The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-20
BUSY WEEK FOR CONGRESS
SEVERAL IMPORTANT MEASURES
AWAITING CONSIDERATION.
Struggle Probable i'm the senate Over
tne Army Reorganization BILL
Programme Of the House.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 19.-The following
statement from the War Department ON
pending army legislation and the needs of
the service was issued to-day with a re-
quest 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 commits
tee has submitted two bills for its consider
alton. One of these. the House Qknown as
the HulD bill, is reported with but few
amendments by it's chairman, Senator
Hawley, an expert in matters relating to
military organization 1t has been per-
fected by the committee, including the
Democratic members, in several particu-
lars; the most noteworthy and valuable be-
ing, perhaps, the provision increasing the
corps Of cadets by one hundred and insur-
ing an adequate source of supply for vacant
second lieutenancies The measure reserves
the present organization and slightly
strengthens the cavalry, augments the
artillery. 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 it's provision, entrance to any
branch of the army cannot be obtained una
til after the candidate for a commission has
demonstrated his fitness for it to the satis-
faction of a competent examining board.
There is clause empowering the President
to extend or contract the enlisted strength
according TO the necessities of the country.
providing for the first time scheme
adopted long since for all modern European
military systems
THE other bill is brought forward by
Senator Cockrell. It's first section directs
the disbandment of the volunteer army
within specified period after the peace
treaty shall have been ratified by Spain.
Sections and contain it's principal pro-
visions. By the former, authority is con-
ferred for continuing the regular army at
its war strength until July l. 1901 while the
third section authorizes the President to-
raise military forces to the number Of $4,000
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 inhabitants of such
islands. No organization is provided in the
bill for this force, nor does it determines
what relation it shall sustain towards the
United States and no professional, educa-
tional or other test is prescribed for the
persons who are to officer it.
GENERAL OFFICERS NEEDED
"The bill does not provide for any addi4
tional general officers, greatly needed in the
administration of affairs in Cuba. Porto
Rico and the Philippines. 1t would leave
the army as now organized with but three
major generals and six brigadier generals,
which allows but one general officer for
each of the military departments i'm the
United States and one for commanding gem
eral of the army. Cuba now constitutes a
military division, commanded by a major
general, and moreover comprises six mi-
itary departments commanded by general
officers Of volunteers. In Porto Rico there
is necessity for at least one general off,
GER and in the Philippines for the general
officers required for an army corps, so that
if Senator Cockrelrs bill should become
law it would leave the army deficient not
only in enlisted force, but without any gen.
eral officers TO administer the important
duties now devolving upon the government.
Moreover, the bill fails to make any pro-
vision for the increase in the general staff,
which is urgently called for by the neces4
sites of the situation in our new possess
sions.
THE criticism that has been passed ON
the department has been the absence OF
sufficiently trained staff officers. The
Cockrell amendment would perpetuate this
alleged lameness Should his bin be passed
into law the adjutant, Inspector quarter
master. subsistence, medical and pay de-
partments would be left with only the bare
skeleton of the staff organizations that
we have had for the administering OF af-
fairs in the United States alone previous
TO the declaration of war with Spain.
1.-THE returns OF the War Department.
show the strength OF the regular army
at this time to be only a few less than
co. coo enlisted men. OF these there are
nearly 1900 in Cuba. and a like number in
or en- route to the Philippines and in Porto
Rico. 4,5S6, leaving the total enlisted men
of the regular army in the United States
2400O OF these 5000 are held in readiness
fer dispatch to reinforce the army at Ma
Mia This would leave the total enlisted
strength of the army within the United
States less than 1900, or nearly 1000 less
than is necessary to furnish single re-
lief to man the guns now on our seacoast
fortihcations. 1t would compel the aban-
donment OF all our posts I'm the interior,
would strip the Indian country of troops
and leave none to supply the requirements
Of an exigent condition.
MINIMUM FORCE or 5000.
THE Hawley bill fixes the permanent mils-
tary establishment at the minimum of 5O,0o0.
a force that is smaller in proportion 10 pop
ulation and wealth of country than fixed By
any other act of Congress. AS shown by
the last census. there was one soldier for
every two and one-half million OF property,
in 1850 there was one soldier for every one