The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-04-24
Put on 4 WAR FOOTING
PROVIDES MORE TROOPS
DoUoura&ic Objection Resulted in an
ADsudmsnt 30 hat the Regular
Army WIN Not Re Increased
IN Times OF Peace.

98uIt& tous april ~o.-iht nNurt "
day passed the army reorganization bill
Gt b urgent request of the president
and secretary OF war. but the senate did
not remain in session as was expected
and the bill will not go to the president
until { week. Some fear wac ex-
bin might increase the regular army
In time of peace. but an amendment
prepared by Mr.. Bailey. which re-
moved all doubt on this score. was ac-
cepted by Mr.. Hull. and the bill passed
BY an unanimous vote. The bill reor-
TALON formation and authorizes the rs
regiments Of the infantry arm Of the
service to be recruited up to a total
Of 81. 800 enlisted men. 1t authorizes the
recruitment OF the 10 regiments of the
cavalry arm Of the service to a total of
1900 enlisted men. the seven regiments
of the artillery arm of the service of
1e.l57 men and the engineer battalion
OF I'VE companies up to 152 enlisted men.
including W non-commissioned OFF,
GERS. which makes a total for those four
arms of the service when at a maxi
mum strength of 81. 010. The increases
vi Otta11lE lot W. NV oAi aftH
First, Is majors. as provided in the
first section Of the bill: these majors are
TO he q permanent addition to the COM
mand officers of the regular army. Sec
oud, $50 commissioned officers to pro-
vide for the two infantry companies in
the third battalion for each of the 20
regiments Of infantry. Third, "a second
l~ieutenants. being one for each OF the
- batteries OF artillery when recruited
to a war strength. The second lieuten-
ants are only TO be added in the discre-
ton Of the president. but assuming that
the extra lieutenant Is necessary and
will be commissioned for each battery
OF artillery Ii was a total Of commits
stoned officers In excess of present num-
Der authorized by law of $50. OF this
number. as above stated. 25 are majors
for the permanent second battalion. and
the other 235 officers. 1t is provided in
the last section of the bill. hall be. on
the conclusion Of hostilities. either alb
sorbed by filling any vacancies existing
In the other companies Of the service
or by an honorable discharge. which
may be deemed necessary 20 reduce the
commissioned officers of the army to the
number now provided for by the first
section OF this act.
The house met at 10 o'clock and Mr..
Hull Immediately called up the army
hill. The bill has been materially modi-
fed since II was recommitted by the
house a fortnight ago The following
important proviso was offered by the
committee as an amendment: Provided
that in the event of a call by the presi-
dent for either volunteers or the militia
OF the country. the president Is author
lied to accept the quotas of troops of
various states and territories. includ-
ing the District OF Columbia. as organ
lied under the laws of the states and
territories. including the District of Co
lumbia."
1t was decided to limit the general de-
bate to half an hour. Mr.. Hull briefly
explained some of the features of the
bill. He said the infantry force of the
army. as at present organized. was not
ef1cient In time OF war, with only SO
privates. II placed but Is men to each
company In the fighting line and made
the regular army. which cost, on a peace
footing. s2s.O 900. 900 per annum, merely
ornamental. The number Of privates In
each company had been placed i'm the
hill at 81 to conform with the organiza-
ton of the national guard in h ma
jority OF states. Mr.. Hull said that II
was the purpose of the general army to
effect a landing in Cubs at the earliest
possible moment. Ii would take six
weeks or two months TO equip the volun-
teer army.
The United States was doing what no
other country on earth would dare do
II was going into war without provision
for a land force. Congress made no
provision for wal until war was at
hand. The volunteer army would be
organized while war existed. Our ex-
perts on coa defenses said IL would be
absolutely impossible to place volunteer
forces upon the coast defenses within
three months owing to the complicated
character Of the new machinery on the
siege guns. This made the increase in
the regular army artillery force impera-
tive.
Mr.. Hull was besieged by questions
as to the manner In which the reduc-
ton of the army woul take place when
hostilities ceased and he explained that
the officers Of the skeleton regiments
would be absorbed by promotions. Mr.
Underwood, dem. Ala. vigorously OPP
posed the measure. which. he declared
could not possibly pass save under the
stress Of war pressure.
MI. Hay, dem, Va. who warmly ad-
vocated the bill. denied hat the pur-
pose Of the bill was to give West Point
sAr rAn rnarAtnN