


army appropriation bill was under con-
sideration by the Senate today pertinent
questions were asked by Mr. Bacon con-
corning the amount the appropriations
for the army have been swelled by reason
of the present occupation of Cuba, and
Mr.. Warren said there had been no esti-
mate from the department for additional
expenses on account Of Cuban occupation,
as the bill under consideration provided
appropriations for 1908.
In discussing Cuban affairs Senator Ba
con said that he had not been satisfied
with the part Congress has been playing
in shaping the governments policy in
that republic. He expressed the opinion
that it was for the law making and not
the executive department to say what
the course of the United States should
be in Cuba but that he had felt deli
caey in raising the issue.
He thought it would have been a fatal
error for the session to end without some
expression raising the question of the
executives power to set up governments
on foreign soil, to- dismiss parliaments
or set up parliaments, to dusmiss or raise
foreign armies, and said further that any
acts of this character should be per-
! formed by Congress and not by the Pres
dent.
Senator Tillman said that as il seemed
that the chairman of the committee on
military affairs was not in the confidence
of the war department concerning the
Cuban occupation, he wanted to address
a question to the chairman of the com
mittee on foreign relations.
Has the chairman of that committee
any information as to when we are going
roget out of CubaY' he asked
None whatever replied Mr.. Culom.
Can the chairman give us any infor-
nation as to the status of our affairs In
Cuba@' pursued NJ. Tilman, and Mr.
CulIom replied that he could give none
whatever"
Tilman Gives Description.
MIR. Tillman then gave a description of
the situation there as he understood it
from published reports. He told of one
man, an American, having a stallion
stolen by negro patriot or rebel, and
of act of Secretary Taft confirming the
title of the animal to the negro. He
said the owner of the horse could see the
negro riding 1t every day, but could not
recover it.
Now since Secretary Taft ran Palma's
government up a tree and licensed horse
stealing and has as many engineers sur
veying the islands. it seems that we
might have a little information about
what is going on" continued Mr.. Till
man.
1T seems a little odd that Congress"
continued Mr.. Tillman, "the Senate or
nobody sees fit to inquire into the extra
ordinary transactions that are being car
ried on"
Still / guess the senator will find
out in due time said Senator Cullom.
Yes, when the noble lord at the White
House chooses to tell me. or some one
else may tell me instead that 1t is none
of my business replied Mr.. Tillman.
He laughingly added,
well, If | can't get any information
as to why the negro stole the horse ]
suppose | will have to ssubside." lie
Joined in a general laugh from the re-
publicans at his expense.
The discussion then proceeded on other
lines.
The Senate returned to the consider
alton of the transportation amendment.
Senator Clapp suggested that the amend
ment should be so framed as to give the
government the benefit of a reduction
of rates. On the other hand Mr.. Nc
Cumber announced his opposition to any
concessions to the government and said
that he should antagonze the amendment
in any form.
Mr.. Spooner cortended that concession
to the government would not be a dis
elimination because all the people are
interested in the government and all
would be benefited by any economy that
might be practiced by the adminstra-
ton.
Senator Warren made a plea for the
right of army officers to accept passes,
calling attention to General Funston's
declaration that they are now getting
less than hodearriers in San Francisco,
and this elected from Mr.. McCumber a
sarcastic reply in which he said that
his ears also bled for the poor mill
tary men who drive to the railroad sta
lions in their carriages"
Hardship Enlisted Men.
Mr. Warren pictured The hardship of
the enlisted man in the Philippines when
compelled to pay his own transportation
to reach home.
Pay the American soldier an adequate
compensation" replied Mr.. McCumber.
land let him do as he pleases with his
! money"
referring to the rate bill, Mr.. spooner
remarked:
81 think if we could have proceeded
to the enactment of the rate legislation
in the usual way with less of friction
and more of conference and discussion,
perhaps some provisions of the rate bill
which are today found Objectionable and
other objections to which have not yet
been discovered would not be found ex-
listing in it,
The diHiculty MT, RluiicH saw III th'
amendment was entirely disconnected
from the question of pay of army OFF,
GERS. The proposition is he said, that
the government of the United States is to
ask the railroads to carry their materials
and officers for one-half of the published
rates. He regarded it to be the purpose
of the rate legislation that every man
should stand equaf In the matter of rates.
rs there any evidence here interposed
Mr.. Tillman. "of these trans-continental
roads competing against the land grant
roads with which the government has al
ready performed its contract-are any Of
these roads asking the privilege of hand
ling government material at half rates?
II that Is so, it is overwhelming proof,
an unanswerable argument for reduc-
ion of railroad rates all over the coun-
try.
I'VE have here established a precedent
and at the very next session we are asked
to abrogate that principle on behalf of the
government"
ut is not certain" said Mr.. Warren,
that the interstate commerce commission
will not rule that the railroads cannot
make reductions to the government"
This remark caused an exclamation of
surprise from Mr. Aldrich and Mr.. Till
man simultaneously.
did you say the commission had the
power to make such a ruling?" was the
question asked.
Mr. Warren could only guess" that the
commission had the power. At this point
the consideration of the bill was post
poned until Monday.