The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-12-24
is FILED.
AMinority Re
port
AGAINST HULL BILL,
Permanent Standing Army
Not Believed In.

Washington, Dec 23.-The minority
of the House committee on military af-
fairs filed with the clerk of the House
today report in opposition to the
Hull bill for the increase of the regu-
lar army to 100000 men. 1t is as fol-
lows:
THE minority of the committee dis
sent from the views of the majority of
the committee. because the bill report
ed makes a permanent standing army
for the United States of over 100000
men. Such an army is not necessary
to be maintained in this country now,
neither because of our relations to the
islands of the sea nor because of any
necessity which in the past year has
arisen in this country itself
THE evils of standing armies are too
We'll known to be dilated upon here.
Such a standing army as the one pro-
posed would in time of peace be men
ace to the liberty of citizens, and in
time of war would not be sufficient to
meet successfully the armies of the
frst-class powers of the world
Happily we are so situated that
large standing army is not necessity,
and would be luxury to be supported
by the taxes of the people. 1t is esti-
mated that the Hull bill will cost the
people annually the sum of $l50,000, goo.
This would be a permanent charge
upon the people; $145, 900, 600 is being an
nually paid TO the soldiers of the civil
war and the war with Spain, this plac-
ing a pernsnent charge of 1895, 600 900
upon the people of the United States,
and this to maintain the military es-
tablisment alone, to say nothing of
the navy.
The passage of this bill means the
practical destruction of the National
Guard and the voluntary troops of the
states. With such a large standing
army, the citizen soldiery of the coun-
try would feel it was not necessary to
prepare for war in time of peace, nor
TO go to war in time of war.
The taxes which are now so burden
some to the people will continue to be
collected. and viii rather be increased
than otherwise. No hope of economi-
cal administration can be INDUCED in
when such expenditures are provided
for
1t is well understood that the great
corporate interests of the country are
demanding this large standing army
their reasons for such a demand being
too obvious to be pointed out These
interests want force to enforce their
demands. and president dominated bv
such interests would have with such
standing army the means at his hand
70 invade the liberties of the people, to
suppress freedom of speech and to des-
ecrate the ballot box itself"
1t is needless, however to continue
TO point out the many evils of this bill
suffice it to say that both in form and
substance it overturns the policy which
has been pursued so successfully by
this government for SO many years and
Launches the country upon a course
which can only terminate in the de-
struction of the liberties of the peo-
pie.
The minority holding the views
above expressed, have thought thew
owed 1t to the country to present to
the House Of Representatives g substi-
tute for the bill reported by the major
ity.'s
Z The minority substitute provides for
permanent standing army of 10000
enlisted men, about the number in the
army before the war with Spain: the
Organization provided for the substi-
tute conforms TO what 1t has been with
some few important changes. A larger
number of men is provided for the ar
tillery than usual by reason of the ne
cessity OF manning our coast defenses
upon which large sums have been
spent. The substitute also provides for
$4,000 volunteers to be taken from the
states and territories and the District
81 Columbia in proportion to popula-
tion; these volunteers are to be mus
tered out of the service OF, the United
states within two years of the date
q lbs passage Of the act unless sooner
terminated. Their organization is to
be the same as that of the regular ar
my Volunteer organizations now in
service are TO be given preference as
to reinlistment
All volunteers now in the service. of
the United States are to be mustered
out within so days from the passage of
THIS act. The substitute is not to oper-
ate to discharge any commissioned Of
ncer, who was in the army of the
Jnlted States prior TO the war with
SPAIN The necessity for this body
or volunteer troops arises from the
relations which the United States gov
eminent now bears to Porto Rico. Cuba.
the Philippines, the Hawaiian Islands
and the Ladrone islands Fifty thou
sano men are very near the mark
winch the general of the army said
would pc necessary in those islands in
his testimony before the COMMITTEES on
military affairs
Representative Hay of Virginia, who
prepared the minority report. esti-
mates that the regular army establish
ment provided for in the minority suh-
sutute, would entail an annual expend-
tture of $3000O,OOO or about $1,000 ner
man, and that the volunteer force Of
$4,000 by the same calculation would
cost $50, 100000 or total during the ex-
istence of the volunteer army of $50
100000 The war department is pre-
pairing official estimates which will be
ready in a few days.
=s--s=-.ss-sss.=sss-z@z