New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-11-28
ARMY BILL AGREEMENT
ESSENTIAL FEATURES OF PROPOSED
LEGISLATION DECIDED UPON.
PERMANENT ORGANIZATION WITH A MINI
MUM STRENGTH OF FIFTY
THOUSAND MEN.
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE rR1BrxE.l


Washington, Nov ga virtual agreement
upon the essential features of proposed legisla-
ton for the Army was reached tonight by War
Department officials with the Presidents ap-
prevail and that of the Congressional leaders 1t
provides for permanent standing army or
ganizatiOn with a minimum strength of fifty
thousand men. to be increased as occasion de-
mands by doubling the size OF companies in the
discretion of the President Is Commander-in-
! Chief, and subject TO the Limitation of annual
appropriations The new'line organization will
provide sufficient officers. about four thousand
IN excess of those at present in the regular es-
adjustments, TO meet the requirements Of COM
panies of seventy men each. These companies
may be increased to 40 men each without addi-
tonal officers Permanent allowance will be
made for eighteen thousand artilleryrnen in reg-
mental organization, who are needed to care for
the coast defences.
The trainers of the adopted plan favor en-
towering the President to enlist natives in the
Philippines not to exceed 5000 men. as needed
to be organized in regiments with American
officers. after the English manner Of fighting re-
bellious natives with their people. General Mac
Arthur has urged this STEP and gives assur-
ances that he can easily select experienced off,
! GERS from the volunteers in his division and
will have no difficulty in getting desirable enlist
ments for efficient and loyal native contin-
| 500 strong. -.s.
The new permanent organization, 10000
strong. is confidently believed 10 be insured not
a doubt being expressed by War Department
| officials and Congressional leaders that the
| House and Senate are prepared to agree prompt
ly 70 the new military basis AS the elastic feat
ures involving the discretionary power Of the
| President 10 increase the size of companies to
more than double their strength there is
| some doubt. although 1t is the general impress
| sion that the only modification that will be in
sisted upon at the coming short session by the
Democrats and other opponents Of the Admin
istration is proviso limiting the exercise Of
this discretionary power to a period OF two
years. An amendment Of this character would
not, perhaps, be so strenuOusly combated by
the friends of the army at this time as to en-
danger all legislation. especially the succeed
ing Congress could be relied upon FOR legisla-
tiCn more in harmony with the needs OF the
Nation.
There is n provision for a acknowledgement
in the War Department bill, but under the pres
ent law the senior major general commanding
would have the rank of lieutenant-generaL The
War Department bill does not give the same in
crease Of major generals and acknowledgements
as the Hull bill. The detailed staff provisions
important feature of the measure. 1t
provides 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 the Hull bill
Of the last Congress. and is earnestly favored
by Secretary Root. The War Department bill
provides that the promotions shall be made
from the Regular Army, according 70 the pres
rank down TO and including the rank or
captains. The officers OF the present volunteer
army can become officers in the Regular Army,
but in the grades of first and second Iieutenants
only the vacancies in the captains rank being
filled from the first leutanants Of the present
volunteer officers entering the regular estao-
lishment TO be determined by seniority.
TIL committee will not hold another session
unti Friday. adjourning over tomorrow and
Thanksgiving Day.