The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-24
FEARS OF DEMOCRATS.
Report on the Substitute for the Hull
Army Bill.


WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-The minority
members of the House committee on mill
tary affairs to-day filed with the clerk their
report in opposition to the Hull bill for the
increase of the regular army to 100000 men,
1t is as follows:
1.-The minority of the committee dissent
from the views of the majority of the COM
mittee, because the bill reported makes a
permanent standing army for the United
States of over 10000 men. Such an army is
not necessary to be maintained by this
country now, neither because of our rela-
lions 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 standing army
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 large standing army is
not necessity, and would only be luxury
to be supported by the taxes of the people.
1t is estimated that the Hull bill will cost
the people annually the sum of S15OOOO 900.
This would be permanent charge upon the
people; $145, 100000 are being paid annually
to the soldiers of the civil war and the war
with Spain. thus placing a permanent
charge of 1926 100000 on the people of the
United States, and this to maintain the mil
itary establishment alone, to say nothing of
THE passage Of the bill means the prac-
tical destruction of the National Guard ard
the volunteer troops of the States With
such large standing army the citizen SOL
diery of the country would feel that it was
not necessary to prepare for war in time of
q
taxes which now so burdenSome to the
people will continue to be collected, and will
rather be increased than otherwise. No
hope of economical administration can be
INDUCED in while such permanent and Law
ish expenditure is provided for
1T is we'll understood that the great cor
porate interests of the country are demand
ing this large standing army. Their reasons
for such demand are too obvious to be
pointed out These interests want force to
enforce their demands and President DOM
mated by such interests would have with
such a standing army the means at his
hand to invade the liberties of the people,
to suppress freedom OF speech and to desc
crate 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
il overturns the policy which has been pur-
sued so successfully by this government for
so many years and launches the country
upon a course which can only terminate
in the destruction of the liberties of the peo-
pie.
expressed, have thought they owed it to
the country to present to the House of Rep
resentatives a substitute for the bill re-
ported by the majority. They herewith re-
port said substitute as embodying every
need if the government in its present con-
dition and at the same time preserving with
scrupulous care the liberty of the city and
avoiding the evils of great standing
army
The substitute provides for a permanent
standing army of 10000 enlisted men. about
the number in the army before the war with
Spain. The reorganization provided for in
the substitute conforms TO what it has been
with some few important changes A larger
number of men is provided for the artillery
than usual by reason of the necessity of
manning our coast defenses, upon which
large sums have been spent. The substitute
also provides for 5000 volunteers to be
taken from the States and Territories and