The age-herald., 1900-04-02
ORGANIZATION OF
 NATIONAL GUARD
To Supplement an Increase in
 the Regular Army.
MIR. HAY PREPARES THE BILL
He Contemplates Equipping Militia So As to Be Prepared For War Without Burdening Coun-
 try With Large Army

try With Large Army
 Washington April 1-Representative Hay of Virginia one of the prominent members of the military committee of the house. has prepared with great care a bill to create of the militia of the several states a reserve volunteer army for use in time of war, to supplement the regular army. The bill contemplates a general broaden ing of the basis of the national guard, its equipment with the service rife, and its complete organization in time of war into regiments, brigades, divisions and corps, with the three battalion formation, as in the regular army, and is designed to ob- viate the necessity of large standing ar my upon the expiration of the present law, July l, 1901, increasing the standing army to 65 900 and authorizng the present volun- teer army of 95,0O0. The bill will be intro- duced in the house tomorrow, and receives additional importance from the fact that MT Hay is chairman of the democratic caucus.
 The bill makes all citizens between the ages of IS and 45 liable to military service in the volunteer army. It appropriates &,- 100000 annually for the maintance and equipment of the national guard of the several states, this forming the nucleus of the volunteer army, and requires the sec retary of war to keep in each state a supply of ordinance stores sufficient for ninety days use of the national guard of the state in the event of war It provides system of mobilization for the guard by dividing the states into military divisions, and provides for beard of officers in each state who shall hold examinations for the position of second lieutenant in the na- tional guard, such officers to be promoted for merit and efficiency.
 Future Military Establishment
 "The time has come,' said MT. Hay to- day in explanation of his bill, "when it is necessary to consider carefully the question of the future military establishment of the United States. In the minds of many, the maintenance of a large standing army seems a necessity, and at first blush 1t would seem that there is no other way out of the difficulty which now confronts us. A careful consideration of the question has led to the belief that the situation can be met without a resort to that worst en- emy of a republic, a large and permanent military establishment. The secretary of war has well said: That the regular estab- lishment in tfne United States will probably never be, by itself the whole machine with which any war will be fought This being admitted, it will certainly not be contended that in time of peace the regular estab- lishment will be the whole ma acqline.' Con- servative men will seek some means by which the regular establishment can be duced to a minimum compatible with the requirements of the country in time of peace, and at the same time will offer some plan by means of which an efficient army be placed in the field should we un- fortunately engage in war.
 Arp,-- Reduccd in July
 "On the first day of July, 1901 the present army will be reduced to it's peace basis of 2e,610 men, Taking into account the stua- tion which may confront us at that time, will it be necessary to increase the regular establishment beyond that number? The reasons given for the increase are various, but the most important are that there must be sufficient number of men to man effectively our seacoast defenses; suffi- cient number to preserve peace and order in the Philippine islands, and a sufficient number to do police duty against the h. dians and to take care of the various posts In the United States.
 "The number of men sufficient for these purposes Is varfously estimated at 65 900 to OO.OOo men, but it is not now necessary to determine this question, because a year may very materially change present condi- tions But it will be admitted by all that the strongest argument which can be used against a large standing army Is the crea- tion of "a well organized and thoroughly equipped national guard.
 "This country has fought all of her wars with citizen soldiers and no good reason can be given fer departing from that policy.
 Money Spent for the purpose of organiz- ing and equippng the militia of the states is money saved. and the sooner this course is adopted the better it win be for the country Heretofore the militia has not been organized with a view to war The folly not to say the crime, of such a policy was demonstrated in the Spanish war. The time has come when we must solve the problem of national defense, and solve it if possible in a way to prevent the creation of A large standing army. An organized citi- yen soldiery in touch with the people and composed of the people does this. The ob- feet to be attained is to enact law which will effectually create an organized militia which will be available at a moments mo- tice.
 "The bill, if enacted into law, will, it Is confidently believed, go far towards solving successfully the intricate problem Of na- tional defense and at the same time obviate the necessity for any increase of the stand ing army
 English Market Dull
 Manchester, April 1.-Firmness and dull ness characterized last weeks market. Such business as was done was of a decidedly .,.,c.n,S cha the e