Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1907-08-03
War Department Working Out
Problem For Consideration
OF Next Congress
SOLDIERS TO HAVE MORE PAY
Representative Hull, Chairman of Mil
;;ary Committee, Working on Plans
:, Attract Good Men to the Service
Conditions Cause Grave Concern
to Army Men.

tive John A. r. Hull of Iowa, who Will
succeed himself as chairman of the
house committee on military affairs,
is in Washington, comforting with war
department officials and army men rel
ative to legislation designed to fill the
depleted ranks of our military estab-
lish1nent. The problem that confronts
the war department at present ana
which will confront congress next win
ter is far more serious than the pub
lie has been led to believe by the re-
ports on conditions recently issued.
To find its solution promises to tax
the genius of everybody officially in
terested, from executive and depart
ment heads and general staff down to
the lawmakers who must supply the
means Of action in the end.
Representative Hull, under whose
direction bill on the subject will be
presented to congress, declared that
to start with the pay of soldiers will
have to be raised. In this respect he
will support the administration policy,
it having been previously announced
semi officially that the president would
recommend an increase of pay in his
next annual message. A hot fight is
expected in congress, however, when
the matter gets to the front, as all the
old prejudice against militarism and
the antipathy to doing anything for
the army that has existed ON other
grounds will be sure to assert them
selves.
Not only is it proposed to raise the
pay of soldiers so as to keep the ranks
filled, but it is apparent that the ne
cessity is seen by the experts for in
creasing The strength of certain
brarcnes Of the service to meet new
the problem harder to solve from all
tandpoints-that OF finding way to
attract men to enlist and also of get
ting the legislation that is essential
q = .
II don't know what we are going
to do" said Representative Hull. IF
things keep on as they have been of
late we will not have any army at
all. A critical Situation will confront
us next winter and sincerely hope
that some way will be found of meet
ing it. For one thing suppose salar-
les will have to be increased in order
to get the men we now have to re-
enlist when their terms of service eX-
pire, as well as to attract recruits.
Zone of the great troubles is that
as soon as a mans term Of enlistment
ends he leaves the army for employ
ment in private life. On the face of
the situation it looks as tho. the small
pay might be the main trouble, but it
should be remembered that a man in
the army can save his entire pay if
he wants to do, SO. He has none of
the expenses of living that he has to
meet when working in private life I
don't know what the other troubles
may be, but the war department Off
cials promise to have voluminous in
formation ready for us to work on as
soon as it comes time to frame leg
aslative measures
Another thing" continued Repre-
sentative Hull, II don't see how we
are going to get along without more
infantry than we now have. There
unjust be more infantry as long as we
and in Cuba Of course, it is UNDER
stood that We are not going to remain
In Cuba, but everybody who knows
anything about the facts knows that
W. will have to go back to Cuba after
we withdraw our troops sent to meet
the present situation on that island
eve have not enough infantry now
to relieve the regiments doing duty in
the tropics, and constant service there
IS ruinous. It always has been diff
cult to get anything done for the army,
and now we are reaping some Of the
results Of the non-action. However,
/ expect congress will do all it can
TO solve the problem that now Is pre-
scented with such serious aspect"
The opinion of the leading military
authority in the lower branch of con-
gress regarding Cuba and American
interyentions expresses a view that is
held generally among men in all
branches Of private life. There is
nessimistic feeling relative to the
ability Of the Cubans to govern them
selves, the. overwhelming opinion be-
ing that i'm the course Of time the
United States will have to provide for
permanent occupation in some form.
Preparedness to meet events that are
believed to be absolutely certain to
follow the next trial of Cuba to Ego
it alone" will be urged as reason
to strengthen the army in the spot
where it is; now weak.
AlarmistE, and jingoes, of course, are
likely to see in the plans to strengthen
the army preparations for war with
foreign power AS a matter of fact
the object sought is to deal only with
the problems the government has on
hand at the present moment.
1t may be stated in conjunction with
the interview given herewith that In
fulfilling the announcement of infor-
snation that is to be placed at the dis
posal of congress the general staff
corps has set about the most difficult
work that has come before it since lis
establishment Not only is General
Bell, the chief of the staff, completing
a tour of all the posts in the country
Tor the purpose OF discovering what
As the matter with the army but ev-
cry member of the staff. young and
old, who can suggest anything from
practical experience or who is able to
compose theory is laboring over the
subject
A twofold purpose is in view. Con-
gress must be informed for one thing,
but more important. perhaps, than that
SIS the devisit.g of way to reach the
-.bo.c ,,,tfs+,,,,.s,t Il essential TO