The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-04-02
RESERVE VOLUNTEER ARMY
TO DE COMPOSED OF NATIONAL
GUARD OF SEVERAL STATES.
Representative Hay, of the Military
Affairs Committee, Introduces
Bill to Make Militia nm Effective
Substitute for Standing Army.

WASHINGTON, April i.-Representa-
tive Hay. OF Virginia, one OF the prorii-
nent members of the military committee
of the house. has prepared a bill TO Gre
ate out OF the militia Of the several states
reserve volunteer army for use in time
OF war, to supplement the regular serv-
Ice. The bill contemplates a general
broadening of the basis OF the National
Guard, Its equipment with the service
rifle and it's complete organization In time
of war into regiments, brgades. divisions
and corps, with the three battalion forma-
lions as In the regular service, and is
designated TO obviate the necessity Of
large standing army upon the expiration
of the present law July ]. 1901. increasing
the standing army TO 5000 and author!z-
ing the present volunteer army 10 IS 200.
The bin viii be introduced In the house
tomorrow, and receives additional Inn
portance from the fact that Mr. Hay
Is chairman OF the Democratic caucus.
The bill makes all citizens between the
ages of Is and IS liable to military service
In the volunteer army; appropriates So
900 900 annually for the maintenance md
equipment Of the National Guard Of the
several states. and requires the secretary
OF war 10 keep In each state supply OF
ordnance stores sufficient for ninety days
use of the National Guard of the state
In the event of war.
The time has come said Mr. Hay
today. In explanation Of his bill when II
Is necessary TO consider carefully the
question OF the future military establish
ment of the United States. A careful
consideration OF the question has led to
the belief that the situation can be met
without n resort to that worst enemy Of
n republic a large and permanent mill
tary establishment. The secretary OF
war has well said that the regular es-
Establishment in the United States win
probably never be- by Itself the whole
machine with which any war will be
fought This being admitted. II will
certainly not be contended that In time
of peace the regular establishment will
be the whole machine. Conservative
men will seek some means by which the
regular establishment can be reduced to
a minimum compatible with the require
ments OF the country In time of peace,
and at the same time will oner some
plans by means of which an efficient army
can he placed In the field should we UNI
fortunately engage In war
"'The time has come when we must
solve the problem OF national defense
and solve It, II possible, in a way to pre-
vent the creation ofya large standing
army Ar organized citizen soldiery. In
touch with the people and composed OF
the peopie. does this The object to be
obtained Is 10 enact n law which VIII
effectively create an organized militia
when viii be available at a moments no
tice
This bill. II enacted into law. VIII, II
Ia confidently believed, go far toward
solving successfully the intricate problem
Of national defense, and nt the same
time obviate the necessity for any In
crease OF the standing army