The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-20
The PENDING ARMY BILL
War Department Objects to the
Cockrell Measure.
CRIPPLES THE SERVICE
No Organization Provided for the Forces
to Be Taken From Cuba and the
Philippines-MustA Abandon
Indian Posts.


statement from the war department on
pending army legislation and the needs
of the. service was issued to-day with
a request for it's publication:
ION Monday the senate will take up
what is now conceded to be the most
important subject before congress-the
reorganization of the regular army.
The military committee has submitted
two bills for it's consideration. One of
these, the house bill known as the Hull
bill, is reported with but few amend
ments by its chairman, Senator HaW-
ley, an expert in matters relating to
military organization. 1t has been per-
fected by the committee, including the
democratic members, in several parttc-
ulars, the most noteworthy and valua-
BILE being perhaps the provision increas-
ing the corps of cadets by 100 and in
surfing an adequate source of supply
for vacant second lieutenancies. The
measure preserves the present organl-
cation and slightly strengthens the
cavalry, augments the artillery and or
ganizes that arm on a scientific basis
suited to our conditions, gives to the
infantry the much needed three bat
TALON organization, and makes only
such additions to the staff as are alb
SOlutely Indispensable.
Under it's provisions, entrance to
any branch of the army cannot be OBJ
tanned until after the candidate for
commission has demonstrated his fit
ness for it to the satisfaction of a COM
petent examining board. There is a
clause empowering the president to ex-
tend or contract the enlisted strength
according to the necessities of the coun-
try, providing for the first time a
q sip all
ern European military systems.
Cockrells Bill.
THE other bill is brought forward
by Senator Cockrell. Its first section
directs the disarmament of the volun-
teer army within specified period after
the peace treaty shall have been ratified
by Spain. Sections 2 and contain it's
principal provisions. By the former,
authority is conferred for continuing
the regular army at its war strength
until July /, 1901 while the third sec
ton authorizes the president to raise
military forces to the number of 3d.
600 in Cuba. Porto Rico and the islands
of the Pacific, to be known, respective
~ as the army of Cuba, the army of
Porto Rico and the army of the islands
of the Pacific to be composed of the in
habitants of such islands. No organi-
cation is provided in the bill for this
lUice, lOF uOeS IL ueleItlllue WHdl Teld-
ton it shall sustain toward the perma
nent military establishment Of the
United States and no professional, ed
ucational or other test is prescribed for
the persons who are to officer it. The
bill does not provide for any additional
general officers, greatly needed in the
administration of affairs in Cuba, Porto
Rico and the Philippines. 1t would
leave the army as now organized with
but three major generals and six brig
adler generals, which allows but one
general officer for each of the military
departments of the United States and
one commanding general of the army.
Cuba now constitutes military di-
vision commanded by a major general,
and moreover comprises six military de-
partments, commanded by general eff
GERS of volunteers. In Porto Rico there
is a necessity for at least one general
officer, and in the Philippines for the
general officers required for an army
corps, so that if Senator Cockrelrs bill
should become a law it would leave
the army deficient not only in enlisted
force, but without any general officers
to administer the important duties now
devolving upon the government. More
over, the bill fails to make any pro-
vision for the increase in the general
staff, which is urgently called for by
the necessities in the situation in our
new possessions.
THE criticism that has been passed
upon the department has been the alb
sence of sufficiently trained staff Off
GERS The Cockrell amendment would
perpetuate this alleged lameness.
Should his bill be passed into law
the adjutant, inspector. quartermaster
subsistence, medical and pay depart
ments would be left with only the bare
skeleton of the staff organization that
q ha p6, iSta rirer oF
affairs in the United States alone, pre-
Vious to the declaration of war with
Spain.
Strength of the Army.
THE returns of the war department
show the strength of the regualr army,
at this time, to be only few less than
| $4,000 enlisted men. OF these nearly
| l40oO are in Cuba and like number
| are near or en- route to the Philippines
or in Porto Rico 1856: leaving the to-
tai enlisted men in the regular army
in the United States. $4,000. Of these
| 5000 are held in readiness for dispatch
to reinforce the army at Manila. This
would leave the total enlisted strength
of the army within the United States
| less than $4,000, or nearly 1000 less than
| Is necessary to furnish a single relief
| to man the guns now on our sea coast
| Notifications. 1t would compel the
abandonment of all our posts In the
interior, would strip the Indian coun-
try of troops and leave none to supply
the requirements of an exigent condi-
ton.
The Hawley bill fixes the perma-
nent military establishment at the min
imum of $4,000. force that in proper
ton to population and wealth of coun-
try is lower than that fix
ed by any other act of con-
| gres. As@shown by the last census
there was one soldier for every two
and one-half millions of property: in
| 1880 there was one soldier for every
one and one-half million; in 1870 there
was one soldier for every $SOO,OOO At
this time there is not an officer on duty
with any college in the United States,
| Notwithstanding the law contemplates