New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-28
BRYAN NOTICES ON THE RESERVOIR FENCE IN FoRrYsEcoNpsr

compelled a few days ago formally to answer the
Republican charge that the leading Democrats in
Congress had voted for the increase Of the perma-
nent military establishment. With assumed glee
he pointed out that the present Army law, a sub
sttute for the Administration bill providing for
standing Army of 10000 men. the individual
work OF Mr. Cockrel, the Democratic Senator from
Missouri. and that it compels the reduction of the
enlisted strength of the Army to the old minimum
Of 5000 men July !. 1901.
Does Mr.. Bryan know exactly what the present
Army law is? Possibly little study of that law
and the manner of its enactment would have modi-
fed his self-satisfaction in Mr. CockrelPs part
therein. II is far from being a monument Of Iegis-
latiYe wisdom, far from meeting the public wishes
OF necessities; nor is IT shining mark Of Demo-
cratic approval Of large standing army" A
few facts viii dispel any illusions Mr.. Bryan may
have regarding that aspect Of the matter.
ARMY LEGISLATION EXPLAINED.
Previous TO the war with Spain the Regular
Army consisted Of Is 267 officers and men, Under
subsequent legislation TO the requirements of
war II was increased to $500 rank and file and
1855 general staff and line officers an increase of
1888 and. 422 officers provision being made
that the increase should be only temporary In the
LYth Congress a bill was pressed for Army reor-
gaaization. known the Hull bill. which had the
approval Of the military authorities. 1t provided
for permanent Army Of 100 900 men. with a some
what disproportionate increase in the complement
OF staff officers This large increase in the Regular
Army was generally approved because the Philip
pine war at its height and considerable bodies
Of troops were still needed IN Cuba and Porto Rico
There was some opposition, but the Hull bill was
forced through the House, and seemed likely to
pass the Senate. But the Democrats on the Senate
Military Affairs Committee filed a strong protest
against the bill, grounded upon the country's al
legged objection 10 large standing army" coupled
with the assertion that there was no present or
probable future need Of army Of 900 Regulars
Attention called 70 the proposed excessive in
crease in the number of officers It was held that
legislation looking to so large increase in the
Army should be deferred and time granted for
more mature elaboration. The Democratic leaders
Messrs. Cockrell and German, then proposed that
conference committee of the two houses report a
substitute measure. providing for the continuance
Of the Army substantially in the proportions to
which it had been built up by the Spanish war
legislation until July l. 1901. when the rank and file
should be reduced the original strength of 5000
men. To compel the adoption of this substitute
they threa tened to libuster in the last hours of
the session for the purpose Of preventing all Army
yielded, and the Cockrell-Gorman measure became
2 law by process of conference report formulated
sentatives, method Of legislation under which all
debate to the merits of any proposed measure
is absolutely prevented.
DEFECTS IN THE COCKRELL Law.
Aside from this last phase, on the surface this
all looked well enough. Yet the sinister and in
congrdous character Of this Cockre law is exposed
by the results which must July next
unless there is meanwhile additional legislation.
On that date Mr.. Cockrers law compels the reduc-
ton Of the rank and file Of the Army 5000 men,
although il is generally admitted that they should
number at least 5000. But, strangely enough, the
Missouri champion Of anti-militarsm failed pro-
vide for the muster out in 1901. at any other
date, immediate remote, Of the 422 IN OFF,
GERS temporarily appointed for the Spanish war
BY design doubtless. they are now protected in
their life tenure places, whereas the original egis
lauon temporarily increasing the Army provided
for their muster out with the when the ener-
gency was past. In fact by a juggle in phraseoI-
ogy. instead OF reducing the Army. Mr.. Cockrell's
-" actually changed temporary into a permanent
Increase, and in that very feature objectiona
views IL Is a grotesoue law because the much
needed men must go. while their apparently need
less Officers are retained. What viii Mr. Cockrell
naye done with these 422 surplus officers after the
% 20 surplus soldiers are discharged?
9ir Bryan viii take notice that about the most
today is his friend CockreiIs Star Chamber army
These dispatches have heretofore pointed out
mat barring new legislation, after July next the
. 90 enlisted men, instead Of 2ls4 officers to Is 600
enlisted men. as prior 20 the Spanish war. That is
IS Iatenf slsnon = broad toat This nnan0envre for
such il IS generally held TO have been. con-
tr1Fed TO pave the way for the certain en-
lsrgennent of the ARMY subsequently, TO such pro-
Portions the bureaus might demand. and that
the Democratic managers wlnked at the arrange
ment while pretending TO be strenuously opposed
70 any permanent increase-in other words. that
ne Cockrell law which MT Bryan extols as
blow at so-called Republican militarism was
merely trick or the Democratic leader for tenn
porsFy campaign purposes. and did not reflect any
deep horror Of Large standing army" Is proof
required Mr. Bryan Will doubtless be panied to
learn that when another bin up in the very
next session Of Congress providing for a perma-
nent increase Of the Regular Army substantially
on the lines OF the Hull bill. bitterly opposed by
Ar Cockrell twelTemonth before. the Missouri
Senator's attitude miitarism was exactly re-
Eersed He sternly rated certain Democratic
Senators for their opposition 10 what he de-
nominated the much needed increase in the
artillery arm. frankly approving by both voice
and vote the permanent addition OF I'VE thou
sand that branch Of the service
Senators Bate and Berry held uD the anti
iliiarisn side OF debate. and not the Missouri
Senator, who the year before had Illuminated
Formal protest against the dangers or a standing
army. In fact, no more than seven Democratic
votes could be mustered against the measure and
the Democratic Issue Of naturalization was done
% death IN the house of its friends =
The natural presumption IS that senator Cock-
session was mere buncombe. catchy stage practce