New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-17
NEED OF A LARGER ARMY.
VIEWS OF GENERALS BRECKlNRlDGE
AND STANTON.
TROUBLE ~ THE INSPECTION DEPARTMENT.
WANTS OF THE PAY CORPS-pEmochAiS
OPPOSE INCREASE.

OPPOSE INCREASE
Washington Dec l6--Hearings on the proposed
Increase of the Army were continued before inc
Uouse Committee on Military Affairs to-day. IN
spector-General Breckenridge spoke OF the heeu
OF thorough inspection service with adequate '""N
TO make this inspection effective. In war lneH an
important Item OF the work related to discipline
although 1t embraced every detail OF inspecting
commssary and Quartcrmaster supplies, etc.
Mr. Cox asked II the inspectors Inspected inc
heads of other bureaus. General breoh''o
said 1. wen. as far that II such were the orne''
although no such orders had in fact been issued
Genera, Breckenridge spoke OF the chahse III NV
inspection service when the recent war p'ohc ou''
the officers no longer reporting to inc i"speo'
General Mr.. Cox remarked that 'he ''''pe
had ceased to have head. and MI nay auueu
,bs, tho Inspcctors Generals duties had prac-
ticaly ceased
oft was very much more limited. at any rave
General Breckenridge answered. Inc ihsPec'o''
had not reported to him during the war i"''
reports were still coming ill., and the secretary "a
War had sen, for them to submit to the 'nVesV-
eating Commission.
.It wouId SEEM" said Mr.. Hay. that FOR the
TIM vour office WAS in condition Of innocuous
desuetude."
rt was somewhat 90. I am afraid answered
General Breckenridge
He did not know who brough: about the chahse
AZ n system
IN the usual way. In reply to Mr.. Ientz AZ 10 inc
wisdom, Of the change General Breckenridge said II
tended 10 the disintegration Of the inspecuoH Ss'
tenn As to the permanent consohua"o" VI NV
Ad,utant-General's and the Inspector-Generars OIL
fees he expressed MS dsapproval as the piace "a
ono office was at his desk while the other was
outside conducting his inspections lie strongly
favored having inspectors report TO the inspector
General He had a conversation with Ad)utaht-
General Corbn in which the latter expressed ,he
view that the two Offices should he mahageu ai'he.
But General Breckenridge said he kne" uche'"'
Corbin did not care TO receive the inspectors re-
ports and would probably send them to him II they
came lie emphasized the need Of having inspectors
under an inspector general The penang p pro
vidcd nspector-generals for separate Army branch
es which, If adopted. would put into law what ne
regarded as a defective system.
As to the extent Of an army in CUBA the fhinp-
mines end elsewhere. General Breckirrdge said he
would defer entirely as to the numbers to the COM
mandlng General of the Army. He thought II was
q question OF promptly displaying a large force.
with the prospect OF requiring only small lorce
in the future He thought 25.c"o men adequate Tor
the Philippines When the require ments r abroad
would end dificiit to say Ihat was iarse'' Z"
POLITICAL question and outside of his province, .oo
General Breckenridge SAID ,na1 an things 10
overcome possible activity IRON ION TO
ask If Germany had ever acted Other than IN
neutral manner in the war 10 wne IN senera
Rrepkinrilgp
current reports and without any knOWicusc VI '"o
course Of Germany any other Governnenl
Paymaster-General Stanton was hedru rei,i'Nc
70 The needs OF the pay branch on the basis
If an army of 10000 men. The present FORCE IN,
Guiding officers OF all ranks Is tWenty-siH' ana
General stanton favored an increase 10 shy
making the lowest grade major instead of captain
as nroposed by the Hull bill. owing 10 thr re-
sponsibity involved. He favored an age im mn,
saving that a recent civil appointee was MY -hihe
Years old The widely scattered points at W D,'
Inc ,roops were 10 be located In Alaska lotto
Rico cuba and the Philippines; were an imPpt ~
crease desired. ..eoo,o ro,.-,l.s
Major Morrison Of the Judge Advocate ;,ehefcdi
otiine illustrated the need Of an additiona ioItr
there by stating that there were now esnt AZ ma
denartments throughout the United STATES, anu
seven more were about to be ORGANIZED IN " .
After things settled down to normal "as's 'e"
departments he believed. would suffce ,,,,s 90
CHAIRMAN Hull announced that ne was ahNIo.s w
close he HEARINGS and have the comitee get az ane
hi,I nv Monday 20 report II before INC M ~
d d.. This would permit public attention 10 DC
directed TO II in the holiday recess , T., -
ON my Judgment" said Mr. HUI. there ~ ~
measure before Congress urgently Dem lueu ~
hi one-not necessarily this particular phi-pu'
one of this general character. .. ,,trc bo
Mr. Hay dissenied from this statement saytnE ''n
did not think the people were hankernG aiter q
Ne, standing Army" AS the war was over hc
aid war conditions should be brought to c'ose'