The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-12-24
THE ARMY PROPOSED
Would Be a Menace to Our Liberty
in Time of Peace. =
A VERY EXPENSIVE LUXURY.
The Country Would be Under an An
nuaI Charge of S20J,O0O,OOO.
Would Mean the Destruction OF
State Volunteers and Army
Not Large Enough for
National Defence.

WASHINGTON. Dec. 23.-The minority
Of the House Committee on Military Al
fairs to-day filed with the clerk their
report in opposition to the Hull bill for
tho increase Of the regular army to
100000 men. II is as follows;
The minority of the committee dissent
from the views Of tho majority of the
committee because the bill reported
makes a permanent standing army Tor
the United states Of over 10000 men.
such an army is not necessary to be
maintained in this country now. neither
because OF our relations TO the Islands Of
the sea, nor because Of any necessity
which in the past year has arisen in this
country itself
EVILS WELL KNOWN.
The evils Of standing armies arc too
well known TO be dilated upon here.
SUCH a standing army as the one pro-
posed would in time Of peace be menace
10 the liberty OF citizens. and In time OF
war would not be sufficient TO meet sue
cessfully the armies of the first class
powers of the world
Happily we are so situated that large
standing army Is not a necessity ana
would only be a luxury 10 be supported
By the taxes of the people.
AN EXPENSIVE LUXURY.
1t is estimated that the full oil will
cost the people annually the sum OF
SllOO000O This would be a permanent
charge upon the people. tli5 100000 are be-
ing paid annually 10 the soldiers of The
Civil war and the war with Spain thus
placing a permanent charge of S295.oO0000
upon the people Of the United States and
this to maintain the military establish
mont alone. 10 say nothing Of the Havy.
The passage OF this bill means the
practical destruction of the national
guard and the volunteer troops Of the
States. With such large standing army
the citizen soIdery OF the country would
feel that # was not necessary TO pre-
pare for war I'm time of peace, nor % go
10 war I'm time Of war.
WOULD GNCRESASE TAXES
Tho taxes which are now so burden
some 10 the people will continue to be
collected and will rather be increased
than otherwise. No hope OF economical
administration can be INDUCED in while
such permanent and lavish expenditure
is provided for
CORPORATIONS WANT TT.
n Is well understood that the great
corporate concerns Of the country are
demanding this large standing army.
their reasons for such n demand are too
obvious 20 be pointed out These want
force ~ enforce their demands and
president nominated by such interests
would have with such a standing army
the means m his hand 10 invade the lib
critics OF the people: TO suppress freedom
or speech and % desccratc the ballot box
itself
II is needless, however. 10 continue TO
point out the many evils Of this bill.
it Is 10 say that 10 IN both theory
and substance IL overturns the policy
which has been pursued so successfully
by this government for so many years
and launches the country upon course
that Will lead 10 the destruction Of the
liberties Of the people
THE SUBSTITUTE.
The minority holding the Views above
expressed have thought It necessary 10
call to the attention OF the House Of
Representatives a substitute for the Hull
bin. They herewith present the said
substitute which will relieve the govern
ment IN its present condition and at the
same time preserve with scrupulous care
the liberty OF the citizens and avoid the
evils Of great standing army. The
substitute provides for a permanent
standing army OF $1,000 enlisted men,
about the number in the army before the
war with Spain.
The organization provided for I'm the
substitute conforms to what it has been
with some few changes. a larger num-
Der Of men is provided for the artillery
han usual by reason Of the necessity Of
manning our coast defenccs, upon which
arge sums have been spent
SHORT TERM MEN.
The substitute also provides for $1,000
volunteers 10 be taken from the States
and Territories and the District Of CO.
Jmbia I'm proportion to population; these
volunteers are to be mustered cut Of the
service of the United States within two
years from the date Of the passage Of the
ict unless sooner terminated. Their or
ganization is to be the same as that OF
he regular army. Volunteer organiza-
ions nov IN service are 20 be given pre-
erence IS &c re-enlistment.
All volunteers row I'm the service Of the
United States are TO he mustered ont
within sixty days from the passage OF
ate TO discharge airy commissioned Of
icer who was in the army OF the United
states prior 10 the war with Spain. The
necessity for this body OF volunteer
roops arising from the relations which
he United States government now bears
o Porto Rico, Cuba. the Philippine
stands. the Hawaiian Islands and the
sadronc Islands. 5000 men are very near
he mark which the General OF the army
aid would be necessary in these Islands
n his testimony before the Committee on
Military Affairs.
MR. HAY THE AUTHOR.
REPRESENTATIVE Hay. Of Virginia. who |
repared the minority report estimates |
hat the regular estimate provided for |
n the minority substitute would entail |
N annual expenditure OF S90.o00oO or |
bout si0oo per man, and that the voiun- |
eer force of 5000. by the same calcula- |
ION would cost fifty million or total |
Turing the existence OF the volunteer !
rmy OF SS0.G00.000. The War Department |
! preparing official estimates which Will
e ready in a few days.
rho Standard oil Rocks