The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-23
OUTLOOK IN CONGRESS
Opinions of Members as to Prob
able Legislation.
The Ranking Democrat on the House
Committee on Appropriations An
ticfpates nm Increase in Expcndi-
tures-A River and Hnrbor HiII
I'm Prospect-Thc Nicaragua Canal.

AS Congressman gather in Washinyto
for attendance upon the second session
the Fifty-sixth Congress it become
more and more apparent that a larg
volume of legislation is contemplated dur
ing the coming session. and that the Re
publican programme is to put through III
Army Reorganization bill, the Ship Sub
sidy bill, the Nicaragua Canal bill. and I
press the ratification of the Hay-Paunoe
fote Treaty.
There will be a meeting OF the Militar
Committee of the House early next wee
and probably also meeting of the Mill
tary Committee of the Senate in advance
Of the reassembling of Congress to mol
an Army bill which will be acceptable t,
the greatest number of Senators and Rep
resentatives.
. General Miles plan of reorganiza
tion and increase in the strength of tn,
military establishment on the basis o
one soldier for each one thousand inhabi
tants will probably be rejected by boil
military committees of Congress on tn,
ground that under this arrangement tn,
army would lack elasticity
In the matter of the size the arm,
should be. members of Congress differ
Some Of the important men in Congress
favor standing army of 125 600; some ar
army the maximum strength OF which
shall be $4,000. and which at the will OF
the President may be contracted to a
minimum fixed by law, and quite a num-
Der OF Republican Congressman seen by a
reporter for The Times have expressed
the opinion that 5000 regulars will be
enough, while careful consideration should
be given to the DEVELOPMENT Of the Ma
tional Guard
Representative Hull Chairman OF the
Committee on Military Affairs. who was at
the Capitol yesterday, said that he would
urge the passage CT an Army Reorgani-
cation bill which would give the FIR, ST.
dent all the troops ne needed 1t is Mr.
Hull's opinion that the regular establish
ment should have a maximum strength
OF $4,000 and a minimum strength OF
$1,000. Between these limits the army
could be contracted or expanded by the
President as in his judgment the re1ds
OF the nation warranted.
Mr.. Hull said that he would not prophecy
as to the details of permanent army re-
organization as he desired to talk over
these matters with the President and War
Department authorities
THE people of this country" said Mr..
Hull, ARE not afraid of an efficient Regu-
lar Army. 1t will be made up of their
own boys, but If it were not, they would
still not be afraid of ii. In my district.
every town has boys in the army No enc
10 afraid Of 'miiitarism' out there In
fact. in my run for Congress. stood
sQuarely up for a good Regular Army. tx
planned it to my people. and they endorsed
my position by giving me an increased
majority"
Representative Brownlow membar of
the Committee on Military Affairs. said
yesterday that he will support the prop
ositicn to increase and to maintain the
army at such a standard as demanded by
conditions. He thinks an army with a
maximum strength of 10000 men would
be about right.
Representative Fcss. CT the Committee
on Naval Affairs, said that he was
of the opinion that the navy will be
given an increased appropriation tbs
year. He thinks that the naval estimates
SO far as made are not too high and he
said Congress will be disposed to deal
literally with this branch OF the national
defence
Representative Berry said that he es-
poets to see increased appropriations
made. The Republicans are in complete
control, and it is not expected that they
will pursue the Democratic policy of
economy.
Representative Burton Chairman of the
Committee on Rivers and Harbors. an
nounced at the Capitol yesterday that he
will call a meeting Of that committee for
Monday, November 26, to undertake con-
sideration OF River and Harbor bill
which will be reported at the coming ses-
sion, and which Mr.. Burton believes will
be passed. Mr.. Burton, who was the lead
er in the fight against the Hepburn Canal |
bill, said that action on the Nicaragua !
Canal would depend very largely upon the !
report OF the commission on that subject |
That report would be sent to Congress |
Immediately upon its reassembling, and |
the President, Mr.. Burton thought, would |
make distinct recommendations on the !
subject. He believes that before the ca
nal is provided for the treaty now pend
ing before the Senate should be ratified.
Representative Livingston. of the |
Committee on Appropriations said last
night that he expects the appropriations
which will be made at the coming session |
will rise above those made last session. |
Mr.. Livingston indicated that this should |
be SO. He said:
During my service on the Committee on |
Appropriations ! have found that You can
not say with reason to the Departments OF
the Government. Keep your estimates
down to the current years. They can't do
It. The country is growing fast and the
IS increase proportionately. The
tee on Naval Affairs. which will
the Naval Appropriation bill. can
in the good work of building up
y. endorse that work. Let us
good navy. Who knows how badly
Il may be needed in the Orient In the
aext few years? The very possession of a
sufficient naval force may prevent unpleas-
lntness with Germany or France. A we'll
organized army is also a source of security
! kind OF guarantee of peace. Let a big.
ix-foot fellow, with fist like ham. get
INTO crowd where they are talking fight.
md the other fellows will hesitate before
hey jump him. 1t is not the Democratic
'olicy to make large expenditures for mill