Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-11-28
Republicans Disposed to Give
Mckinley the Army Asked For.
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.
An Army of the Maximum Strength of 1oo,-
900 Men, with n Minimum of $4,000,
and General Officers Mt the Rate of Ono
BrIgadier General For Each 1000 Men,
with NIaior-Gencrnls in Proportion =
The Different Branches OF tho Service
srongth OF Companies and Regiments.
tBy Telegraph to vlrgInian-pllot.,

Washington, Nov. 27.-The house
met for the purpose OF considering the
new army bill. The business was
mostly OF Il preliminary character, the
discussion being quite general on army
affairs. The republican members OF
the committee apparently are in favor
of giving the president such an army
as he may require. The draft OF a bill
already prepared by Chairman Hull
will be the bdsis of the measure which
the committee Will consider. This bill
provides for an army OF the maximum
strength of 100, 900 men, with a mini
mum of $4,000 ana general officers at
the rate Of one brigadicr general for
each 1900 men, with major generals in
proportion. Chairman Hull states
that there will be but one bill pre-
pared, and If any staff changes are
contemplated they will be incorporated
in that measure.
WAR DEPARTMENT. ELL.
The members of the committee will
confer with Secretary Root III day
or two. This afternoon they went over
the bin which has been known as the
war department bill, drawn on lines
suggested and approved by Secretary
Root. The secretary expects to give
further consideration TO the bill and
then will send 1T to members of the
committee.
PROVISIONS OF THE BILL.
The War Department bill provides
for Il maximum of $4,000 men and Il
minimum of 5S goo, With 30 regiments
of infantry. 10 regiments of cavalry
and gradual increase of the artil-
lery until at the end of five years there
Will be $4,000 men. The artillery is not
to be organized into regiments, but as
batteries and field artillery. With the
maximum army there are TO be $50 men
to eacn infantry company, making L.
$50 men to "a regiment. The maximum
of cavalry troop is to be 100 men.
There Is provision for lieutenant
general in the war department bill, but
under the present law the senior ma
jor general commanding would have
the rank of lieutenant general.
The war department bill does not
give the same increase of major Gener
ais and brigadier generals as the Hull
bill. The detailed stan provisions are
an important feature or the measure.
PROMOTIONS FROM TILE LINE.
1t provides that hereafter vacancies
in the staff. excepting the medical
corps and engineers. shall be filed by
details from the line. such detailed Of
ficcrs being subject to line duty at any
time. This is the same as me Hull bill
OF the last congress, ana Is earnestly
favored by Secretary Root. The war
department bin provides that the pro-
motions shall be made from the regular
army according 10 the present rank,
down to and including the rank of cap
tain.
The officers of the present volunteer
army can become officers in the regular
army, but in the grades of first and
second lieutenants only, the vacancies
in the captains rank being flied from
the first licutenants of the present reg
ular estab lishments, the relative rank
of the volunteer officers entering the
regular establishment to be determined
by seniority.