The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-12-24
A VERY COSTLY LUXURY
CALLING FOR ANNUAL SPEND
ING OF $150,000,O0O.
MoNEYED POWER DEMANDS THIS ARMY
Its Object is to Invade the Liberties of the Peo-
pie, Suppress Freedom of Speech,
Desscrate the Ballot
Box ITSELF

Washington, Dec. 23.-The minority of
the House Committee on Military Affairs
to-day filed with the clerk their report
in opposition to the Hull Bill for the in
crease of the regular army to 100000
men. 1t is as follows:
The minority of the committee dissent
from the views of the majority Of the
committee because the bill reported
makes 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 well known to be dilated
upon here. Such II standing army as the
one proposed would in time of peace be
a menace to the liberty of citizens, and
in time of war would not be sufficient to
meet successfully the armies of the first
class powers of the world. Happily we
are so situated that a large standing
army is not a necessity and would only
be luxury to be supported by the taxes
of the people. IT is estimated that the
Hull Bill will cost the people annually
the sum of S150,O00,0O0. This would
be permanent charge upon the people;
$145.000000 are being paid annually to
the soldiers of the Civil War and the
War with Spain, thus placing Il perma-
ncnt charge of S295. 100000 upon the
people Of the United States and this to
MAINTAIN the military establishment
alone. to say nothing of the navy. The
passage of this bill means the practical
destruction of the National Guard and
the volunteer troops of the States. With
such large standing army the citizens
soldiery of the country would feel that 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 will rather be increased
than otherwise. No hope of economical
administration can be indulged in while
such permanent and lavish expenditure
is 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 are too
obvious to be pointed out. These inter
ests want force to enforce their demands,
and IL President dominated by such inter
ests, would have, with such Il standing
army. the means Mt his hand to invade
the liberties of the people, to suppress
the freedom of speech and to desecrate
the ballot box itself.
1t is needless. however. to continue TO
point out the many evils of this bill; suf-
fee it to say that both in form and sub
stance it overturns the policy which has
been pursued so successfully by this
Government for so many years and
launches the country upon Il course which
can only terminate in the destruction of
the liberties of the people.
The minority holding the views above
expressed have thought they owed it
to the country to present to the House
of Representatives Il substitute for the
hill reported by the majority. They
herewith report said substitute, as em-
bodying every need of the Government
in its present condition and at the same
time preserving with scrupulouS care the
liberty Of the citizens and avoiding the
evils of Il great standing army.
The substitute provides for Il perma
nent standing army of 10000 enlisted
Inel ABOUT lHe lluIlUcE III lHc uIui9 Ut
fore the war with Spain; the organization
provided for in the substitute conforms
to what it has been with some few inn
portant changes. 4 larger number of
men is provided for the artillery than
usual by reason of the necessity of man
ming our coast dcfenses. upon which |
large. sums have been spent. The substi |
tute also provides for 10000 volunteers
to he taken from the States and Terri |
tories and the District of Columbia in |
proportion to population; these volunteers
are to be mustered out of the service of
the United States within two years from
the date of the passage of the act. unless +
sooner terminated. Their organization is
to be the same as that of the regular |
army.
Volunteer organizations now i'll the SER !
vice are to be given preference as to |
re-enistment All volunteers now in the |
service of the United States are to he |
out within siXtv days from the
passage of this act. The substitute is
not to operate to discdarge any command !
officer who was in the army of the Uni
ted States prior to the war with Spain.
The necessity for this body of volunteer
troops arises from the relations which |
the United States Government now bears
to Porto Rico. Cuba, the Philippine Is
lands, the Hawaiian Islands and the
I.adrone Islands. Fifty thousand men
are very near the mark which the Cen
eral of the army said would he necessary
in these islands in his testimony before
the Committee on Military Affairs.
Representative Hay, of Virginia, who