The record-union., 1899-02-25
The Senate Committee on Military
Affairs
Rsptrls a Compromise Measure Which is
Likely to Pass in Congress.
Differs in Many Details From the
Hull Bill, but the General
Framework is the Same-Pro-
visions Of the New Measure as
Submitted by the Committee.

WASHINGTON. Feb. 24.-The Senate
Committee on Military Affairs reported
the compromise Amy reorganization bill
Just before adjournment of the Senate
at $50 d. m. The bill had been framed
at the War Department last night by
the officials of that department and a
number of Senators, and was under
consideration by the Senate commit
tee and it's subcommittee during the
greater part of the day.
The formulation of the compromise
was placed in the hands of Senator's
TIawley and Carter of the Military
Committee on behalf of the Republic
cans, al Senator Cockrell in the in
terests of the Democrats. They met
at 10 O'Clock to-day, and continued
quite constantly in session. Colonel
Carter of the army sat with them for
the purpose of supplying the technical
information.
The sub-commit Zee had it in charge
until 4:30 O'Clock, when the full COM
mittee met The committee made a
number of changes. and after a sitting
of two hours reported the bill to the
Senate
The bill as reported differs in many
details from the bill read in the House
to-day by HULL out the general frame
work is the same. In the new bill,
one section covers the entire increase
of the army. and it reads as follows:
THAT to meet the present exigencies
of the military service, the President is
hereby authorized to maintain tie reg
ular army at strength not exceeding
$4,000 enlisted men to be distributed
amongst the sew raj brar ches of the SER
vice according to the needs of each, and
raise a force of not more than 5000
volunteer infantry as he may deter
mine, from the country at large, under
general law, or from the localities
where their services may be required,
with regard to citizenship or education
al qualifications, and to form the same
into not more than thirty regiments or
ganized as infantry regiments of war
strength in the regular army
Provided, further, that each regi-
ment shall have one surgeon, with the
rank of Major; two assistant surgeons,
one of whom shall have the rank OF
Captain. and one that of First Lieu
tenant. and three hospital stewards.
Provided, that such increase in the
regular and volunteer force shall con-
tinue in service only during the neces-
s.ty therefor, and not later than July
!. 1901
The allotment of Major and Brigadier
Generals is as follows: THAT the
President shall have power to continue
IN service, or to APPOINT by and with
the advice and consent of the Senate.
Brlgadier Generals of Volunteers who,
including the Brigadier Generals of the
regular army, shall not exceed one for
every 1000 enlisted men actually in
service. and Major Generals of Vol
unteers. who. including the Major Gem
erals of the regular army, shall not ex-
coed one for every 1900 enlisted men.
Provided. that regular army officers
continued or appointed as general Off
GERS or as field or staff officers of vol
unteers, under the provisions of this
Act, shall not vacate their regular army
commissions
And provided further, that no gem
eral of1cers appointed under the proyis
Ions OF this section shall be continued
IN service as such beyond July l. 1901.
Section 1 provides that the regular
army shall consist of three Major Cen
erals. six Brigadier Generals, ten reg
iments of cavalry, seven regiments of
artillery, twenty-five regiments of in
fantry."
In the cavalry organization each regi-
ment consists of twelve troops, organ
lied into three squadrons of four troops
each The artillery regiments are fixed
at fourteen batteries. of which, two may
be organized as field artillery
Two veterinarians are allowed to each
regiment of cavalry. In the case of ar
tlllery the number of privates in a bat
terry of heavy artillery is fixed at "a
minimum of fifty-two." and of light ar
tillery at "a minimum of fifty-one." The
same word is used in fixing the strength
of the regiments. giving each infantry
company "a minimum of forty-eight
privates.''
The infantry regiments are fixed at
twelve companies. organized into the
three battalion formation
The Adjutant Generals and Inspector
Generals departments are to consist Of
the number of officers now in these de-
partments, respectively, with a provi-
sion that the Captains of the line who
have shown marked aptitude in the
command of troops shall be entitled to
compete for staff appointments.
The Senate amendment to the Hull
Hawley bill. increasing the number of
cadets to 100, is retained.
The Judge Advocates. Quartermas-
ter's, Subsistence, Nc -ical. Pay. Ord
nance Engineering and Signal Corps
departments shall consist of the officers
and enlisted men now provided by law.
proviso makes the battalion of En-
gineers part of the line, and allows
retired officers to be assigned to active
command
The present Chief of the Record and
Pensions offices is made Brigadier
General, the subsequent Chief to be
Colonel.
The provision of the law authorizing
the assignment of officers of the Quar-
termaster's and Subsistence depart
men;<. with increased rank. and the
continuance in service of certain vol
unteer officers of these departments for
a period of one year. is repeated
Provision is made that no person
other than an officer of the regular
army who has passed the age of -
years shall be appointed as field Off
Ger in the volunteer force, nor as a
company or staff officer therein if he
be past the age of 80 years; neither
shall any person not al regular army of
ficer be SO appointed until he shall
have demonstrated his moral, physical
and professional fitness for the grade
in which he is to be appointed to the
satisfaction of an examining board;
provided that the field officers Of the