Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-24
Do Not Like the Staff Provisions of
New Army Bill.
CONFERENCE OF THE LEADERS
Belief That the Compromise Will
Be Accepted.
MIR. HULL'S STATEMENT

sons who were congratulating themselves
that an extra session of Congress would be
avoided by the agreement between the ma
tority and minority factions, as outlined
yesterday, were somewhat downcast today.
The particular issue which threatened to
cause the failure of the agreement was said
to be the refusal of the democrats to ac-
cept that provision of the compromised
bill which carried with it the increase of
staff provided for in the Hull bill.
The formulation of the compromise on
the army reorganization bill has been
placed in the hands of Senators Hawley
and Carter of the military committee on
behalf of the republican senators, and of
Senator Cockreu in the interest of the
democrats.
Conference of the Leaders.
They met at the room of the Senate COM
rnbttee on appropriations at 10 o'clock this
morning and continued quite constantly in
session. Col Carter of the army sat with
them for the purpose of supplying technl-
cal information. Senator Hawley came
out of the room for few minutes at II
O'Clock, but said the subcommittee had not
yet completed its work.
Senators generally accepted the compro-
mise as a foregone CONCLUSION, ana the IN
derstanding was that it would be along the
lines indicated in The Star yesterday. AS
far as there has been any expression or
opinion, such bill will be accepted but
even this will not go through without de-
bate Some senators hesitate to give up the
provision for the enlistment of native
troops in the islands, while others indicate
determined hostility to this provision If it
should not be changed
The military committee failed 10 get
quorum today.
Discussing the staff Reorganization.
The forenoon session of the conference
cd RI ba discussion details
aside from those affecting the staff officers,
and when these provisions were reached
there was some delay. The time for the
continuance of the existence of the IN
creased force was fixed at July 1, 1901, as
agreed upon yesterday.
The staff provisions of the bill are some
what more complicated than the others,
and Senator Cockrell demanded very care
full explanation of their terms. The laws
providing for the temporary increase CT
the army at the beginning of the Spanish
war did not give a corresponding increase
of officers. making it necessary to use vol
unteer officers in the regular army.
The republican senators consider it neces-
sary to provide for an increase of officers
sufficient to meet this demand. The indica-
lions are that their wishes in this respect
will be complied with.
The Compromise Measure.
Representative Hull, chairman of the
House military committee, today during
the debate on the army appropriation bill
had read as a part of his remarks what,
he said, would probably be the compro-
mise measure for the reorganization of the
army. 1t was read for information, and
not as an amendment to the appropriation
bill.
The measure which Mr. Hull had read
provides that the army shall consist Of )
major generals, g brigadier generals. 10
regiments of cavalry, regiments of artil-
lery, % regiments of infantry" The vari-
Gus staff departments are also designated
and thirty chaplains, the record and pen
sion offices, the retired list and staff of
Military Academy, etc. Section 2 gives the
cavalry organization, each regiment con-
sisting of twelve troops organized into
three squadrons of forty troops each. The
artillery regiments are fixed at fourteen
batteries of which two may be organized
as field artillery.
Each battery of heavy artillery is fixed
at fifty-two privates and each Battery of
field artillery at fifty-one privates.
The infantry regiments are fixed at
twelve companies, organized into the three
battalion formation. The company strength
is fixed at forty-eight privates, which num-
Der is an important factor in determining
the total strength Section 6 is as follows:
That upon d declaration of war by Con-
gross, or declaration of Congress that
war exists, the enlisted strength of the
army may, in the discretion of the PreSi
dent, be increased to not exceeding G5,OO0
cent among the several branches of the
service according to the needs of each.
Provided that the President is authorized
to continue the army at the war strength
as prescribed herein until July l, 1901
The adjUtants general and inspector gen.
eral departments are to consist of the
number Of officers now in those depart
ments respectively, with a provision that
captains of the line who have shown
marked aptitude in the command of troops
shall be entitled to compete for staff ap-
pOintments.
The judge advocates, quart ermasters
subsistence. medical pay, ordnance engi-
neering and signal corps shall consist of
the officers and enlisted men now provided
by law. A proviso makes the Battalion of
Engineers part of thu line, and allows
retired officers to be assigned to active
command
The present chief of the record and pen
sion office is made a brigadier general the
subsequent chief to be colonel.
Section u repeats the provision of law
authorizing the assignment OF officers of
the quartermasters and subsistence depart
ments with Increased rank, and the con-
tinuance in service of certain volunteer
officers of those departments for a. period
of one year.
Section Il provides that to meet the
present exigencies of the military service
the President is hereby authorized to raise
force of not more than $1,000 volunteer
infantry and to form the same into not
more than thirty regiments, organized as
infantry regiments OF war strength in the
regular army
A proviso gives to each of the regiments
one surgeon, with rank of major; two as
sistant surgeons, one as captain and the
other lieutenant. and three hospital
stewards
Further provision is made that mo per-
sen other than an officer of the regular
army who has passed the age of forty-f1ve
years shall be appointed a field officsr
In said force (the $4,000 troops) nor as a
company or staff officer therein IL he be
past the age of thirty-five years; neither
shall any person not a regular army off,
Ger be so appointed until he shall have
demonstrated his moral, physical and pro-
fessionai fitness for the grade in which he
is to be commissioned to the satisfaction
of an examining board. provided that the
field officers of the force herein authoriz I'D
be appointed from offices of the regular
army or from persons who served as off,
GERS of volunteers in the war with Spain
"All enlisted men af the force herein
authorized shall be for the term of two
years and four months, unless sooner dis
charged, provided that no part of such
forces shall be continued in service beyond
the LIST day of July, 1901
Considered by Senate subcommittee.