Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-07
SENATOR HALE
WAKES WROTH
DECLARES MEDICAL DEPART
MENT is LARGE ENOUGH
Statehood Bill Comes Up and the Fit-
ness of OkIahoma,s Becoming
a State Is Advanced by
Senator Long
nv Associated Press.

by Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, March 6.-The ques-
tion of the enlargement of the medical
department of the army occupied the
major portion of the time of the senate
today.
The question arose in connection with
the consideration of a bill for the dis
sicians who shall be given the rank Of
army officers and the reorganization
of the medical corps LII. Hale criti-
cised the bill as an entering wedge for
increase of the army and was a part of
a general plan of the general staff,
which he charged with a purpose to
increase the army's Importance,
In his remarks the senator said the
general staff was disposed to encourage
an invasion of China. Messrs. Carter
and Gallinger spoke in somewhat the
same vein Of objection as did Mr.. Hale,
while the bill was defended by Messrs.
Warren, Blackburn and other senators.
The bill was not disposed of. The
only speech of the day on the statehood
bill was made by Mr.. Long, who advo-
Gated the passage of the bill as re-
ported by the committeee on terri
tories.
Secretary Taft occupied a seat on the
floor of the senate while the army bill
was under consideration.
Messrs. Clapp, McCumber and Dubois
We're appointed as a committee to con-
fer with a like committee from the
house on the bill providing for the
settlement of the affairs of the five
civilized tribes of Indians.
Hale Opposes Bill
The bill providing for the increase
of the efficiency of the medical depart
nlent of the army" was again called
up, and Mr.. Hale spoke in opposition
to it.
He said that the bill was one of many
prepared by the general staff of the
army intended to accomplish the in
crease of the army, which he believed
undesirable. He added Il word express
ing his conviction that the plan was
that of the general staff and not of the
secretary of war.
"All these bills have their root there"
he said. 81 find that this staff, dealing
with an army of $4,000 men, is disport-
ing itself as the general staffs in
Europe do whereas in Germany, for
instance, there is an army of 1000 or
100000 men. While the plans pursued
are proper there, where each country
is surrounded by powerful neighbors,
it is not proper here, where there is no
danger"
In this connection Mr.. Hale said
that the general staff had prepared
plans for the invasion of China by an
American army, but he added that he
did not mean to go into the subject.
Says Secretary Sits on Lid
For. with the secretary of state
sitting ON the lid, I do not believe we
are likely to have war;" he added.
1t was, he said, the purpose of that
organization to invade China, which
would be a declaration of war.
Mr.. Hale was replying to question
of Mr.. Tillman when asked how many
troops had been sent to the Philippines
with a view of their being sent to
China, and Mr.. Hale said:
II don't know how many troops have
been sent there, but I think several
thousand. The purpose of the general
staff is that they may be used if any
emergency either arises or can be
made, to invade China, which, of
course, would be a declaration of war
while congress is in session.
Mr.. Hale spoke of the great expenses
OF the retired list, saying that in the
brigadier generals than were ever re-
tired in the same time. even after
great war.
Mr.. Warren took exception to Mr.
Hale's statement that the pending bill
was one of many looking to an increase
of the army, declaring that it was not
intended for that purpose and that no
increase in expenditure would result
from the passage of the bill.
Mr.. Pettus spoke in support Of the
bill. It was not disposed of.
Talks of Statehood Bill
Mr.. Long addressed the senate on
the statehood bill. He spoke especially
of the fitness of Oklahoma and Indian
Territory for statehood and then en-
tered upon an effort to show that Ari-
zona was not only not now, but never
would be, fit for statehood. He said
the only purpose now in antagoniZinr
joint statehood for Arizona and New
Mexico was to reserve Arizona for SEN
arate statehood in the future and this
undesirable design should be thwarted
by uniting that territory in a state
with New Mexico
When Mr.. Long concluded. the hill
Tor the regulation of enlistment and
S---