The herald., 1898-04-24
BILL PASSED BY HOUSE
TO INCREASE ALL BRANCHES OF
SERVICE
WHEN PEACE IS ESTABLISHED
The Army Will Be Reduced to Peace
Basis by Transfer or Discharge
Of the Men
Associated Press Special Wire

Associated Press Special Wire
WASHINGTON, April 23-The house to-
day passed the army reorganization bill a
the urgent request of the president ant
secretary of war, but the senate did moi
remain in session as was expected and the
bill will not go to the president until next
week. Some fear was expressed on the
Democratic side that the bill might in.
crease the regular army in time Of peace
but an amendment prepared by Bailey
which removed all doubt on this score, was
accepted by Hull and the bill passed by
unanimous vote. The bill reorganizes the
army in the three battalion formation and
authorizes the twenty-five regiments of the
infantry arm of the service to be recruited
up to a total Of 81, 800 enlisted men. 1t au-
thorizes the recruitment of the ten regi-
ments of the cavalry arm Of the service to
total of 1900 enlisted men. The seven
regiments of the artillery arm Of the serv-
ice of 16, 457 men and the engineer battalion
of five companies up to 1852 enlisted men,
including two non-commissioned officers,
which makes q total for these four arms Of
the service when at maximum strength of
61O1O.
The increase of officers provided for in
the bill is:
First-Twenty-ive majors. as provided In
the first section of the bill. These majors
are to be a permanent addition to the COM
mand officers of the regular army.
Second-One hundred and fifty commits
stoned officers to provide for the two in
fantry companies in the third battalion for
each of the twenty-five regiments of in
fantry.
Third-Eighty-four second lieutenants,
being one for each Of the eighty-four bat
teries of artillery when recruited to war
strength. The second lieutenants are only
to be added in the discretion Of the presi-
dent, but assuming that the extra lieuten-
ant Is necessary and will be commissioned
for each battery of artillery. it was a total
of commissioned officers in excess of the
present number authorized by law of 259.
OF this number, as above stated, twenty
five are majors for the permanent second
battalion and the other twenty-five ofiic-
ers. 1t Is provided in the last section Of the
bill. shall on the conclusion of hostilities.
be either absorbed by filing any vacancies
existing in the other companies of the serv-
ice or by an honorable discharge, which
may be deemed necessary to reduce the
commissioned ofacers Of the army to the
number now provided for by the first Sec
ton of this act.
The house met at 10 o'clock, and Hull
Immediately called UP the army bill. 1t was
decided to limit debate to half an hour
Hull briefly explained some of the features
Of the bill. He said the infantry force Of
the army as at present organized was not
efficient in time of war with only fifty pri-
Yates 1t placed by twenty-five men TO
each company in the fighting line and made
the regular army, which cost, on a peace
footing, s23 900, 900 per annum, merely orna-
mental. The number Of privates In each
company has been placed in the bill at
eighty-four, to conform with the organiza-
ton of the National guard in the mapjority
of states.
Hull said it was the purpose Of the gen.
eral army to effect landing in Cuba at
the earliest possible moment. 1t would
take six weeks or two months to equip the
volunteer army. The United States was
doing what no other country on earth
would dare dot was going into war with |
out provision for a land force. Congress
made no provision for war until war was at |
hand. The volunteer army would be Or
ganized while war existed. Our experts on |
coast defenses said it would be absolutely |
impossible to place volunteer forces upon |
the coast defenses within three months, ow-
ing to the complicated character of the
new machinery on the siege guns. This
made the increase In the regular army ar
tillery force imperative.
Hull was besieged by questions as to the |
manner in which the reduction Of the army |
would take place when hostilities ceased, |
and he explained that the officers OF the |
skeleton regiments would be absorbed by |
promotion.
Underwood OF Alabama, Democrat, Wig
orously opposed the measure, which, he |
declared. could not possibly pass save uns
der the stress Of war pressure.
Hay of Virginia, Democrat, who warmly |
advocated the bill, denied that the purpose |
Of the bill was to give West Point officers |
commands which they would not otherwise |
obtain.
Cox OF Tennessee, Democrat, member of |
tho committee, supported the bill, which, |
he said. would make the army efficient in |
time Of war.
Marsh Of Illinois, Republican, also men,
Der Of the committee, said that, In justice
to the war department and to the regular
army. he would state that the former bill,
which provided for infantry companies of |
250 men. met the approval Of neither The
bill did not provide the mode and method
VI mastering out tHc Supornumerary On1-
GERS when hostilities ceased. Additional
legislation would be required to accomplish
this, or. possibly. the bill could be con-
strued as comforting this authority on the
president.
Hull said there could be no doubt about
the construction of the law. The super
numeraries would be mustered out when
the war ceased.
Bailey said he thought 1t was not very
high compliment to the army to be told
that the ineffioiency OF the army on the
eve OF war was admitted. After thirty
years OF peace, It seemed to him that the
plans of the army to meet an emergency
should have been perfected. 1t was strange
that an obsolete formation should have
bsen retained all these years. What he
was particularly inslstent about was that
The supernumerary officers and men should
DO mustered out when the war closed.
Doclsery of Missouri. Democrat. pressed
The same point.
Hull finally agreed to offer an amend
ment which would make the language ac-
;sptable to Bailey.
1assy OF Iowa. Republican, offered an