Evening star., 1898-12-07
CHAIRMAN HuLL'S BILL
1t Will Re Taken Up at Once by the Military
Committee.
Ii Does Not Provide for the High
Rank Conferred by Gen.
Miles Measure.

Chairman Hull of the House committee
on military affairs today introduced his bill
for the Increase Of the regular army. The
committee will assemble next Friday to
consider the measure, and it will be taken
up in full committee without first going
through the subcommittee.
what Chairman Hull Says
This bill is rot identical with that of
General Miles, said Mr.. Hull today This
has not the high rank of the Miles bill, and
some vacancies are open TO the officers of
the volunteers or TO those from civil life.
1t provides for a lieutenant general and
sufficient Increase of majors and brigadier
generals to successfully command an army
or 10000 mon scattered from Porto Rico
to Manila. The artillery arm is reorgau-
lied, separating 1t into coast and field
artillery but promotion to he by seniority
of the whole arm. A decrease of the enlist
ed men is made so that the arm can be in
creased by recruits in case of war to fun
strength. The cavalry Is increased two
regiments. the infantry five.
The enlisted strength OF an infantry
company not to exceed 145, that in case
OF war new regiments would have to be
formed probably all of which would ha
volunteer, but the regular army would
make n substantial first lire. The bill pro-
vides for the three-hattalion formation.
Inc stan corps are increased about 10 per
cent. ard, with the exception of the adm
tant general, inspector general and ord
nance, are open to appoirt mentS from the
volunteer or civil life. Thezmest noticea ble
cnanSe Is in that of the medical depart
ment, in which provision Is made for a
hospital corps of 5000 pripates, with the
necessary non-commissioned officers with
a largely Increased number of surgeons and
assistant surgeons. All officers and men
serving in the suDtropical countries are Ia
nor in
Under the immediate control OF the Presi-
dent. inhabitants of the new countries NAV
pc eh1sted in the organizations there serv-
ing.
'fha Miles bill is good bill If it could be
enacted" said Mr.. Hull ..but 1 am sure
II could not be. 1t carries too much high
rank"
Chairman Hull was at the War Depart-
ment today in conference with the off,
cials respecting his bill
Senator HaWley has introduced a hill for
me reorganization of the army. which is
the same that prepared by Gen, Miles
and described in another cslanan.
Need for Prompt Action.
General Miles has lost no opportunity to
call attention to the urgent need of speedy
action upon some measure for increasing
the army, and as soon as he returns from
New York, which will he In the course of a
day or two, he expects to appear before
sonaIly some of these reasons
The most urgent is the fact that irumedi-
ateiy upon the formal announcement of the
peace between the United States and Spain
thc United states army may be suddenly
reouccd ny the automatic action of regu-
latlon IN a very large proportion, almost
thlrd, ana this at a time when the need for
troops for garrison purposes is still press
ing.
This statement does not apply to yolun-
teer troops. AS stated by the President in
ms message, they having enlisted for the
war must all be discharged But when the
war department, acting under the author
lty conferred by Congress at the last ses-
SION, sought to recruit the regular army
TO d war footing, to stimulate enIjstments
IL pledged Itself in a formal order to dis
charSo upon his own application any re-
cruft who wished to leave the service upon
the conclusion of peace, although the nomi-
nai term OF enlistment was for three years
Gen. Miles will refer to the present pros
pect OF d conclusion of the negotiations at
Iafls ana the signature of the, treaty of
peace rs an evidence Of the necessity for
speedy action. He will also urge that pro-
VISION he made for the fortific;tion of Ma
mia. In his opinion, Manila can never be
surrendered by the United States It will
be as dear to the American people as Bun
ker liill, and mark perhaps the dawn of an
epoch IN American history almost as i'm
poftant as that victory.