The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1898-04-26
IT PROVIDES FOR
THE STATES TROOPS
THEY WILL BE ACCEPTED AS
ORGANIZED UNDER LAW
OF STATES.
DOES NOT INCREASE PEACE FOOTING
1t Passed UnanimousIy--WiII be Sent to Presi-
dent Next Week--Au.horizes the Recruit
ing of the Regular Army
to 6t,O1O.

TO 61,O1O.
WASHINGTON. d. c., April 23.-The
House to-day passed the Army Re-or-
ganiZation bill at the urgent request Of
the President and Secretary Of War,
but the Senate did not remain in session
as was expected. and the bill will not
go to the President until next week
Some fear was expressed on the Demo
cratic side that the bill might increase
Inc regular army in time of peace, but
an amendment prepared by Mr.. Bailey
which removed all doubt on this score
was accepted by Mr.. Hull and the bill
passed by a unanimous vote. The bill
re~-organizes the army into the three bat
talon formation and authorizes the %
regiments Of the infantry army of the
service To be recruited up to Il total of
81 q enlisted men. 1t gives 81 instead
of 100 D~rivatcS to each infantry com
panY. 1t authorizes the recruitment of
the ten regiments of the cavalry arm of
the service to Il total Of 1000 enlisted
men. the seven regiments of the artillery
arm of the service to be f6.4o1 men. and
the engineer battalion of five compan-
les up to 152 enlisted men. including two
non-commiSsioned officers: which makes
Il total for these four arms of the ser
vice when 1T a maximum strength tl.-
90.
The increase of officers provided in the
bal is:
First twenty-five majors as provided
in the first section of the bill. These
majors are 70 be Il permanent addition
To the commissioned officers of the reg
MAR army.
Second. One hundred and fifty com
miSsioned officers to provide for the
two infantry companies in the third
battalion for each of the twenty-five reg
iments of infantry. a"tr --'..
Third. Eighty-four second ~lieuten-
ants, being one for each of the eighty
batteries of artillery when recruited to
Il war strength. The second lieuten-
ants are only to be added in the discre-
ton Of the President. but assuming thai
the extra lieutenant is necessary and
will be commissioned for each battery
OF artillery, it makes Il total of commits
stoned officers in excess Of the present
number authorized by law of 80. OF
his number. as above stated. p are
majors for the permanent second battal-
ion and the other 234 officers. it is pro
VIded in the last section of the bill. shall.
on the conclusion of hOStilitieS be either
absorbed by filling any vacancies exist
ing III the other companies of the ser
vice or by an honorable discharge. as
may be deemed necessary to reduce the
commissioned officers of the army to the
number now provided for by the first
section Of this act.
The following important proviso was
offered by the committee as an amend
mcnt:
Provided, that in the event of a call
Nv tho TDro:l,,t e.. ~
the militia of the country. the President
IS authorized to accept the quotas of
troops OF the v~arions States and Terri
tories. including the District of Columbia
as organized under the laws of the States
and Territories including the District
of Columbia.
The debate on the bill was spirited.
Mr.. Underwood Dem. Ala.) vigorously
opposing the measure.
At Hoo a. m, without cOncludin"
the consideration Of the bill the House
took recess in order to attend the funcra
of Senator Nalthall.
The House ~reconvened after Senator
Walthall's funeral at $3.50 p. IN. and re-
qumed the consideration Of the Army
Reorganization bill.
An amendment offered by Mr.. Bailey
was adopted which provided that the
army nj the end of war should be re-
duced to Il peace basis by the transfer
in the same arm of the service or honor
discharge under such regulations as
the Secretary of War may establish
of supcrnumerary commissioned officers
and men.
Without further amendment the bill
was then passed without division.
The remainder Of the day after two
o'clock was devoted to %eulOgics uDon the
life and public services of the late Sena-
tor Earle, of South Carolina. The fol
lowing members paid tribute to his
memory: Messrs. Elliott 0Dem. :. e.:
Hamilton RaD. Mich.): Terry (Dem.
.Ark.): Talbcrt Dem. 5. c.: Lanham
tDcm. Texas; Burrows 1tep. Mass.}:
Stokes (Dem. S. c.: Norton Dem. ).
-: and Lattimer dem. s. O..
AS Il further mark of respect the
House 1T 5:1J u. III. adjourned until
Monday.