The times., 1899-02-10
GENERAL WA SHINGTON
NEWS AND GOSSIP.

-'''' N'N1hfeE ANA army
S"ni>ntion.-The President. it is under
J stood on the best authority, is more con-
cerned about the passage OF some kind ot
an army reorganization bill before the eX-
| piration of the Fifty-hfth Congress than
| in any other pending legislation at the
| Capitol. He believes that the passage oil
| an army reorganization bill OF some char
| actcr before March is absolutely neces-
sary. lie does not it is understood, care
| particularly about the details OF the bill;
any bill providing for an increase OF the
regular army TO meet the new require
ments and conditions will be acceptable
| to the President and the members of his
Administration.
! Several days ago Mr.. Mckinley requested
Attorney General Griggs to render an opin-
| ion on what would be the status of the
/ volunteers and certain regulars after the
| formal exchange of ratification OF the
| Treaty of Peace between the United States
and Spain. The Attorney Generals opin-
| ion was submitted to the President on
| Wednesday. Since receiving this opinion
| Mr. Mckinley has sent for the leaders at
, both ends of the Capitol and frankly ex-
| planned the situation to them. 1t appears
| from the Attorney Generals ruling that
| the Administration Will be placed In a
very embarrassing position unless Congress
| makes immediate provision for increasing
the size of the regular army. The Attor-
ney General holds, it is said, that after the
| exchange of ratification between Washing
ton and Madrid every volunteer soldier in
| the service of the United States will be en-
| titled to be mustered out upon his own
| application. He also states that the SOL
| diers recruited for the regular army from
| May l up to October 26 have the right to
| ask for their discharge upon the termina-
ton of the war with Spain. When the
tiH~a
| bered, all told. about 10000 men. Con-
gress authorized an increase of the regular
, army up TO over 60, 900, but less than 10000
regulars, 1t is stated, have been recruited
| under that act 1t is also said that even
the regulars recruited from May to Octo-
ber % were promised their discharge upon
the termination of the war with Spain.
| In other words, they were only enlisted
for the war instead of for the custom
ary three or five years. They are there
| fore almost on the same footing as the
volunteers in respect to their quitting the
| service. They cannot be held in the sery-
ice, according TO the decision of Attorney
General Griggs, against their will any
more than the volunteers after the techni-
cal ending OF the present war
1t is estimated that there are about 1000
| volunteer soldiers under General Otis in
the Philippines, every one of whom will
be entitled to receive an honorable dis
charge, upon application, just as soon as
Spain ratifies the Peace Treaty. 1t will be
readily seen that the situation that con-
fronts the Administration in this connec-
tion is most critical According to the most
conservative estimates made by the official
representatives of the Administration, our
Government will need standing army OF
at least 100 900 men for the next three
years.
There is strong opposition in the Senate
up to 100, 900. or even 75, 900 The men
who oppose the enlarging of the regular
army say that they are afraid of creating
a military domination, but it is pointed out
that this is a matter that will be entirely
within the power of each succeeding Con-
gress to regulate as 1t sees fit. In other
words il the regular army should be raised
to 200 600 men at the present session, the
next Congress could cut it down to 5000
if it chose to do so. The bugaboo of mil
itarism," which has been invoked to defeat
the passage of an army reorganization bill
in the Senate the members of the Ad
ministration circle contend has no justi-
fication whatever.
The President. it can be said. authorita-
lively hopes that the opposition to the pas
sage of an army reorganization bill viii
be withdrawn and that bill of some kind
will be passed before Congress adjourns.
If no provision is made at the present ses-
sion for an increase in the size OF the
regular army The President states frankly
that he will be compelled to call an extra
session of the Fifty-sixth Congress at
once to attend to the matter
In conversation with several leading
Senators yesterday Mr.. Mckinley was most
emphatic in urging immediate action on
the army reorganization measure. He ey-
planned the nature of Attorney General
Griggs' opinion and pointed out how en-
barrasstng II would be to the Government
II Congress should adjourn without pass
ing bill for an increase in the size of the
regular army. Mr.. Mckinley is under
stood TO have said that he would prefer to
have some of the regular appropriation
bills fail than to have Congress fail to act
, on the army reorganization matter The
latter. in his judgment. was of the most
, vital importance and should take prece-
dence over everything else. II is said that
: the President viii send for the leaders OF
the opposition to the army reorganization
bill and endeavor to reason with them. He
VIII explain the situation fully. and he is
satisfied. 1t was stated last night that the
majority of the Senators at present oppos-
ing an increase in the regular army will
! change their minds when they are made
acquainted with the situation as il exists
There is the same necessity for action ON
this matter. the President declares. as there
, was last spring for the passage of the s5o =
oOo,OCo war emergency fund Mr.. NJ Kinlev
, intends TO appeal to the patriotism of Con-
efess- 1t is TO be hoped that he will not
make his appeal in vain.