Evening star., 1898-04-23
HULL BILL PASSED
Proposed Reorganization Of the
Regular Army.
NEED FOR CHANGE DEMONSTRATED
Forces to Be Promptly Restored to
Peace Basis.
NO DIVISION WAS MADE
ARMY REORGANIZATION BILL.

| The House Met at 10 O'Clock to Be-
gin Considerations.
The House of Representatives met at 10
| O'Clock this morning, in purcuance of the
order made yesterday, in order to expedite
! the passage of the army reorganization bill.
which the War Department deems impera-
| lively necessary at the earliest possible
| moment.
Mr.. Hull, chairman OF the committee on
| military affairs. called the bill up imme-
diately after the reading of the journal.
Provisions of the Bill.
The bill has been materially modified
| since 1t was recommitted by the House a
| fortnight ago. 1t provides for the three
battalion formation, and gives S4 instead of
| 100 privates to each infantry company. 1t
authorizes % regiments of infantry, to be
recruited up to a total of 31,S enlisted
men in time of war; the recruitment of 10
cavalry regiments up to 1900 men, and Z
regiments OF artillery to total of 16 457
men, and the engineer battalion to 752 men
making total war strength of 81 O10 en-
listed men. 1t provides that nothing i'm the
act shall be construed to authorize a per-
maTent increase of the commissioned or
enlisted force beyond that now provided
Tor by law, except as to the increase of %
majors The following important proviso
was offered by the committee as an amend.
ment:
PROVIDED, that in the event of a call by
the President for either volunteers or the
militia of the country the President is au-
.i'orizeo 10 accept the quotas of troops of
the various states and territories. includ-
iiis the Dlstrlct OF Columbia, as organized
under the laws of the states and territories
iiicluulng the District of Columbia
General Debate Limited.
1t wss decided to limit the general debate
10 half an hour. Mr.. Hull briefly explained
some OF the features Of the bill. He said
the infantry force of the army as a. pres
ent organized was not efficient in time of
war with only fifty privates. 1t placed
but twenty-five men to each compapv in
the fighting line and made the regular
army, which cost on q peace footing epa
o@Vo per annum. merely ornamental
The number of privates in each companv
mad been placed in the bill at eishty-four
10 CONFORM with the organzat ton of the
National Guard in the majority of states
MIR HUI said that it was the purpose of
the general of the army to effect a land
ing IN Cuba at the earliest possible mo-
ment 1T would take six weeks or two
months 10 equip the volunteer army. The
United State; was doing what no other
country on earth would dare dot was
gong into war without provision for
land force Congress made no provision
for war until war was at hand. Our VOL
unteer army would be organized while war
existed. Our experts on coast defenses
aid 1t would be absolutely impossible TO
place volunteer forces upon the coast ce-
lenses within three months. owing to the
complicated character of the new mach:n-
cry on the siege guns. This made the in
crease in the regular artillery force i'm
per:ltive.
Mr.. Hull was besieeed by questions AS to
the manner in which the reduction of the
army would take place when hosiilities
ceased, and he explained that the officers
of the skeleton regiments would be absorb
ed by promotion.
Mr.. Underwood (Ala.) vigorously opposed
the measure, which, he declared could OF
possibly pass save under the stress of
war pressure. 1t did not, he said meet
the approval of the American people. 1t
was false pretense. 1t was, in fac, a
bill 10 Increase the standing army from
2G. 600 to 81 .GD.
Every mem Der on the floor, he said, had
received scores of letters from his con-
S>AeeNh'' PAotSStiA5 tHc I'LL ia
the standing army. They were willing to
enlist in the service cf their country but
they wanted to serve under volunteer Off
GERS, not West Point martinets
Mr.. Hay Va.), who warmly advocated
the bill, repelled Mr.. Underwood's charge
taat Congress was becoming hysterical.
Maine Purpose of the Bill.
The main purpose of the bill, he said
to Oht: the thrap-h. rail-
ton. For our soldiers to confront the
Spanish arEly with our present forma tion
he said, meant certain death. The new
formation made the Increase in the in
tantry resinients necessary. The bill inad..
no increase in the cavalry regiments He
denied that tlc purpose CT the bill was TO
give West Point officers commands which
they would otherwise not obtain.
Mr.. Cox Cenn.). a member of the COM
mittee, srppt rted the bill. which, he said.
would make the army efficient in time of
war. When host!lities ceased the surplus
n en- and officers would be mustered out of
the service and the army would be reduced
to 10000 raen.
Mr.. Marsh Qn). also member of the |
committee, said. in justice to the War De- !
pactment and the regular army, he would |
state that the former bill, which provided
II,
approval of neither. The bill did rot pro-
vide the mode and method of mastering
out the supernumerary officers when hos
tilities ceased. Additional legislation would |!
he required to accomplish this or possibly |
the bill could be construed as comforting |
this authority upon the President.
Necessity for Action.
Mr.. Hull said there could be no doubt /
about the construction of the law. The su- /
pernumeraries would be mustered out when
the war ceased. Mr.. Hull said he was Just |
In receipt of the following telegram from
Adjutant General Corbin: Have sent your
telegram to the President in order to get I
authority to reply. All plans of this de
partment are being built on prompt pas
sage OF the battalion bill. Have just seen
Senator Cnlom and he thinks It quite DOS
sibie to have Senate assemble after funeral
today to consider any army bill that pass
ed the House."
He said that he also had q telegraphic
message from the White House saying that
the call for volunteers would be issued Inn 1
medtately. and that the President hoped