Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1908-04-08
This Action Taken at Request
ator Frye.
BURKETT DEFENDS

gagged for some time in the discussions
report printed in the Washington Post to-
day to the effect that Secretary Taft con
templated the increase Of the army SO as
10 bring the number up TO l25,OOo men.
The subject was introduced by Senator
Hsie who spoke OF the enormous sum OF
sss.ooo,OOO carried by the army appropria-
tion bill passed yesterday lie said that he
did not know whether the author of the
article had inside information. but he
added that 1t was understood to be the plan
OF the chief OF staff Of the army to double
the present size Of thas organization. In
this connection he mentioned the fact that
this officer often acts as secretary OF war
'in the prolonged. frequent and necessary
absence OF the, secretary" Mr. Hale ex-
pressed the hope that the program for such
a vast increase would not be carried into
effect
Moving to reconsider the vote by which
the army appropriation bill was passed
Senator Halo said senator's did not realize
that seventy per cent Of the revenues of
the government we're today expended for
what has been termed the needs of pres
ent. past and future wars.
Senator Hale traced the increase in mill
tary expenditures to the necessity Of pro-
tecting the Philippines, which he spoke Of
as a ''pestilential curse" He made the
prediction that the expenses would con-
tinue to pile up till this country got rid
OF those islands.
Senator Clapp expressing himself in SYM
pathy with Senator Hale, suggested the
reconsideration Of the army bill with a
view OF modifying it's provisions. but Mr.,
Hale replied that the naval bill. which
would come before the senate before a
great wlnc would afford ample oppor-
tunlty for the senate to show its state OF
mind regarding military expenditures. In
cidentaliy Mr. Hale expressed the opinion
that the war talk between the United
States ami any other country was nom
sense.
senator Warren contended that II is nec-
tssary 70 prcT,ave foi, en,er$encies aud said
that We had not now sHfficient munitions
20 support a. campaign Of an army for
ono moath
Mr. Warren defended, the army and
said much OF its time was taken up with
looking aftetr river and harbor work and
added that there was no country in the
world with so small an army as that of the
United States. excepting Switzerland.
Mr.. Aldrich suggested that this country
was better protected naturally than any
other.
did not the secretary OF war" asked
Mr.. Gallinger. in a recent speech favor
a large increase in the srmy?"
MIR. Warren said he did not know of
such speech, but hoped that the coun-
try would grow gRst enough and rich
enough to feel like having an army as
large as suggested
Il hope not, said Mr.. Hale.
Burkcu Defends Taft.
Senator Hale having left the chamber.
/ Senator Frye. in his colleagues behalf,
| moved to lay the motion to reconsider on
the table Mr.. Burkett (Neb.) criticised
this action as an unwaranted method of
"crticlsing a man now attracting atten-
4 tion In this country
1--WE inject into this body" said Mr.. Bur-
kett, "a political discussion that the sen
ator from Maine had no right to inject
into the debate. 1t is political attack
upon certain political candidate in his
country ana II has not the element OF
fairness" He charged the Maine senator
with failing 20 exercise good faith in pre-
sentlng his motion to reconsider. which
was, he said, shown by the motion of hi,
colleague TO withdraw.
THE motion was lacking in that candol
which should characterize the proceeding
OF the senate"
Congress is Responsible.
He declared that congress and not tn,
War department was responsible for in
croases In the army, and Mr.. Hale. a sen
ator Of high position, responsible In CREATE
desree than the secretary OF the navy fo
increases OF the mast
II comes with poor grace for the sen
ator 20 erticise the secretary for something
for which he was not responsible sal,
the Nebraska senator, "and n the motioi
was made IN good faith Il should not b
Withdrawn, II the bin was wrong. In,
senator from Maine owes It 10 himself an,
10 this body to persist in his motion to Sc
cure reconsideration and sohw defects Tn
withdrawal OF the motion shows that NJ
never intended to press It. but that h
meant merely TO make Il an oppOrtunlt,
10 get up here and lambast the secretary.
Senator Frys defended his coleagu
against the charge Of bad faith, but re
FUSED 10 recede and the motion 20 lay ol
! The table was carried.