The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-12-29
The Pending Army Bill.

1t Is 20 be hoped that Chairman HUI
of the house military committee is justi-
/ fed in his confidence that the two houses
will come to an agreement on the ques-
tons that now divide them. and adopt
a permanent reorganization scheme for
the army. The adoption of either the
house or the senate bill would be far pref
cradle to another recourse to the tempo
rary expedient Of measure designed
simply to meet present emergency. and
limited in It's operations to a fixed pc
Rod
Twice congress has evaded the duty OF
preparing a. law for the permanent reor-
ganixation Of the army. and in lieu there
of has passed temporary stop-gap meas
ures. The result in each instance has
simply been to put of into the future the
work which should have been accomplish
ed at the immediate moment. to increase
enormously the expenditures OF the war
department and to jeopardfse the mill
tary operations which the country had on
hand. For the third time, the matter has
come up in such shape that 1t is impossi-
Bile for congress to refrain from doing
something in the direction Of legislation
to increase the army: and for the third
time the choice is presented Of passing
merely temporary measure. repeating the
bunders OF the past or providing def
nitely for a complete reorganization of
the army. with a comprehensive scheme
for filing its ranks in a pressing emer-
gency and reducing the number of men
when the emergency has passed
At the outbreak of the war with Spain.
the army was smaller. in proportion to
the population, than it had been at any
time In the history of the country The
bills which were hurriedly passed at that
time for the employment OF volunteer
force. and the temporary increase of the
regular army. contained the unfortunate
proviso that the men called into service
by the act should be retained only until
peace was declared. The insurrection in
the Philippines broke out almost simulta-
neously with the ratification OF the peace
treaty, and the country was face to face
with serious emergency. The great ma
jority OF the men under arms were enti-
tied to discharge under the terms of their
enlistment. yet the country had an insur-
rection to deal with which required tho
full force then in the Philippines and ad-
ditionai troops as well. Another bill was
passed. providing for a temporary in
crease In the regular army. and a new
volunteer force. The army already In the
Philippines. the soldiers OF which had
become veterans and thoroughly familiar
with warfare with the Fflipinos. and with
the country In which they were fighting.
had to be disbanded and shipped home,
and new army. consisting largely OF
raw levies. shipped out to take its place
There can be no question that valuable
time was lost. by replacing veteran troops.
thoroughly familiar with the work cut
out for them, with raw troops, who had
everything to learn.
Now this second army which by service
in the field has become spIendidly quail
fed for Its work. is for the second time
to be displaced by new ievies. and the
country Is again to lose the services OF
its veterans Having learned nothing by
experience. congress iixed certain date
for the mastering out Of the present army.
without taking into consideration the fact
that its work might not have been accom-
plished by that time. For the Nth time.
vessels viii have to transport an army
OF the United states across the seas Mt
an enormous expense and for the third
time within three years. new regiments
viii have to be created out OF raw mate
rial armed equipped. drilled. and put into
tho field against an enemy who has had
two years experience IN fighting. and has
thus learned considerable Of the art o,
war.
II remains with congress TO settle the
question whether 20 make a permanent
provision for reorganization Of the army.
or whether It viii continue the aimiess.
ssipshod and enormously expensive meth
cd % dealing With the question which has
hesn the rale in the past.
Philadelphia eSults IN new six-story
undertaking. establishment said to be the
most complete in the United states. n
Is about the right kind Of an improve
Inent tor Philadelphia
The South aud Ship Building.