The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-20
A SUBSTITUTE FOR
HOUSE ARMY BILL
Will be Reported to the
Senate Today.
THE CHANGES ARE MANY
But the Maximum Strength Remains
at 100000 Men.
THE CHANGES ARE MANY
CHANGE IN FORM OF ARTILLERY OPPOSED
The House Canteen Provision Amended so as
to Permit of the Sale Of Beer at the
Canteens. Other Provisions
Of The Bill.
(By the Associated Press.)

tDy lHe A6SOCldlcu IIeSS'J
Washington, Dec. 19.-The full Senate
Committee on Military Affairs has adopt
ed the Army Reorganization Bill repor-
ted by its subcommittee this afternoon.
The maximum strength of the army is
to be 900 men. The bill is a complete
substitute for the House bill and while
much of the language is the same as that
OF the House measure there are numer-
Gus changes. The bill will be reported
to the Senate tomorrow.
Probably the most important change
affects the artillery arm. The suo-coin-
mittee recommends the retention Of the
present regimental organization of the ar
tillery and does not give its assent to the
corps organization proposed by Secretary
Root and accepted by the House. In the
matter of the appointment of stan off
GERS, the bill follows largely the lines OF
the recommendations made by Secretary
Root but makes some changes from the
House Bill.
The House canteen provision was
amended so as to permit the sale of beer
at the canteens. This exception was made
by omitting the word beer" from the
prohibited articles. AS amended the para
graph reads as follows:
The sale OF or dealing in wine or any
distilled spirits by any person in any
post exchange or canteen or army trans
port or upon any premises used for milf
tary purposes by the United States is
hereby prohibited. The Secretary Of War
is hereby directed to carry the provisions
of this section into full force and ef-
feet"
The maximum strength is fixed in the
following provision at the ciosc OF the
h!ll.
"That when in his opinion the condi-
tions In the Philippine Islands Justify
such action the President is authorized
10 enlist natives of those islands for SER
vice IN the army to be organized as scouts
With such officers as he shall deem neces-
sary for their proper control or as troops
or companies as authorized by this act,
for the regular army. The President is
further authorized, in his discretion to
form companies organized as are com
panies fer regular army, in squadrons or
battalions, with officers and non commits
gioned Officers corresponding TO similar
organizations in the cavalry and infantry
arms. The total number of enlisted men
in said native organizations shall not ex-
coed twelve thousand, and the total en-
listed force of the line of the army, to-
gether with such native force, shall not
exceed at any time 100000
THE field officers for the native troops
are all to be Americans for the present
but whenever the Filipinos show fitness
for command the President is authorized
to make provisional selections from
among them for the grades of first and
second lieutenants."
A native regiment CT Porto Ricans also
Is authorized.
Following are provisions Of the new bill
THAT to fill vacancies occurring from
time to time in the several organizations
serving without the limits OF the United
States with trained men, the President
is authorized to enlist recruits in num-
bers equal to 4 per cent. in excess of the
total strength authorized for such or
Sanizations.
THAT the President is authorized to
maintain the enlisted force of the several
organizations Of the army at their maxi
mum strength as fixed by this act during
the present exigencies of the service or
until such time as Congress may here
after indicate.
THAT nothing in this act shall be held
or constructed so as to discharge any
officer from the regular army or to de-
prive him of the commission which he
now holds therein"
The medical department provision is
the same as that of the House bill. ex-
cept a slight change as to qualifications
for head nurse.