The St. Louis Republic., 1900-11-28
TWO ARMY BILLS
BEING CONSIDERED.
House Committee Now Examining
the Provisions of Secretary
Roots Measure.
CALLS FOR $4,000 MEN.
Officers in Present Volunteer Army
Become First and Second Lieu
tenants Only in the Resu-
lar Establishment.
CALLS FOR $4,000 MEN.

Washington, Nov. :T.-The House Commit
tee on Military Affairs to-day met for the
purpose of considering the new army bill.
The business was mostly of preliminary
character, the discussion being quite gem
eTaI on army affairs.
The Republican members of the commit
tee apparently are in favor OF giving the
President such an army he may require
The draft of a bill already prepared by
Chairman Hun will be the basis of the
measure which the committee will con-
slider.
This bill provides for an army of the max
imum strength OF 100000 men. with mini
mum OF 5000. and general officers at the
rate OF one Brigadicr General for each 4.oG0
men. with Major Generals in proportion.
Chairman Hull states that there will be
but one bill prepared. and If any stan
changes are contemplated they will be IN
corpcrated in that measure.
War Department Bill.
The members of the committee probably
will confer with Secretary Root in a day
or two This afternoon they went over the
bill which has been known as the War
Department bill. drawn on lines suggested
and approved by Secretary Root. The
Secretary expects to give further considera-
tiUH TO the NH ana 1Ncn Will SeHc ~ "
members Of the committee.
The War Department bill provides for a
maximum of $1,000 men and a minimum OF
6scoc. with thirty regiments of infantry.
fifteen regiments of cavalry and gradual
increase of the artillery until, at the end of
i've years. there will he 1900 men.
The artillery is not to be organized into
regiments. but as batteries and orSatilIa-
tions Of heavy and field artillery.
st,o fa 70 -
30 men to each infantry company, making
1850 men TO Il regiment. The maximum Of
cavalry troop Is 10 be 100 men. There Is
no provision for a Lieutenant General in the
War Department bill, but under the pres
ent law the senior Major General COM
Inandi.lg would have the rank of LIEUTENANT
General.
Grading OF Officers.
The War Department bill does not give
the same increase o: Major Generals and
Brisadier Generals as the Hull bill The
detailed staff provisions arc an important
feature of the meastrc- 1t is provided that
hereafter vacancies in the staff. excepting
the medical corps, pay corps and engineers,
shall be filled by details from the line. such
detailed officers being subject TO line duty
at any time.
This Is the same as the Hull bill OF the
last Congress and is earnestly favored by
Secretary Root.
The War Department bill provides that
She promotions shall be made from the
regular army according to the present rank
down to and including the rank of Captains.
The officers of the present volunteer army
can become officers in the regular army.
but In the grades of First and Second Lieu
tenants only. the vacancies in the Captains
rank being filled from the First Lieutenants
Of the present regular establishment.
The relative rank OF the volunteer officers
ha he
determined by seniority.
The committee will not hold another ses-
sion until Friday. adjournins over to-mor
row and THANKSGIVING Day.