Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-19
THE MILITIA BILL
LIKELY TO BE PASSED AFTER
THE HOLIDAYS.
Indications Are That the Democrats in
the Senate Will Not Adopt OBJ
structive Tactics.

The prevailing opinion Of well-informed
senators on the militia bill is that it will
be passed after the holidays. When the bill
first came from the House Of Representa-
tives and was in the Senate committee there
were features of 1t that were Objectionable
to some republicans as well as democrats.
Discussion has resulted in making prac-
ucaly every republican in the Senate In
favor of the measure, while there are a
number Of democrats who will probably
vote in favor of 1t, even If put upon Its
passage at the present time.
The general view of senators on both sides
of the chamber is that there should be a
militia bill. Senator Bate, leader Of the
minority on the committee on military af-
fairs, although now criticSing some por-
tionS of the bill and leading the opposition,
has warmly advocated the passage OF some
measure Of the kind.
The Oath Section.
The discussion as far as it has gone on
has resulted in focusing the democratic
opposition on the twenty-fourth section Of
the bill, that section providing, among
other things, that the reserve force desig-
mated as the national volunteer reserve
shall be enrolled for a period of five years,
to be called upon at g moments notice by
for purposes of drill, inspection and in
struction. This volunteer force Of 100000
men in that way will be made up OF those
who have served in the regular or vo!un-
teer armies and in addition to the regular
army will make it possible for the Presi-
dent at any time to call .out force OF
100000 or 100000 men at moments no.
tice.
1t is safe to say that If the republicans
should agree to amend the bill so that the
a
100000 and eliminate the additional en-
roliment of those who have served in either
the regular or volunteer army to an equal
number making the entire available force
200,O09 instead of 100000, the democratic
opposition would fade away.
No Compromise Likely.
But is is not at all likely that republicans
will agree to any essential change Of the
24th section. They will probably not be
willing even to restrict the power of the
President over the 10000 -men. enrolled for
five years from among those who have seen
active service so that they can only be
called out in case of-actual need and not
mercy for drill and instruction. They re-
gard the necessity for drill and instruction
as of equal weight with the necessity for
active service as to do away with it would
be to decrease the efficiency of the voiun-
teerS. limo case would they for a moment
agree to modify this section, except to save
the passage of the bill, and 1t is quite gen.
orally believed that that will not be neces-
Sary.
In the present Congress obstructive meas
ures have not been adopted to any appre-
ciable extent by democrats in the Senate.
They have been satisfied to place their OBJ
jections on record and to permit a vote. 1t
is believed that this will be their course In
the case of the militia bill. 1t Is acknowl-
edged that should opposition to the bill be
made in the form Of many and extended de-
ha ShOrtnpSS session
would prevent its passage. The democrats
show no inclination to do this The debate
thus far has succeeded In Strengthening
rather than weakening the bill In the SEN
ate, and after the recess several speeches
against 1t may be expected, but the indica-
ttons are that they will be brief, and that
after democrats who desire to go on record
have spoken a vote can be taken.
Secretary Root has done much to push
this bill ahead, and it has been discussed
by him with leading democratic senators
and any others who cared to get his views
at first hand.