The times., 1899-01-25
DEBATING THE Army BILL
Lively Discussion on Both
Sides of the Chamber.
AN ACTIVE OPPOSITION
Chairman Hull Opens the Discussion
Supported by Colonel Mcclellan
Messrs. Cox. HHy. Lamb, Bell and
Others AntaGonize the Measure
Contest Renewed nt Night Session.

House and Senate. The Hull bill, whose
consideration was begun in the House yes
terday, Will be debated for seven more
days, and then may or may not be passed
in anything like its present form. There
will then remain just twenty-siX working
days for the Senate to pass it, in the face
of strong Democratic opposition, as to its
scope and equally strong Republican op-
position as to its details. 1t seems hardly
possible that the two houses should reach
an agreement even if each should pass a
bill of its own.
There are a number of bills advocated.
The Hull bill. which the House is now dis
cussing provides for about 100000 men, as
many of whom as the President may de-
sire may be enlisted in the colonies. The
Miles bill, introduced by Senator Hawley,
which is the favoTite in the Senate, also
provides for about 100000 men, but pre-
scribes that they shall be enlisted on a
sliding scale of one 10 LOCO of the popula-
tion in the United States and one 10 2 600
in the colonies.
The Hull bill also provides for twelve
regiments of cavalry, fourteen of artillery,
and thirty of infantry, against ten of cav
airy, sixteen Of artillery, and fifty of in
fantry for the Miles bill. the regiments to
be smaller than those in the Hull bill.
The Mcclellan Bill.
The Mcclellan bill. in the House, seeks
to unite the best features in both the Hull
and the Miles bills.
The Hay bill, reported by the minority
Of the House Committee on Military At
fairs. provides for $4,000 men, 10000 OF
whom are to be volunteers, enlisted for
two years.
Then there are several bills in each
house providing for continuing the present
army Of 62,000 men, with some modifica-
tions. and at the present time some such
measure as these seems more likely to be
come law than any other
The Hull bill was taken up at noon yes
terday and debated until O'Clock. A re-
cess was then taken till p. m, when the
House reconyened and continued the de-
bate until nearly II o'clock. A similar
programme will be followed today and to-
morrow. On Friday the bill will be read
under the fye-minute rule, debate under
which will be continued until p. m. on
Tuesday of next week, when a vote will
be taken.
The debate was opened yesterday by
Representative Hull, chairman of the
committee that reported the bill. Mr.
Hull said: The present situation is a
dangerous one We are confronted with
grave responsibilities, even though We
hold the Philippines temporarily. No one
can tell what viii happen in thirty days.
We cannot afford TO sacrifice efficiency to
economy"
Reverting to the provisions of the bill.
Mr.. Hull took up the staff features. Gen
eral Miles, he said. advocated a general
staff. plan, he said. which had great
merit, but had the great drawback that 1t
gave an invitation to the injection of pol
itics into the army.
He declared that the proposal to con-
time the present strength of the regular
army (62,0oO1 until 1900 was a miserable
makeshift and a piece of folly. Even if
adopted, the terms of the law require that
all soldiers enlisted last spring must be
mustered out. They would be entitled to
return home and receive travel pay and
ratons and would then have to be re-
enlisted again. He thought a spirit Of
patriotism demanded that this Congress
should legislate TO meet the present con-
dition as 1t found IT,
He thought that the flag of the Union
should be backed up by sufficient force,
no matter in what portion of the globe 1t
floats. and the men who defend it must be
regular soldiers. he said. Volunteers be-
ing generally business men, or men en-
gagged in various peaceful avocations. IL is
an injustice to keep them in the barracks
or on the field unless during the progress
Of actual war. Mr.. Hull believed that j,
would be very hard 10 get 50, 900 volun-
teers, or half that number. 10 offer them
selves for duty after the Treaty of Peace
is concluded. At that time the present
force will be reduced to its old basis OF
$500 men. despite the fact that the coun-
try shall need many more 10 care for the
new possessions.
MIR. Cox Against II.
Mr. Cox Of Tennessee followed Mr.. Hui
with an opposing speech He challenged
the supporters Of the bill to tell why the,
needed 100000 men after peace is conclud
ed. We do not need them" he asserted
and 1t is crime against the nation I,
force it 10 support such a vast body o
armed men" He claimed that if ".
needed such standing army in time o
peace something must have gone radically
wrong with our institutions. The onll
real excuse for maintaining such an arIa,
would be TO keep the country always in
position 10 fight at the drop of a hat witt
any nation on earth.
No power on earth wanted war with thi
country. There could be no motive unles
we invited it. He concluded with a quo
tation from the writings OF Andrew Jack
son, which solemnly warned the countr
against the danger of standing armies il
time Of peace.
Mr.. Mcclellan of New York followed. II
said that many OF the volunteer line offl
GERS were most efficient, but most OF tn
volunteer line officers were inefficient
This was not TO their discredt II was
physical impossiblity that they shoul
learn their new duties in the short interva
allowed them. If the army is Increase
the capacity OF West Point must be largel
increased.
Another point OF Importance was the con
fusion during the Santiago campaign Tn
staff of the army proved unable to man
age 1900 men, 1900 Of them regulars
With ten independent bureau chiefs all III
good wf1l in the world will not avail t
prevent confusion. For instance the cook
ing utensils OF the army were furnished b
one department. the plates. knives. an
forks by second. and the food itself by
third. Is it wonderful that these thre
worked al cross purposes and that confu
sion resulted?
With a single head. a general staff lik
that in Prussia, would obviate all this bu
as long as there are ten chiefs all the in
vestigations till doomsday will not men
matters. When the proper time comes b
said, he would introduce an amendment I
that effect.
In closing Mr.. Mcclellan paid hig
tribute TO the regular soldiers. His word
were loudly applauded.
Representing the Minority.
Mr.. Hay. member Of the committee
said that he was surprised by Mr.. Nc
Clellan's speech, because he had never be
fore known a Democrat 10 advocate I
the House an increase of the army i
time Of peace.
The army before the war was iimite
20 10000 men. Now the General Of tn
Army says that $1,000 are needful in thi
conntry-l7. 900 for coast defence. 300