Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1898-12-10

Washington. Dec. S.-Representative
Hull chairman of the house committee
on military affairs, yesterday introduced
Il bill increasing the regular army to APP
100000 men. The bill was
framed at the war department and has
the approval of the secretary of war. 1t
is not the bill framed by General Miles,
as this measure has not the high rank
by the Miles bill and some Of
he appointments are open to officers of
the volunteers " from civil life. 1t pro-
vides for lieutenant general and what
Is considered sufficient increase of
major and brigade generals to command
an army of 100000 men scattered from
Porto Rico to Manila.
The artillery arm is reorganized, sepa-
rating it into coast and field artillery, but
promotion is to be by seniority of the
wi ole army. "A decrease of the enlisted
men is made so that the army can be
increased by recruits in case of war to
FOIL strength. The cavalry is increased
two regiments. the infantry five. The
enlisted strength of an infantry COM
OF war new regiments would have to be
formed proba bly,. all of which would be
but the regular army would
make "a substantial first lien. The bill
provides for the three battalion forma-
ton. The staff corps are increased about
40 percent and. with the exception of the
adjulart general, inspector general and
o: dnance. are open to appointments from
the volunteers or civil life.
The most noticeable change Is that in
the medical department, in which FRO
vision is made for hospital corps OF
5000 privates with the necessary non
commissioned officers, with a largely in
creased number of surgeons and assistanl
surgeon.
All officers and men serving in the
countries are to have an in
crease of 25 percent in pay. Under the
control Of the president. in
hibitantS of the new countries may he
enlisted in the organizations there serv
ing. The bill gives IA total of IA regi-
me nts of artillery, II of cavalry and 80 of
infantry.
Chairman Hull's bill is cast on entirely
different lines from General Miles bill
The Miles bill is based on the theory OF
one soldier for 1000 population, while the
Hull bill is based on the idea Of total
force of 100, ,000, the organization being
constructed so as to reach that total
General Miles provides for general and
for two lieutenant generals, while the
Hull bill makes no provisions for gen.
eral and has but one lieutenant general
Other important differences are: Hull
bill. 30 regiments of infantry Miles bill
20 regiments of infantry. Hull bill, l:
regiments of cavalry; Miles bill, Is regi
ments of cavalry. Hull bill, a corps OF
artillery: Miles bill, IA regiments of sea
coast artillery and two regiments of field
artillery.
The. HUH bill in it's first section sums uI
the reorganized army as follows: One
lieutenant general. 6 major generals, ]:
hrisadier generals, l. regiments OF
af infantry.
An adjutant generals department, ar
Inspector generals department., judge
advocate generals department, a quar-
termastcr generals department, sub
stinence department, medical depart
ment, a pay department, Il corps of en-.
gneers, an ordnance department., a sig
nal corps, 30 post chaplains. the chief o
the record and pension office; the office:
nf the army on the retired list, the pro.
fessors. corps of cadets, all army service
detachment ard band at the United
states military academy, and such Other
o.l!cers and enlisted men as may herein
after be provided for, are also included
The regimental organization of the ar.
tillery arm of the army Is discontinued
and that arm is designated as the corp:
of artillery. The distinction between
coast and field artillery Is similar to tina
in the Miles bill, but more elaborate il
detail. The Atlantic division of the coas
is defined to include the Atlantic and the
gulf seaboards and the coast of the Grea
Lakes, land shall ultimately include tht
coast line of the West Indian possessions
of the United States" The Pacific di
vision Is defined to include the Pacific
seaboard, land shall ultimately Include
the coast line of the various possession!
Of the United States in the Pacific ocean.
The corps of artillery embraces 144 bat
teries of coast artillery and "a field bat
teries. Each regiment of infantry con
sists Of IL companies, organized int
three battalions of four companies each
The company strength in addition t.
commissioned and non-commissionedo of
fcers is 1l2 men. In various staff corp
express provision is made that person!
who have served as officers in the vOlun
teer army in the war with Spain ant
various specified grades.
Section rs is as follows: Organization.
serving in Cuba, Porto Rico and the isl
ards of the Pacific may, in the discretion
Of tho president be recruited in whole o
in part frcn the inha bitants thereof. t,
whom the legal restrictions upon enlist
mcnts In the army as regards term o
service. age. citizenship and educationa
qualifications shall not apply, and whit
shall be entitled to such pay and allow
ances not exceeding those now author
lied as the president may direct
Washington, Dec. S.-The annual re
port of Attorney General Griggs was yes
terday submitted to congress.
The war revenue act, he saws has beei
especially productive of doubtful ques
tions. and many Instances of advice ant
direction to the commissioner Oc iEterna
revenue relative to different features o
that statute will be found in the repor
of that officer The attention of congres
is respectively called to them in orde
that If Il is deemed necessary or advisa
BILE congress may correct any defects o
inequalities in the law which the inter
pretations of the department of justic
have made.
During the recent war total o
Sc vessels were brought into variou
ports and lbeled as prizes. OF thi
number so were taken to Key West. with
in the jurisdiction of the southern dis
~, of n