The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-03-02
ROOTS ARMY BILL.
The Secretary of War Appears Be-
fore the House Committee.
ASKS THEM TO REPORT FAvORABLY.
Secretary Root Explains the Provisions OF
the Measure In Detail-The Committee
Much Interested In the secre-
tary's Statement.

Washington, Feb. 2S.-Secretary
Root appeared before the house com
mittee on military affairs and made
a strong appeal to the committee to
report favorably the bill drafted by
him to increase the efficiency of the
army. The secretary said in part:
"The bill is limited to three sub
iects; D promotion in the line: (2)
tenure of staff appointments and the
relations between the staff and the
| line; CD reorganization of the ar
tillery. 1t is carefully framed to
avoid raising the question of the size
of the army, which it is understood
congress is now ready to discuss, and
it's provisions are made applicable to
any army of whatever size congress
may determine upon. The provision
as to line promotion is that every
third promotion to the Office of major,
| lieutenant colonel and colonel shall
be by selection, leaving the other two
thirds to he as at present by senior
| ity. This is designed to afford some
slight opportunity for recognition
of exceptional ability and gallantry
"The sections relating to staff or
CARNATIONS provide for the abolition
of the present system of permanent
staff appointments and for the sub
stitution of details from the line to
the staff for periods of four years,
unless sooner terminated by the pres
dent, with the requirement that upon
the expiration of detail the officer
shall serve at least one year in the
line before he is eligible for another
detail. The advantages of these pro-
visions, believe, will be manifold.
think the change will break up and
prevent the tendency to bureaucratic
government, of which there is always
danger, and will increase the efficiency
both of the line and the staff, by
breaking down the division between
them, by giving to each more in
! innate and personal knowledge and
appreciation of the difficulties and the
needs of the other. and by creating IA
larger body of all-round men trained
in every branch of the service and
competent for any command, instead
of men who have been trained in one
DIullcH OHlg'
"The people of the United States
wanted an organization which, when
war comes, will organize, and arm,
and equip, and clothe, and feed, and
give medical attendance to our men
in the camp and on the battle field
with the utmost possible efficiency;
: that will save them from all avoid
able confusion, mistake, disease and
death. think the overwhelming
opinion of the army and the common
sense of the American people is in
favor of this plain practical improve
ment in organization"
He then explained the provisions OF
the bill in detail, dwelling especially
on those relating to the artillery An
increase of $500 men, almost all in
the coast artillery, had been pro
vided for, but the increase would be
spread over five years and in order
to avoid raising any question az &c
the size of our army at this time, the
1900 increase each year would bC
made up by recruiting that many
fewer ih other arms of the service
The regimental organization was
abandoned as to the artillery and tn,
battery or company adopted as tn,
unit of organization, substantially al
military authorities being agreed that
there was only multiplication o.
red tape