New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-02-20
WAR DEPARTMENT WISHES
PLEA FOR PASSAGE OF HULL ARMY
BILL.

REASONS. WHY THIS is SUPERIOR TO SENATOR
cocKRE1I.s MEAsURE-NEED FOR &C
TON BY PRESENT CONGRESS.
lpY TELEGRAPH TO TRIBuNE.l
Washington, Feb ls-The following statement
from the War Department on pending Army legis-
lation and the needs OF the service was issued to-
day with request for Its publication:
Tomorrow the Senate will take up what is now
conceded 10 be the most important subject before
Congress-the reorganization OF the Regular Army.
The Military Committee has submitted TWO oills Tor
its cons liberation. one OF these. the House known
as the HuD bill Is reported with only rev anemG I,
ments by its chairman senator Hawley an expert
in matters relating to military orsanizat"aa Al i M
Democratic members. in several parucunaTs, .ne
most noteworthy and valuable perhaps Delng lhe
ared and insuring that great desideratum an ade-
quate Of supply for vacant second heuienan-
The measure. which has been thought out and
framed with great SaTS pTsseTss the pT
augments the artillery and organizes mat arm on
scienthe basis suited to our conditions gives TO 1ns
hree-battaon organization. and makes only such
additions TO the staff are absolutely indispensa-
BILE Under its provisions entrance 70 any branch OF
the Army cannot be obtained until after candidate
il to the satisfaction OF a competent examng board.
The clause empowering the President to extend or
contract the enlisted strength according 70 s the
necessities Of the country providing for the rs5
European systems, Is perhaps one OF us most val
liable features.
DEFECTS OF THE COCKRELL BILL
The other bill. brought forward by Senator Cock
rel and supported by his Democratic colleagues on
the committee. will not stand the test Of close
scrutiny. Its first section directs the disarmament
of the volunteer army within specified period
after tho Peace Treaty shall have been ratified by
Spain. Sections and contain It's principal pro-
visions. BY the former. authority is conferred for
continuing the Regular Army at its strength
until July 1901, while the third section authorizes
President raise military forces. to the num-
ana the Islands Of the Pacific. TO be known. re-
tpectivey. the Army OF Cuba. the Army of Porto
Re composed OF the Inhabitants of such islands; No
organization whatever Is pr0yded IN the 6 f9T
shall sustain toward the permanent military estaD-
educational or other test is prescribed for the per-
who TO officer II. and who. apparently, may
But the principal defects Of the bill are not what
!, provides. hut what It fails to provide First It
so greatly needed in the administration of affairs in
eSSs the o a now ng WITH only three
major-generas and six brigadier-generals, which
tary departments I'm the United States and one for
commanding general Of the Army.
Cuba now constitutes a military division. com
manded by major-general, and. moreover; com
prises six military departments. commanded by
is necessity for az least one general officer ana
IN the PHILIPPINES FOR the genera 0Cgrs ocSSres
bill should become law il would leave us deficient
era oficers 10 Administer the important duties
now dev0lving upon the Government Moreover
the Increase In the general staff which is urgently
called for by the necessities of the situation In
our new possessions.
LACK OF TRAINED STAFF OFFICERS.
The criticism that has been passed upon the De-
partment has been the absence Of sufficiently
trained staff officers. The Cockrel amendment
would perpetuate this alleged lameness Should
his passed into law. the Adjutant. Inspector
Quartcrmaster. Subsistence Medical and Pay de-
partments would be left with only the bare skele-
ton of the staff organizations that we have had
for tho administering Of affairs IN me harep
with Spain; It would be difficult to conceive ono G
'n The returns OF the War Department show the
st ont Gf fe es. tSan s Enlisted mem Of these
there nearly 1900 in Cuba and IKE number otp
Rico 1886 leaving the total enlisted men of the
Regular Army IN the In'ca sses ~ reinforce
the army at Manila. This would leave the total .I
stafes less than IS OOO or nearly 400 less than is
necessary furnish single rehef 10 man me guns
the abandonment Of all our posts in the interior
would strip the Indian country OF troops ana leave
none 10 supply the requirements OF an eNlgeht con-
The Hawley bill fixes the permanent military es-
Establishment at the minimum % 5000, force that
is smaller in proportion to population ana wealth.
IA shown by the last census there one soldier
Tor every 81 900 OF property IN 1880 there was one
Sie1 for Every $4,000 At this time there Is
Officer on duty with any college in the nteu STATES
NOT yithstanding the law contempates that there
shall be one hundred detailed for the instruction OF
the young men Of the country out tne absence nrS I
and sickness and OF the necessity OF the services
Pigments Compelled the department to withdraw
instructors from every Of these educational In
situations
NEED OF OFFICERS ABROAD
Neither has It been able to attach officers to our
embassies and legations abroad. Whereas there
should be one at every European capital there
are now only three In all. and those who were re-
called TO participate In the war cannot be re-
turned The passage Of the Hawley bill would
enable the Department TO meet this urgent re-
ouIrement and also to re-establish the schools at
Fort LeavenwOrth the Artillery school at RORY
Monroe and the cavalry ana Ight ArIe fr Se
AT Fort Riley. all or Wnich are no" CIoseV loI we
want OF officers. The amendment Onefed ny Se!la-
tor Cockrel proposes TO stamp WIN 9nv ap had
70 meet at the outbreak OF The war. ana whlch are
now only partly overcome by the temporary use
The passage OF the Cockrell Bill would discharge
at once all the Noiun'cy! Vuo' -, 90 lf3cers
officers. commissaries. many OF whom are oI ncGIs
OF the Regular Army holdlng volunteer VoihIIs-
sions. and would IeaVI ,he -, p"i sts ofec~-s
been above stated with corps Vl SIal, - ~,
wholly inadequate TO the Increased demands thai
are being made from every quarter. II II be ursed
that the services Of these Regular ouceis no" 81,
volunteer duty would, after muster OUT, De sun
available in their lover keguSSr r s dqcc has sf
fered and Is still suffering. for the reason tat we
10 he battIe-feld nsuficcntly differed, in order
that the more important, indeed. Ntaly important
STAN work be not neglected
HULL BILL PREPARED BY OFFICERS
The bill reported by Senator Hawley provides
only for the absolute needs Of the service on lines
OF efficiency and economy 1t was at the instance
of Mr.. Hun. prepared under the supervision OF the
Adiutant- General OF the Army, by General
scbwan Colonel Carter, Majors Heistand, john
ston and Simpson officers Of long service and OF