The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-02-25
ARMY BILL REPORTED
'RR0TTsToNs OF THE MEASURE As
IMPORTED TO TIE SENATE

~tiIIery-Three Battalion Formation for
the Lnfantry-Tho President Authorized
to aise $4,000 Volunteer Infantry
to Re Formed Into Thirty Regiments.
w%AsHrSGroY. Feb. ADJUST before the Sen
ate adjourned this afternoon Senator Hawley.
Chairman OF the Military Affairs Committee.
reported the Compromise Army bill that
n the result OF the conferences OF the
last three days between tho Repub-
llcan and Democratic Senators and the
War Department officials. As lac stated In
the House OF Representatives this after
noon. Representative Hull, Chairman OF
the Military Affairs Committee of that
body. does not like the compromise meas
ure. but IL Is not likely that he will op-
pose its adoption by the House. lie will
probably have some amendments to propose.
but the desire for the passage Of tho bill
Is 90 general that there Is no rea-
pon TO anticipate serious difficulty in
bringing It to q vote. Some minor
amendments may be made in the Senate and
in the House. but the bill will be sent to q con-
ference committee as speedily as possible.
where all points in dispute will be amicably
settled by the Same influences that brought
about the compromise.
The agreement on the bill has ended all talk
,of an extra session, and there IL little likelihood
now that one will he called. Speaking Of the
new bill tonight. Gen. Hawley said that 1t
ought not TO be designated as a surren-
der on the part of any ono. 1t was. he said.
the result of calm consideration, and added
that the most determined opponent OF the Hull
bill. Senator Cockrell. showed o conciliatory
!upirit all through the discussion.
Col. Carter OF the Adjutant-General's De-
partment. who assisted the Military Commit
tee In the arranging Of the details Of the bill.
says It Is n better measure than the
army had q right to expect under the
circumstances. and that as a whole its
provisions are excellent. 1t does not give the
promotions provided for under the Hull bill.
but It increases the efficiency OF tho army. and
gives many of the provisions they had been
striving to get for many years. The strength
Of the regular army is inoreased from 80. 200, as
at present. to IS, 1000. by the addition Of two bat
Geriesto each regiment OF heavy artillery for
coast defense purposes. The three bat
TALON formation as now established In the
German Army and approved by modern
military science. Is given the infantry. The
Hull bill provided for $50 new officers. The
present bill provides for 135 new Second Lieu
tenants. the difference. so far as it Is necessary
to make it up. being made up by including the
volunteer officers now serving.
Just before the bill was reported 10 the Sem
ate a letter was received from the Quarter
master-General setting forth the absolute ne
cessity Of additional force TO cover the enlarged
field OF operations. and twenty Quartermasters
were thereupon added. making thirty with the
rank of Major and forty with the rank OF
Captain.
An amendment was added to the bin provid-
ing that none OF tho civilian staff officers
shall be appointed until he shall have
passed such satisfactorily examination as
to moral. mental and physical qualihca-
tions as may be prescribed by the President,
and no such person shall be appointed until he
IS 40 years of age. This was the limit of age
fixed by the Hull bill. but the Senate commit
tee changed 1t to 40 years. In other respects
the staff provisions are similar to those of the
Hull bill.
Section IL OF the new bill contains some
changes from the language as origin
ally agreed upon. and the provision
that gives the President power to appoint
the field officers is strongly criticised
by officers OF the regular service. who
complain tina; it leaves the door open for APP
pointing civilians over the heads OF army
officers who should be entitled to the places
by promotion. The clause giving the Presi-
dent power of such appointments reads as fol-
No person other than an officer Of the regu-
hr army. who has passed the age OF 4? years,
nor as a company Or staff oficer therein.
A. he be past the age of % years: neither
so appointed until he shah have demonstrated
his moral. physical and professional fitness for
the tn t grade ss il Tnifh he ef is at to e be SGMmts7 b0nrd
provided that the field officers herein author
lied may be appointed from officers OF til"
regular army or from officers who served as
officers of volunteers in the war with Spain.
The numGer Of cadets at the Military
by allowing two from each State at large 10 De
appointed by the Senators. and the adding Of ten
to the numberto be appointed 10y the President.
In ADDITION TO the regular army OF DD,ODD men,
the president is authorized to raise a force
he may determine from the country at
large or from the localities where their
citizenship or educational Qualifications. This
force Is to form thirty regiments, and is to con-
tinue in service only during the necessity
terms OF enlistment are fixed at two years and
four months. unless sooner discharged.
act the officers and enlisted men OF the volun;
teers not herein authorized are to be mustered
transferred 70 regiments below full strength.
change the provisions Tor the new Solun;
teer force SO as to permit the enltstmm.nt
bill now provides only for infantry, The
hight. will be renewed, III the Senate.
that body. Col Grigshy Of the Second Rough
Riders Regiment has been here some days en-
de%ayorinG to have such u provision inserted
for three Major-Generals. six BriGudier- Gem
erals. ten. regiments OF cavalry. seven of artil-
lery and twenty-five OF infantry. with the reg
plar staff departments. The present organ
ization OF the regiments is left unchanged.
All vacancies created or caused by this act
above the grade OF Second Lieutenant in
the line Of the. army shall be filled by
promotion, according to seniority. but the
additional Second Lieutcnants. now at
tached TO each regiment OF artillery
shall be absorbed into the artillery or trans
ferred 10 other arms where vacancies exist
without loss of relative rank. leaving but one
Recond Lieutenant to n battery of artillery.
The age limit for appointment, from civil life
IS Second Lieutenant Is fixed between 81 and
81 years,
The bill provides that on a declaration Of war
the enlisted strength may he increased by the
President to 49, men, The President is au-
thorized TO continue the army at the war
strength prescribed until July |. 1901. The
acknowledgements and the lnspector-Gcn-
erals departments are to have the same num-
Der of officers.
The battalion Of engineers is transferred to
the line. The Chief al the Records and Pension
Office Is made a Brigadier-Genera! during the
incumbency Of the first appointec.
The corps OF cadets is to consist Of one from
each Congressional district. one from each Ter
ritory, and th" District of Columbia two from