New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-29
HOUSE AND THE ARMY BILL.
DEMOCRATS NOT LIKELY TO RESORT TO
OBSTRUCTION.

CONSIDERATION To BEGIN SOON AFTER THE
REcEss-AN UNDERSTANDING REACHED AS
TO TINE FOR DEBATE
fBr TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBuSI
Washington Dec. 2S-It IL the general under
standing and expectation that the House OF
Representatives will begin consideration or the
Army Reorganization bill soon after the expi-
ration OF the holiday recess. There have been
limitations from several sources that the mi
nority would resort to diatory and obstructive
tactics in the hope of preventing the passage
OF any measure authorizing and providing for
an increase OF the strength OF the Regular
Army but there is slight reason to believe that
such will be the case. Some persons appear 10
have forgotten that the majority now controls
the business Of the House Even In the old
days a fbustering movement quickly collapsed
which did not have the encouragement and sup
port OF the minority OF the committee that had
Jurisdiction Of the measure before the House.
In the case Of the Army bill II Is certain that
the minority OF the Committee on Military
Affairs will not countenance. much less encour-
age any attempt to resort to obstructive tactics
to prevent either the consideration or passage OF
- bill TO put the United States a suitable
military footing. In fact there are the best or
reasons to believe that an amicable understand
ing has been reached between the majority and
minority OF the committee. not only In regard 20
the early consideration OF the subject. but also
as to the amount OF time to be devoted 10 IL.
1t is understood that the allotment for debate
is to be seven hours on each side, which would
seem to be ample to AFFORD an opportunity to
discuss the merits Of the propositions submitted
by the ma jority and minority OF the committee,
respectively as we'll as to give those who are
'ag'in the Government" chance to be heard.
APPROVAL OF THE HULL BILL
While nearly all the members Of the House OF
Representatives recognize and appreciate the
necessity Of some legislation to strengthen the
military establishment. there Is wide diversity
OF opinion as to- details-a diversity for which
the military experts Of the Army are themselves
largely responsible. and which has made the
work Of the Committee on Military Affairs more
difficult and perplexing than 1t otherwise would
have been There is reason to believe. however.
that the bill reported by the majority or the
committee commends itself to the judgment OF
a large majority OF the officers Of the Army az
q practical and conservative measure, and that
II will likewise receive the approval OF large
majority OF the people OF the United states It's
provisions in the main also understood to
be favorably regarded by President Mckinney
and the members OF his Administration.
The substitute bill submitted by four OF the
Democratic members Of the committee. includ-
ing Delegate Smith OF Arizona. will enlist the
support OF those members TO whom standing
army" however small. always appears as hor-
rbe spectre. Ii is noted that the views or
the minority in support OF the substitute. and
ia opposition 10 the bill. were not signed by
Messrs Sulzer and Lentz. Democrats. or Martin.
uha
printer.
The substitute provides for a standing army
OF thirty thousand enlisted men. with suitable
complement Of officers, and fifty thousand two
year volunteers organized on the same basis as
the Regular Army The Hull bill. as agreed 10
by the majority OF the committee. aut uay
an increase OF the Regular Army to Wvt3 en-
listed men, so that the difference between the
totals for the next two years after the passage
of the law would be about seventeen thousand
men, or course the members OF the minority
who signed the views lay much stress on the
fact that their substitute requires that hve.
eghths OF the force authorized shall be mustered
out Of the service at the expiration or TWO
wears II not sooner The reasons they give ror
keeping the Regular Army down TO thirty
thousand men--one- half OF whom Will be re-
ouired to man the seacoast defences-are such
as will not appeal with great force TO law
abiding citizens OF the United States. and VIII
hardly be regarded with serious respect. except
by political demagogues. To say, az the MI
nority does that Regular Army or one num-
bred thousand men in a Nation OF seventy.nve
million people. not including the millions or IN
ha bitants OF new insuiar possessions. would IN
time OF peace be a menace to the liberty OF the
citizen seems be simply absurd. but for
pure and unauthorized demagogy IL does not
match the following paragraph:
II Is well understood that the great corporate IN
terests of the country are demanding THIS large
standing Army. These interests want soiu'eis ~
every city and reserve forces ready TO their hahd
A President dominated by such interests would
have with such a standing Army as now proposed
the means at his hand TO invade the liberties or
the neopie TO suppress freedom OF speech and TO
desecrate the baotbox Itself.
1t Is whispered that william J. Bryan. whiie
r. Wash,neton a few days ago tried to impress
his followers with the necessity OF making all
the party capital possible out of the proposition
TO increase(lhe Regular Army to the propoS-
lions required by recent events and the para
graph above quoted sounds as though he might
have dictated It,