Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-12-11
REPORT OF SECRETARY OF WAR
shows Reductioa OF the Army Vents
Iii ia ervice I'm proved and the
CEuteen r. sstabished

Washington. Dec 1.-The report of the
secretary of war was made public to-day.
secretary Root says in part:
The continued Improvement of con-
ditions 10 the Philippines made possible
reduction in the enlisted strength OF the
army. which, By order dated May 81. 1902,
was fixed at s6I97.
Since the ending Of the insurrectior
and the complete establishment of civil
government in the Philippines. it has
been possible to MAIZE still further re-
duction of the army, ana on October q.
1863 an order was made reducing the en-
listed strength to b. see. the n inilnum pro-
Nid"d by the act Of February .. 1901 (ex-
centis as to tn. organizations stationed
at Fort LcavenwOrth, Fort Riley and
Ickn).
The necessary Instructions have been
given prescribing the method Of cffoctiug
the reduc lion required by the order Of
October ~ 1892 50 that it will have been
completely accomplished in the most
economical way beior. the end Of the cur
rent nScal year, and in the main accom-
plished during the next thirty days
The effect of carrying out this order will
he 10 bring the American troops stationed
in the Philippines down to an enlisted
strength Of T. $50.
Early in the last session a bin was
prepared by the war department, embody-
Ing the views expressed in my last report,
upon the treatment Of tho National Guard
OF tho eevora states by the federal gov
crnrcnt. the re alton of the guarl to ths
militia and volunteer systems and pre-
para ton in advance for the orRaniza ton
OF volunteers in time OF war. Tic bin
was introduced in the Senate by Mr.. Haw-
Icy and in the House by Mr.. Dick, who
rendered inN aluable service in the fran
ing and advocacy Of the measure The
House committee on militia considered il
with great care. and with extensive and
improving additions returned it to the
House with unanimous report in IT'S
favor, and II IS passed by the Hous
1t r. now perdnS before the committee
on military aNdir- pf the Senate I'll. l.
1N}i5 tilty-SeVenth Congress, INST ses-
siOn)
l earnestly urge that this measure no
made a law. 1t is really absurd that 4
ration which maintains but small reg
ulararmy and {, Ponds upon unprofessional
citizen soidiery for it's defense should run
alorg as VIC have done for lie years I'M
der militia law which never worked sat
isfactorilV in the bocinniug. ana which
was perfectly obsolete before any man
now 1T for military duty was born. The
result is that We have practically no
militia system Notwithstanding the fact
that the constitution makes it the duty OF
the federal Congress Ito provide Tor or
Rarizins. arming, and disCipiining the
militia" aad for calling forth the militia
to execute the laws Of the Union, suppress
instructions and repel invasions." The
National Guard organizations OF the sew
eral States have grown up in default Of
any national system and to meet local
requirements. Their relations to the fri-
eral government have never been defined
or settled. The confusion, controversy,
and bad feeling arising from this unctr-
tain statue were painfully apparent at the
beginning of the war with Spain; and it,
must always ne the same IA Congress
shall exercise its constitutional power
over the subject.