, 1899-02-20
THE ARMY BILL
SENATE WILL TAKE UP THE
NATTER SOMETIME THIS
WEEK.
Regular Army Now Numbers SO, 900
Men-The Hawley or Hull Bill
Fixes Minimum Strength at so, 900
men-Cadets at West Point to be
Increased.

g ~ YIN WA uSBalIlllNlIk
on the pending army legislation and
the needs of the service was issued to-
day with a request for its publication:
"On Monday the senate will take up
what is now conceded to be the most
important subject before congress-the
reorganization of the regular army.
The military committee has submitted
two bills for it's consideration. One of
these, the house (known as the Hull)
bill, is reported with but few amend
ments by its chairman, Senator Haw-
ley, an expert in matters relating to
military organization. 1t has been per-
fected by the committee including the
democratic members, in several partic-
ulars; the most noteworthy and valu-
able being, perhaps, the provision in
~creasing the corps of cadets ene hum
dred and insuring an adequate source
of supply for vacant second lieuten-
ancies. The measure preserves the
present organization and slightly
strengthens the cavalry, augments the
artillery and organizes that arm on a
scientific basis suited to our conditions.
gives to the infantry the much needed
three battalion organization, and
makes only such additions to the staff
as are absolutely indispensable.
Under its provisions, entrance to
any branch Of the army cannot be OBJ
tanned until after the candidate for
commission has demonstrated his fit
ness for it to the satisfaction Of a COM
petent examining board. There is a
clause empowering the president to ex-
tend or contract the enlisted strength
according to the necessities of the
country, providing for the first time a
scheme adopted long since for all mod
ern European military systems.
THE other bill is brought forward by
Senator Cockrell. It's first section di-
reefs the disbandment of the volunteer
army. Sections two and three contain
its principal provisions. By the FORM
er, authority is conferred for continu-
ing the regular army at its war strength
until July /, 1901, while the third sec
ton authorizes the president to raise
military forces to the number of 80 900
in Cuba, Porto Rico and the islands of
the Pacific, to be known respectively,
as the army of Cuba, the army Of Porto
Rico and the army Of the islands Of
the Pacific, to be composed Of the in
habitants Of such islands. No organi-
cation is provided in the bill for this
force, nor does it determine what re-
lation it shall sustain towards the per-
manent military establishment Of the
United States; and no professional,
educational or other test is prescribed
for the persons who are to officer it.
1.-The bill does not provide for any
additional general offices greatly need
ed in the administration Of affairs in
Cuba, Porto Rico and the Philippines.
1t would leave the army as now organ
lied with but three major generals and
six b~rigadier generals which allows but
one general officer for each Of the mill
tary departments in the United States,
and one for commanding general Of the
army.
Cuba now constitutes a military di-
vision commanded by a major general
and moreover, comprises six military
departments commanded by general Of
ficers of the volunteers. In Porto Rico
there is a necessity for at least one gen.
eral officer and in the Philippines for
the general officers required in an army
corps, so that Senator Cockrell's bill
should become a law it would leave the
army deficient, not only in enlisted
force but without any general officers
to administer the important duties
now developing upon the government.
Moreover the bill fails to make any
provision for the increase in the gem
eral staff, which is urgently CALLED for
by the necessity of the situation in u
new possessions.
The returns of the war department
show the strength of the regular army,
at this time, to be only a few less than
6 0 1000 enlisted men. OF these nearly
1000 are in Cuba and a like number
in or en- route to the Philippines; and
in Porto Rico 1886; leaving the total
enlisted men OF the regular army in the
United States 1000. OF these 5000
are held in readiness for dispatch to
reinforced the army at Manila. This
would leave the total enlisted strength
Of the army within the United States
less than $4,000, or nearly 1000 less
than Is actually necessary to furnish q
single relief to man the guns now on
our sea coast fortiications. It would
compel the abandonment Of all our
posts tn the interior, would strip the
Indian country of troops and leave
none to supply the requirements Of an
exigenA condition.
THE Hawley bill Hxes the permanent