Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-03-18
NO PARTIAL REPORT
Continued from Ffr.t Paxe.,

CONTINUED from First Page,
Alger today. accompanied by Mr. Thomas
+. Rowland, who built the first monitor,
and who is prepared to furnish the govern
ment with mines and torpedoes.
Mr.. Rowland recalled the fact that the
vessel was purely experimental craft and
that it had to overcome the utmost oppose
ton of the naval officials of war times, ow-
ing to the radical departure from estab-
lished ideas.
Senator Hawley told the Secretary that
he would get the military committee to-
gether at any time the department desired
10 act on pending military legislation and
such as may be proposed by the depart
ment.
Senator Hawley also visited President
Mckinley with Mr.. Rowland.
The New Army Bill.
Senator Hawley said to a Star reporter
that 1t was the intention to get through
Congress as speedily as possible the three
battalion military bill which was introduced
at the suggestion Of the department in
both houses yesterday for Strengthening
the military arm Of the service and pro-
viding for the increase to 100000 men If
necessary. This bill, he said, carried a
small appropriation, and, therefore, would
pass the House in advance of action by
the Senate. He supposed that Mr.. Hull,
who introduced the bill in the House and
who is chairman of the military committee.
would get q report on It very soon and
secure action by the House, but he did not
know whether 1t would be treated as an
emergency measure or be acted on more
deliberately. The general desire was to
secure the legislation as soon as possible,
and the Senate, he thought, would act very
promptly after the House had passed the
bill.
The committee amended the reorganiza-
ton bill by providing that vacancies in the
grade of major shall be filled by promo
ton, according to seniority in the infantry
arm. 1t was also agreed to increase the
number of non-commissioned officers in
each infantry company by four for the bet
ter control of the large companies under
three battalion war formetion, the total
number of $50 composing each company
remaining. however, unchanged This was
effected by giving, under a war footing.
twelve sergeants instead of ten, and PIG
privates instead of 22O, in each infantry
company.
Urging the Navy Personnel Bill.
Mr.. Roosevelt, assistant secretary of the
navy, was before the House committee on
naval affairs for some time today in con-
nection with the navy personnel bill. The
latter measure was submitted to the COM
mittee by Secretary Long. who is anxious
to see it pressed forward at this session.
Secretary Long and some of his chiefs
appeared before the committee some days
ago and took strong ground for the pass
Of he n ;t CHI Ixa
put ahead with the regular appropriation
bill at this time.
1t was objected to Immediately after its
submission to the committee, and on it's
consideration by that body as likely to
precipitate a prolonged debate on the gen.
eral scope of that project, and that it's
pressing at this time would be injurious to
the appropriation bill.
Mr.. Roosevelt had a brief interview with
the chairman at the outset and then the
two left the committee together, coming
back later to express the views of the de-
partment.
Looking After Mobile HarbOr.
Representative Bankhead of Alabama was
at the War Department today to ascertain
the condition of the appropriation for keep
ing open the channel between the Gulf of
Mexico and Mobile haEbor. The advan-
tages to be derived from having a clear
deep-water connection between the larger
body of water and the harbor are many
ard are fully realized by the War Deoart-
ment officials Mobile being at the ter
minus Of one of the large railroad systems
OF the country, would make an excellent
supply depot for munitions Of war and mill
tary supplies, especially II hostilities were
In progress on the gulf coast. There Is
now about twenty-one feet of water in the
channel of thirty miles connecting the gulf
and the harboF, large enough to admit the
war vessels of our country should their
presence at Mobile be desirable. At
same time 1t is felt to be quite certain that
the vessels of a hostile fleet would not dare
proceed so far inland. where their egress
might be easily prevented in many ways.
The department is now using the $oO,OUJ
available by the last river and harpor ap-
preparation bill to keep the channel open,
but after this is exhausted there is no fund
to draw on, unless recourse is had to the
$50 ,OOO,OOO emergency fund appropriated by
Congress.
Discussing the New Army Bib.
The army reorganization bill was taken
Up at the meeting of the House committee
en- military affairs TO-DAY and some of it's
provisions We're discussed. The law reIat-
ing to the various items and the changes
brought about from tine present plan were
considered in detail, but there was no ac-
ton on the measure owing to the neces-
sity for a full discussion of each provision
Il was reiterated at today's meeting that
while 1t made sweeping changes on a war
footing. the only difference it contem-
plates on a peace footing is an increase of
twenty-five majors. A special meeting Of
the committee has been called for t0mor-
row to continue consideration of the bill
Strengthening Coast Defen.es.
Cen Miles, who returned from New York
yesterday, vas at the department today.
He said to a Star reporter, with reference
to his visit to the defenses of New York,
that the conditions as respects the officers
and personnel were entirely satisfactory.
and that the improvement of the defense,
ETC., while everything was not exactly as
he would have It, was progressing quite as
satisfactory as conditions made possible
The work of strengthening the defenses