The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-25
THE ARM Y.
Debate on Reorganiz-
alton Bill.
A NIGHT SESSION.
The Fate of the Measure Is
Much In Doubt.

washington, Jan. 24.-The debate on
the army reorganization bill opened
in the House today, under an agree
nent by WHICH the general debate is
! to run 10 hours, exclusive of three night
sessions; the final vote to be taken not
later than 3 o'clock next Thursday.
Practically three propositions are be-
fore the House, the House bill provid-
ing for a standing army of 100, 900 men,
the minority substitute increasing the
standing army to 10000 men and lodg
ing with the president discretionary
power to call out $4,000 volunteers for
emergency service, and a proposition
to continue temporarily the regular
army at it's present war strength-62,
900 men. 1t is also understood that Mr..
Marsh (rep) of Illinois, will champion
the Miles bill Among the supporters
of the majority bill there are those
who. like Mr.. Mcclellan (dem.) of New
York, a son of Gen. George B. McClel-
an favor a provision for a general
staff made up of officers Of the line
SO as to make the army organization
responsible TIC a single head. The fate
of the measure is still considered doubt
full, though Chairman Hull and his
friends profess great confidence in its
passage. The debate today was not
exciting Mr.. Hull and Mr.. McCleI-
Ian. in support of the measure, and Mr..
Hay of Virginia, in opposition, divided
the honorS today.
Mr.. Hull opened the debate in advo-
cacy of the bill. For years, he said,
he had been supporter of a reorgan-
ization and increase in the regular
army. Now, with the territory gained
from Spain for which we were respon-
sible, and the responsibility for which
we could not shirk, the increase be-
came necessary. The bill fixes no
maximum strength for the entire army,
but under the organization would per-
nit of u strength of 100000 men. The
bill could be amended if desirable so as
to provide a minimum, in the discre-
ton of the president, of $4,000.
Mr.. Hull declared that the situation
was dangerous. We were confronted
with grave responsibilities, even
though we held the Philippines tempo
rarily. No one could tell what would
happen in 80 days. We could not af-
ford to sacrifice efficiency to economy.
Mr.. Hull then took up the staff fea-
lures of the bill. Gen. Miles, he said.
advocated Il general staff, a plan. he
said. which had great merit, but had
the great drawback that it gave an in
vitation TO the injection of politics into
the army.
Mr.. Hull declared that the proposal
to continue the present strength of the
regular army (62,O00) until 1900, was a
miserable makeshift, and piece of
folly. Even if adopted, the terms of
the law required that all soldiers en-
listed last spring must be mustered out.
They would be entitled to return home
and receive travel pay and rations.
and would then have to be re-enfisted
again.
= Mr.. Mcclellan (democrat) of New
YORK supported the bill He did not
speak in a spirit of partisanship. he
said, but he considered the crying need
OF the hour, the reorganization of the
army. He had no desire to reflect on
any officials in the war establishment.
but we ought to take to heart the les
sons of the late war. II the result of
congressional elections had been DIFF
ferent, It might have been possible to
honestly investigate the war. But no
good could come now of washing our
dirty linen in public Congress would
not permit us to investigate, much less
prove the facts. The horrors and scan
dals of the war, he declared, were due
to the system, not the men. The sys-
tenn permitted the appointment Of men
to staff positions who would never have
been heard of under proper system
Every breakdown could be traced to
one or two causes: Lack Of trained
officers and a properly organized staff
The victories won on land were due to
the splendid courage of the men, and
not to the obsolete system under which
the campaigns were conducted. Politics
had creDt into the army The Hull
bill was a long step in the right direc-
zion. Its great failing, in his opinion,
was it's failure to provide for q general
staff. The minority substitute was a
clumsy makeshift. The Miles bill had
good features.
Mr.. Hay (democrat) of Virginia, a
member of the committee, opposed the
bill. In part, he said: There can only
be two excuses given for this legisla-
ton. First, our relations to the foreign
territory which we have acquired from
Spain, and second, the determination
of the executive to enter upon an i'm
perial policy. | am forced to differ
with the estimates of the general Of
the army. We can get along very well
with 20, 900 men abroad instead of $4,000,
and the standing army for this country
and for services in the islands could be
cut down to $4,000 men,
The almost certain destruction of our
system of state militia VIII be one re-
suit of the passage Of this bill. No
worse evil can befall any country than
that it's people should become depend
mt for their rights aud liberties upon
paid military establishment con-
trolled and governed by constantly
growing central power The standing
army proposed by this bill answers
none of the needs Of the country; If
we are not going to pursue this So
called imperial policy, 1t is vastly too
large; If we are going to pursue the
imperial policy, it is ridiculously too
small. Another serious question sug
gests itself Can you obtain 100000
men who viii enlist in the regular
army? Experience teaches us that you
cannot. The only method by which
YOU could obtain the men for so large
an army would be by CONSUMPTION.
This method would not receive the sup
port of 30 men on this floor.
Our situation is such with reference
| to other countries that q large stand
| ing army never has been, is not now,
nor ever will be a necessity. Our bat
| Ties Of the future, If there are to be
any-which God forbid-must be fought
upon the high seas: we must look to
our navy to bring US victories. Let us
build a strong navy and avoid the dan
gerous experiment Of great standing
army
MIR. Bell (pop.) Of Colorado opposed
| tba hill IN toto az q measure designed