The times., 1899-03-02
4 Gal6eshift Army.

\ Eateshift Army,
With very little talk and no particular
opposition, the Army bill passed the House
of Representatives yesterday. Opinion on
the floor was so unanimous that the meas
ure was the best thing possible in sight
that only thirty-three votes were recorded
! against it. Some of its crudlties and con-
tradictions did not escape attention. The
fact that it in terms confines the regular
army to force of about thirty-seven
thousand men, and then authorizes the
President to make it sixty-five thousand,
was commented on, but not very severely.
Neither MIR Mckinley nor the country Will
worry over little matter like that.
After Mr.. CockreIl and MIR. German got
through with the Army bill, before its
passage in the Senate, it would have been
rather hard for its putative father. Mr.
Hull. to recognize its speaking features,
which had been battered and bruised out
of all resemblance to their original appear
ance. We are at a loss to understand eX-
acrly what Mr. Cockrell thought he was
at when he effected his grand coup and
made the minimum number of soldiers in
troop, battery, or company the maximum
limit OF strength. And what Mr. German
expected to gain by limiting the life of the
army created by the bill 10 the time be-
tween now and July /. 1901 is perhaps
decided uncertainty. Mr. Cockrell's mini
mum is overset By the eXigency provision,
which allows the President to maintain the
regular army on the basis of siXtyfive
thousand men, and Mr.. Germans tempor-
airy provisc is thin wind in view Of the fact
that the Administration will be able to do
about as it chooses in the next Congress.
As evidences of power to delay legislation
and harass the COmmanderin Chief, per-
haps these achievements may appeal to the
gentlemen responsible for them as pleas
ant memories. Otherwise, if they are like
Iy to serve any useful purpose. the fact is
as undiscovered to US as the particulars of
the battle of Bienheim were to old Cas-
par.
We are living in times when small
favors should be thankfully received
After all is said and done the compro-
mise Army bill is a hybrid that can be
harnessed and driven to some advantage.
II gives the country force of one hun
dred thousand soldiers. 1t leaves the
President free to organize volunteer
provisional army of thirty-five thousand
men. and he ought TO be able to get
good one, if he will first remove Alger and
confide the organization of it to a genuine
soldier like General Miles. or board of
experts such as Miles. Wheeler, and Fitz-
hugh Lee would make. While we are
about it we might as well take some pains
TO make a volunteer service that will
amount to something. One provision of
the compromise bill opens the way for
three regiments of Rough Riders. which
is a good idea and Mr. Mckinley will
no doubt take advantage OF the chance.
The country is full of just such an ad-
venturous element as would make an
ideal colonial force. 1t is only necessary TO
gain its confidence and utilize it. In the
Philippines, for example. if the right kind
Of volunteers are provided. they will make
the pioneers of the future, the colonial
militia mounted police, and the like, and
ultimately will take a great deal of the
task Of civilization eff the hands of the
Government.
AS to this provisional force it is well
that the age limit for officers has been
removed. There are plenty of tough old
veterans among US, good yet for decade
of campaigning and fighting, whose SER
vices should not be lost to the people.
The principle of early retirement for age
is a good enough one in time of peace,
but it does not always work well or
equitably in emergencies like the pres
ent. We need all the trained soldiers
we can get for a while anyway, or until
they can cultivate fresh crop of young
sters fit by reason of demonstrated ability
and experience to decorate their shoulders
with leaves. eagles. and stars
AS the situation stands it is but make
shift army that the Commander-in-C Chief
will have to depend upon for season. but,
if that army shall be organized intelligent
ly and honestly. il can be made the scien-
tific nucleus of a permanent establish
ment which the Fifty-sixth Congress I'M
doubtedly Will provide for. We are never
likely again to require a standing army
of less than one hundred thousand men.
Such force distributed along our coast
and interior points in small way. but
principally used in garrisoning our colonial
possessions, will be not as large compared
with the necessities of the American Gov
ernment and people an army of twenty
five thousand would have been before the
war with Spain. We have the hundred
thousand men after fashion, and for the
moment We have escaped some of the
worst features of the corrupt political Hull
Army Reorganization bill. Let us be CRATE
ful for what We get, and that it is no
worse.