The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-01-04
Circulation Statement
The Imperial Army Bill.

The Imperial Army Bill.
II seems almost proyidential that Two
such fragrant measures as the subsidy
steal and the Army Reorganization bill
should get mixed up as they have in the
Senate so that each can be used as
club against the other The anxiety Of
the Administration TO get an Army bill
passed within the next ten days Ge-
feated the design Of Mr. Hanna 10 KEEP
the other one on the calendar as IN
finished business. in spite Of all OBJ
struction- Now, the opponents OF the
subsidy steal see that. in order TO pre-
vent its accomplishment at the present
session. their manifest play IS 10 delay
the Army bill as much as possible In
this policy they have the concurrence Of
Senators who regard the Army bill IS
an evil and un-AmericaD measure, which
would practically take control OF cur
military establishment from the hands
Of Congress and place 1t in those OF the
President The parliamentary situation
then, would seem 10 suggest the feast
buity Of securing many and important
concessions from the Administration as
the price Cf any army legislation between
no" and the Fourtk Of March
Over this, Of course there viii 5s the
bitterest sort OF struggle. The Army Re
organization bill covers a good deal more
Of Administration and Republican party
purpose than either appears on its ftce
or has been suspected by its enemies
Conferring authority 10 raise the army
from ffty-eight thousand 10 one hundred
thousand men at any time. upon the Pres
ident- is one, and an important step, IN
the Development of a policy which the
Republican leaders in conjunction with
tie financial and industrial combinations
behind them. have thought out with .
view 10 the safe and easy. perpetuatI5n of
their Joint control over the country.
The trite excuse is given that Mr. Nc
Kinley must have free hand in The Phil
ippiIes until the troubles there are over
But he might be given that free hand in
another way, quite as useful Inst al or
having a standing army OF one hundred
thousand regulars. which could be called
home at the option Of Mr. Mckinley for
domestic purposes, a colonial army sub
jeet only 70 service in the colonies would
answer every requirement. while disturb
ances lasted. ana could readily be reduced
or dissolved when they had ceased. A
distinct Philippine force. like the Anglo
Indian army in India, the South African
police. or the Northwestern Mounted Po-
lice Of Canada, would probably be better
adapted 10 the conditions in our Far
Eastern possessions than any other
troops. and they would have the advan-
tage OF being local, largely native. ard
al element always making for the civil
lied settlement and development Of the
islands
The Administration does not want that
kind Of an army, and the reason IS not
far TO seek. II the Supreme Court should
decide that the constitutional President
OF the United States is Emperor Of its
colonies independently Of the Constitu-
tion then that imperial power viii carry
with il authority to raise colonial ..po-
lice forces without reference to tie regu-
lar army establishment. and z native
army could be recruited and organized in
the Philippines as rapidly as circum-
stances would permit, q corresponding
number Of regulars being Withdrawn
from time 10 time for home service.
the Administration beIIWethers. They
VIII need the troops ~ home as soon
as possible in ease OF difficulties which
may be encountered in turning South
Carolina, Mississippi, and Louisiana over
to negro rule. which they are determined
10 do at he very first opportunity By
the time that has been ACCOMPLISHED the
promoters Of the plan argue that. with 4
sufficient number Of troops, bayonet cleo
tons can be made the rule IN the South
and in all states not reliably Republican.
He must be blind who does not see the
use and necessity for strong domes lie
garrison il our rulers in The future are to
be the Hanaas. RockefeI3ers. suIImans.
and J, P Morgans, For this very reason
we are minded 70 repeat The declaration
made IN these columns the other day.
that. in its present form. the Army Reor-
ganiZatiOu bill now before the Senate is a
measure for which no honest man can or
VIII vote