Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-04-03
RESERVE VOLUNTEER ARMY.
Bill Introduced In the House by Rep
resentatiye Hay

Bill Introduced In the HOuse by Rep.
resentative Hay.
Representative Hay Of Virginia Of the
military committee Of the House has intro.
duced a bill to create out Of the state mill
tia a reserve volunteer army for use in time
of war to supplement the regular army
The bill contemplates general broadening
of the basis Of the National Guard, its
equipment with the service rifle, and its
complete organization in time of war into
regiments, brjgades, divisions and corps
with the three battalion formation as in the
regular army, and Is designed to obviate
the necessity of large standing army upon
the expiration OF the present law, July l,
1901.
The bill makes all citizens between the
ages Of eighteen and forty-fve liable to
military service in the volunteer army. II
appropriates 100000 annually for the
maintenance and equipment Of the National
Guard of the several states, this forming
the nucleus Of the volunteer army and re-
quires the Secretary of War to keep in
each state a supply of ordance stores suffi-
Gent for ninety days use OF the National
Guard of the state in the event Of war.
1t provides a system Of mobilization for
the guard by dividing the states into mill
tary divisions and provides for board of
officers in each state who shall hold exami-
nations for the position Of second lieutenant
in the National Guard, such officers to be
promoted for merit and efficiency.
THE time has come" said Mr.. Hay, in
explanation of his bill, when it is neces-
sary to consider carefully the question of
the future military Establishment of the
United States. On the first day of July,
1901, the present army will be reduced to
its peace basis Of $3.50 men. Taking into
account the situation which may confront
us at that time, will 1t be necessary to in
crease the regular esta bhshment beyond
that number? The reasons given for such
increase are various, but the most import
ant are that there must be sufficient
number Of men to man effectively our sea-
coast defenses; a sufficient number to pre-
serve peace and order in the Philippine Is
lands, and q sufficient number to do police
duty against the Indians and to take care
of the various posts in the United States
The number Of men SUFFICIENT for these pur-
poses is variously estimated at from 65 OOO
to 10000 men; but it is not now necessary
to determine this question, because a year
may very materially change present condi-
tions But 1t will be admitted by all that
the strongest argument which can be used
against a large standing army is the crea-
ton Of a well-organized and thoroughly
equipped National Guard.
with citizen soldiery. and no good reason
can be given for departing from that policy.
Money spent for the purpose of organizing
and eQuipping the militia Of the states is
adopted the better it will be for the coun-
try. Heretofore the militia has not been
organized with a view to war. The folly,
not to say the crime Of such policy was
demonstrated in the Spanish war. The
time has come when we must solve the
problem Of national Defense and solve 1t. II
possible. in a way to prevent the creation
Of largo standing army. An organized
citizen soldiery, in touch with the people
and composed Of the people. does this The
object to be attained Is to enact a law
which will effectually create an organized
militia which will be available at q mo-
ments notice.
1.-The bill, if enacted into law, will, it is
confidently believed, go far toward solving
successfully the intricate problem Of ma
tional defense, and at the same time obviate
the necessity for any increase of the stand
ing army"