The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-02-20

Washington. February 19,-The follow
gin statement of the war department on
pending army legislation and the needs
of the service was issued today with a
request for its publication;
On Monday the senate will take up what
is now conceded to be the most important
subject in congress, the reorganization oil
the regular army The military committee
submitted two bills for its consideration
One OF the house. known as the Hull bill,
is reported with but few amendments, by
its chairman. Senator Hawley, an expert
in matters relating 10 military organiza-
tion IL has been perfected by the com
mittee, including democratic members, in
several particulars. Under its provisions
entrance to any branch of the army can
not be obtained until after the candidate
for IA commission has demonstrated his
fitness for 1t to the satisfaction of com
petent examining boards. There is a
clause empowering the president to con-
tract or expand the enlisted strength ac-
cording to the necessities of the country,
providing for the first time Il scheme
adopted a long time since for the modern
European military system,
The other bill Ia brought forward by
Senator Cockrell. It's first section directs
the disbandment of the volunteer army
within u specified time after the peace
treaty shall have been ratified by Spain.
Sections 2 aud contain it's principal pro-
visions. by the former, authority Is con
ferred for continuing the regular army at
Its war strength until July L. 1901. while
the third section authorized the president
TO raise military forces 10 the number of
$4,000 i'm Cuba Porto Rico and the islands
OF he Pacific, TO be known respectively
as the army OF Cuba, the army OF Porto
Rico and the army OF the islands of the
Pacihc, TO be composed of the Inhabitants
OF such islands. No organization is pro-
vided In tho bill for this force nor does IL
determine what relation IT, shall sustain
toward the permanent military establish
meni of the United States aud no prefer
entail or other test is prescribed for the
persons who arc to officer But the bin
noes not provide for any additional general
officers. greatly needed in the administra-
ton of affairs in Cuba. Porto Rico aud the
philippines ii would leave the army as
now organized with but three major gen
erals and six hrigadier generals which
allows but ono general officer for each
military department of the United States
and one for commanding general OF The
army Cuba now constitutes military
division commanded by major general
and moreover comprises six military d.
parments commanded by general officers
OF volunteers.
In Porto Rico there is u necessity for
AZ least one general officer, and in the
philippines for the general officers re-
CURED for an army corps. 80 that :f Sem
alor Cockrclfs bill should become a law
IL would leave The army deficient in not
only enlisted officers. but without auy
general officers 10 administer the inn
portant duties now deyolying upon the
government. Moreover, the bll fails to
make any provision for the Increase IN
The general staff which is urgentlyNcalled
Tor by the nece1sties of the situation in
our new possessions. The criticism that
has been passed on the department was
due TO the absence of sufficiently trained
STAFF officers. The Cockrell amendment
will perpetuate this alleged lameness
Shonld his bill he passed into law, the
ad1utnnt. inspector quartermaster. sub
sistence and pay departments would he
left with only the bare skeleton of the
stan organizations that we have had for
the administration OF affairs in the United
States previous to the declaration of war
with Spain.
The returns Of the war department show
the strength OF the regular army to be n
few less than 60 900 enlisted. or these
there are nearly 1900 in Cuba and like
number In or en- route to the Philippines,
and In Porto Rico, 1856. leaving the total
enlisted men OF the regular army In The
United States $4,000. OF these GO0O are
held in readiness for dispatch to reinforce
the army nj Manila
This would leave the total enlisted
strength of the army within the United
States less than $4,000, or nearly 1000
less than Ia necessary to furnish sim
gle relief to man the guns now on
our seacoast Notifications II would COM
pei the abandonment OF all posts In the
Interior, would STRIP tho Indian country
OF troops aud would leave none to supply
the requirements of an exigent condl-
ton.
The Hawley bill fixes the permanent mill
itary establishment at tho minimum OF
$4,000, force that Is smaller In propor-
tion 10 the wealth and population of the
country than fixed by any other congress
Tho passage OF the Cockrel bill would
discharge ut once the volunteer officers,
medical officers commissarios (many OF
whom are officers OF the regular army
holding volunteer commissioner and would
leave the department with a corps of stan
cfhcers wholly Inadequate with the In
creased demands that are being made from
every quarter.
provides only for the absolute needs of the
service on lines of efficiency and economy
II was, at the Instance OF Mr. Hull pre-
pared under the supervision OF the adju-
stant general and OF the army officers OF |
long service and high ability The pas
sage OF tho Hawley bin would give pro- |
motion to officers that shave earned II by |
the hardest kind OF frontier and battle |
services. Otherwise, our gallant officers |
must 20 without reward beyond Il sense
OF duty well done.