Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-02-20
THE army BILLS
WAR DEPARTMENT COMPARES THE
TWO MEASURES.
WHY HAWLEY BILL is BEST
WEAKNESS OF SENATOR COCK
RELL,s BILL POINTED OUT.
II does Not Provide for Much Needed
Omcers-Is Impossfbie to Form
Natives Into Effective MIL
ftary Organizations
at Once.

at Once.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 1s.-The following
statement from the war department on
pending army legislation and the needs OF
the service was issued to-day:
On Monday the senate will take up what
Is now conceded TO be the most important
subject before congress-the reorganiza-
tion of the regular army. The military
committee has submitted two bills for its
consideration. One of these. the house
Cknown as the HuID bill. is reported with
but few amendments by its chairman. Sen
ator Hawley, an expert In matters relating
to military organization. 1t has been per-
fected by the committee. including the
Democratic members. in several partGu-
lars; the most noteworthy and valuable be-,
ing, perhaps, the provision increasing the
corps of cadets by 100 and insuring an ade-
quate source of supply for vacant second
Neutenants. The measure preserves the
present organization and slightly strength
ems the cavalry; augments the artillery and
organizes that arm on a scientific basis
suited to our conditions: gives to the in
fantry the much needed three battalion Or
ganization. and makes only such additions
to the STAN as are absolutely Indispensable.
Under Its provisions, entrance to any
branch of the army cannot be obtained un-
I'll after the candidate for commission has
demonstrated his fitness for it to the sat-
asfaction OF competent examining board.
There is clause empowering the presi-
dent to extend or contract the enlisted
strength according to the necessities of the
country, providing for the first time q
scneme adopted long since for all modern
European military systems.
The' other bill Is brought forward BY
Senator cockreu. Its first section directs
the olsbandment OF the volunteer army
~1hin specified period after the peace
treaty shall have been ratified by SPAIN
oecuons and, contain its principal
conferred for continuing the regular
army 1t its war strength until July /, 1901,
wniie the third section authorizes the pres
iocnt to raise military forces TO the num-
Der OF 5000 in Cuba. Porto Rico and the
isianoS OF the Pacific. to be known, re-
speetiveiy. 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
nabitants of such islands. No organiza-
uon Is provided in the bill for this force.
nor does it determine what relation II
snaH sustain toward the permanent mill
tary establishment of the United States;
and no professional, educational or other
test Is prescribed for tine persons who are
TO oncer it. The bill does not provide
Tor any additional officers, greatly needed
In the administration of affairs in Cuba.
Porto Rico and the Philippines. It would
leave the army as now organized, with but
three major generals and six brigadier
generals, which allows but one general Of
hcer for each Of the military departments
In the United States. and one for Command
ing general Of the army.
Cuba now constitutes a military division.
commanded by a major general and, more
over, comprises six military departments,
commanded by general officers of volun-
teers. In Porto Rico there is necessity
for at least one general officer, and in the
philippines for the general officers required
tor an army corps, SO that if Senator
Cockreil's bill should become law. 1t would
leave the army deficient not only in en-
listed men, but without any general officers
to administer the important duties now de-
voiUng upon the government. Moreover
the bill fails to make any provision for
urgently called for By the sa wfh of fbs is
situation In our new possessions
The criticism that has been passed upon
sufficiently trained STAN Officers. The Cock
ed lameness.
Should his bin be passed into law. the
auyutant, inspector, quartermakter, SUBJ
sistence, medical and pay departments
would be left with only the bare skeleton
for the administering of affairs in the
United States alone previous to the declara-
tion Of war with Spain.
The returns Of the war department show
tne strength OF the regular army, at this
time. to be only few less than 60OOO en-
listed ren. OF these there are nearly 1900
IN cuba and like number in, OF en- route
to the Philippines; and in Porto Rico 45S6.
leaving the total enlisted men of the regu-
lar army in the United States at A.OOO. OF
these 5000 are held in readiness for dis
patch TO reinforce the army at Manila
This would leave the total enlisted strength
OF the army within the United States less
than 1900. or nearly 1000 less, than is
man TIE guns now on our sea coast fortif-
cations. II would compel the abandonment
Of all our posts in the interior. would strip
the Indian country OF troops and leave none
TO supply the requirements OF an exigent
condition.
The Hswley bill fixes the permanent mil
itary establishment at the minimum of
5o.000 a force that is smaller in propor-
ton to population and wealth of country
than fixed by any other act of congress.
AS shown by the last census there was
one soldier for every S2,5o0, 900 of property:
in 1850 there was one soldier for every
Sl,5Oeyo: in 1870 there was one soldier for
At this time there is not an officer on
duty with any college in the United States,
notwithstanding the law contemplates that
ton of the young men of the country. but
the absence of officers from their regi-
ments. by reason of wounds and sickness
and of the necessity of the services in con-
nection with the muster out of volunteer
regiments, compelled the department to
withdraw instructors from these educa-
tional institutions. Neither has II been
able TO attach officers TO our embassies and
legations abroad. There should be one at
every European capital. there are now but
three In all. and those who were recalled
TO participate in the war cannot be re-
turned.
The passage of the Hawley bill would
cradle the department to meet this urgent
requirement and also to re-estab blish the
. schools at Fort Ieavenworth the artillery
school at Fort Monroe and the cavalry
and light artillery school ut Fort Riley. all
OF which are now closed for the want of
odcers The passage of the CockrelI bill
qtsrtermasters. medical officers, commits
sarfes many OF whom are officers of the
regular army. holding volunteer commits
sions, and would leave the department
with corps of staff officers wholly made
quate with the increased demands that are
being made from every quarter
The. Dill reported by Senator Hawjey
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 atiiu-
tant general Of the army, of General
Schwan. Colonel Carter. Majors Heistand.
Johnston and Simpson, officers Of long SER
Hawley btl would give promotion to offi-
GERS that have earned 1t by the hardest
kind OF frontier and battle service. Other
wise our gallant officers must go without
uarrronoon -raov