The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-11-22

maximum strength for the Army of per-
haps 100000 or $4,000 men, and which
| shall invest the President with the power
of diminishing this force at his discre-
| ton to Minimum to be fixed by law.
and of expanding it TO the maximum
when, in his opinion, there is necessity
| for it, p q -
Representative Steele of Indiana said
| yesterday, under conditions as they are,
he did net favor the perma nent increase
| of the army to 10000 men He thought
the number too high. He said: Il an
| not in favor of permanent army OF 10O,-
eco Just now, because | want TO ascertain
accurately before l vote on :he subject
| Just how many men we are likely to need
when the army in Porto Rico has been
| reduced, when troops have been with
Drawn from Cuba, and when the war in
| the philippines resolves itself into some
tangible form or is concluded and this
guerrilla warfare there is stopped We
| can judge best just what the needs are in
| TINS direction when matters in these
three sections take a more decided and
determined shape
| One of the thoughts which finds favor
among Congressman is that contained in
sections 6, Z. and S of Senate bill 1890,
which was passed by the Senate on May
J. 1900. introduced in the House on May
D, ana which is now on the calendar of
/ the House Committee on Military Affairs
These sections refer to the reorganization
of the artillery. They follow:
Sec o. That the regimental organization
oil the artillery arm of the United States
Army is hereby discontinued, and that arm
is constituted and designated as the Artil-
lery Corps. 1t shall be organized as here
matter specified and shall belong to the
line of the Army.
Sec. 6. That the Artillery Corps shall
comprise two hranches-the coast artillery
and the field artillery. The coast artillery
is defined as that portion charged with the
care and use of the fixed and movable ele-
ments OF land and coast Notifications, in
cIudlLg the submarine mine and torpedo
defenoes; and the field artillery as that
portion accompanying an army in the field.
and including field and light artillery prop
err horse artillery. siege artillery noun
tain artillery. and also machine-gun bat
teries: Provided. That this shall not be
to prevent the use of machine
or other field guns by any other arm OF the |
service under the direction of the Secretary |
of War.
Sec. Z. That all officers of artillery shall |
be placed in one list in respect to promo |
ton, according 10 seniority in their several |
grades. and shall be assigned to coast or to |
held artillery according to their special |
aptitude for the respective services by the
General Commanding the Army, with the
of The Secretary of War
Sec. S. That the Artillery Corps shall |
consist of chief Of artillery, who shall
be selected by the President from the
colonies of artillery. and who, while so
serving as a chief Of artillery. shall have
the rank, pay, and allowances of a briga-
der general of the Army. but shall not be
a chief of bureau or department.: 10 colo
nels. one of whom shall be the chief of
IL lieutenant colonies, Sc ma
ors. 16o captains, leo first lieutenants, 16O
second lieutenan.s. and the captains and
ieutenants provided for in this section,
no; required for duty with batteries or
:, shall be available for duty as
staff Off, rs Of the various artillery gar
riscns al ] such other details as may be |
! by law and regulations. q SER
seani M iars with the rank, pay, and al
lowances of regimental sergeant majors of
q sergeant majors with the
rank, pay, and allowances of battalion SER
geant majors of infantry; one electrician
sergeant to each coast artillery post hay
ing electrical appliances; IS batteries Of
tillery, and ten bands, organized as now
authorized by law for artillery regiments:
Provided, That the aggregate number of
men for the artillery as provid-
ed under this act, shall not exceed 1744S,
exclusive of electrician sergeants, and the
increase herein provided shall be in addi-
ton to the enlisted strength now author
lied in the Regular Army in the artillery
only. and shall not increase or decrease
the cavalry or infantry"