New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-08
Mr.. HILL ON ARMY AFFAIRS.
PREPARING FOR AND CARRYING ON
THE WAR WITH SPAIN.

Representative Hull chairman Of the Com
mittee on Military Affairs, briefly reviews the
Army legislation of the last three years, as
follows:
AS the result of the election in 1896 we secured
a Republican House and Republican Executive
but had opposition Senate The military
laws of the United States had been practically
unchanged since 1870. leaving the country with
absolutely obsolete military organization so far
as the line of the Army was concerned. The
Committee on Military Affairs at once reported
a bill placing the infantry arm OF the service
on modern organization, leaving the artillery
and cavalry untouched. The country at large
took so little interest in military matters that
no party willing to make any legislation for
the better organization of the Army, there being
q widespread feeling that this country was
never TO have any more war When war was
imminent with Spain the committee at once
again took up the question in the LVth Congress
and reported a bill recognizing the infantry,
leaving the cavalry as 1t is, and reorganizing
the artillery by making it a corps In place of
rogimental organization. and making ample pro-
vision for coast defence guns and having them
properly cared for in time of peace and properly
served in time of The bill was radically
changed in the House, but some good came out
of it, At the last session Of the LVth Congress
the House passed bill making the organization
Of the Army modern in all branches-the
infantry. cavalry and artillery. The Senate
amended II SO that the benefits of the legisla-
ton will all be destroyed on July L, 1901. unless
legislation shall be had between this and that
date.
The staff corps of the Army remain as they
we're during the Civil War. except that the LVth
Congress made additions TO each of the corps.
and also provided for the employment of
volunteer staff until 1901. Much criticism has
been offered against the present organization OF
the staff but with army of twenty-five thou
sand expanded ten times in less than two
months 70 ofganiZa ton OF staff line could
meet the responsibilities and duties OF the in
creased Army without confusion and without
some incompetency. The staff organ
ICED during the Civil War performed great
work in arming, eQuipping and caring for the
Army has been done in any nation or
any time
LEGISLATION NEEDED.
The result of the discussion of these questions
has made radical change in the sentiment OF
the people of the country at large until all par
must be taken at the short session of this Con-
gre SIS, the Government of the United States
will be stripped of its military power. The dis
cusson OF the staff indicates that the future
legislation will be a general staff for the mill
tary branches of the Adiutant- General and In
spector-General. and a detail in the lower com
mands OF the staff supply corps and a fixed stan
In the higher commands. So when a man has
been detailed TO the staff and serves his term he
goes back to the line of the Army. and goes
back TO the staff. and IL ne has shown excep-
ttonal ability he will be retained there; but II
he shows no special ability for the duties OF the
special staff he will be left in the line OF the
Army; and man by the time he reaches FORTY
or forty-fve years of age should know what
line of work he can best serve his country In
No nation on earth has a general stan combining
the supply departments and the military de-
partments. A different rule should apply
The Committee on Military Affairs and the
war Department Will devote considerable time
during the recess of Congress to the question of
stan. as 1t presents many more difficulties in