The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-29
ROOTS ARMY BILL READY
To Be Introduced Immediately
After Congress COnvenes.
Turned Over to the Chairmen of the
Senate and House Military Affairs
Committees by the Secretary of
War Will BE Urged for Speedy
Passnge-Fentures of the Measure.

The Secretary of War yesterday COM
Pleted the preparation Of bill for the
reorganization of the army and after a
conference at the War Department with
Chairman Hull of the House Military
Committee and Senator Proctor OF the
Senate. Committee on Military Affairs, 1t
was turned over to Chairman Hull to be
presented to Congress Immediately on the
opening of the session. 1t is the plan OF
the Administration to have the Army bill
pushed as rapidly as possible so that 1t
can pass the House and go to the Senate
by the end of next week. 1t is planned
to have it become a law before the ad-
journment for the holidays, and arrange
ments are already being made for the re-
enlistment of men to take the place of the
volunteers who are to be discharged by
next July.
1t is practically admitted at the War
Department that il the bill can become a
law in the time desired the military force
in the Philippines will be Immediately en-
larged for the purpose of inausurating
a campaign against the insurgents great
er than at any time during the insurrec-
ton. 1t Is hoped that several thousand
troops can be sent to the Philippines IN
time to begin operations before any OF
the volunteers are brought away. thereby
giving General Macarthur the use OF
larger number of troops than he has ever
had. In this way the additional troops
will not merely take the place OF the vol
unteers, but for a short time Will De IN
the nature of re-enforcements.
The general features of Secretary Roots
bill are practically the same as the one
prepared by him last year. Chairman Hull
said yesterday that the committee had
considered the whole plan for the increase
of the army. and. generally speaking, were
in favor of the Secretary's recommenda-
tions. The bill provides for maximum
army of about $4,000 men and minimum
force of $4,000. Mr.. Hull said the only
feature of the bill meeting with any op-
position is the detail staff system, to
which Secretary Root adheres as strongly
this year as he did last. The committee
is determined, however. to have no hear
ings of army officers that mi ght delay the
passage of the bill, but will consider Sec
retary Roots recommendations and agree
upon bill in conference which Will pass
with the least opposition.
Secretary Root is determined, however,
to insist upon his ideas for detailed
staff system which he explained to the
House Military Committee last year, as
follows:
The sections relating to the staff or
ganization provide for the abolition of the
present system of permanent staff ap-
pointments, and for the substitution of
details from the line to the staff for
periods of four years. l think the change
will break up and prevent ,ite tendency
to bureaucratic governments which
there is always danger. The provision
which permits the President to terminate
detail of the stan is Of the highest i'm
portance. The Precedent as commander
in-chief, is responsible for the efficiency
of the army. The President should be
empoweretivto command the staff Of the
army just az fully as he can command
the soldiers In the field. The staff pro-
vision covers promotion in the line, ten
ure of staff appointments. and the rela-
tion between the staff and line. The pro-
vision 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 thirds
to be as at present. by seniority
The bill provides that there shall be but
thirty regiments of infantry and fifteen
regiments of cavalry, and gradual in
crease of the artillery until at the end
of FIVE years there shall be $4,000 artil-
lerymen. In increasing the army from
the minimum number to the maximum no
provision is made for additional regi-
ments, but merely gives authority for the
enlistment of additional men to be as
signed to the regiments already provided
for, which will make about $50 men to a
| company of infantry and 100 men to each
troop of cavalry.
There is provision for an enlargement
| of the staff of the army and increasing
the rank Of the officers, but not to the ex-
| tent recommended by General Miles in his
| letter. General Miles advised the forma-
| tion of an army with a general in COM
mand and having two lieutenant generals
| one for each army corps.