The Hawaiian gazette., 1907-02-08
MILITARY DAYS
IN WASHINGTON
tMaIl specIal to the AdvertIserl.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., January H.
The last seven days have been military
days. Military days in the White
House; military days in the Senate;
military days in the House. That does
not mean war but in these piping
times of peace It all smacks of war
political war, legislative war, and,
likewise, real war of great guns and
chieftains in gold lace.
The House had a skirmish over the
army appropriation bill. 1t generally
has several skirmishes over that war
like measure. Representative John A.
T. Hull, of Des Moines, Iowa, chairman
OF the Military Committee, brought the
bill into the House, carrying a total OF
$T3, ,339 039, IAN increase of q little over
two and a half million dollars (beyond
what was appropriated for the army
last year, in spite OF the utmost effort
of the committee to keep the amount
within the sum appropriated for the
current fiscal year."
There was plenty of "jawing" In the
House about numerous army items.
Legislators are becoming more and
more sensitive about military appro-
priations. The fact that some sixty
odd per cent of all the appropriations
Congress makes annually is because of
war and expectations of war is becom-
ing more and more impressive to the
congressional mind as it is to the mind
of the general public. The Congress
sional leaders have been pointing out
that this government is now spending
o larger percentage of it's revenues for
military undertakings than any other
nation In the world. That does not
sound just right to them. A few years
ago 1t was a popular theme to point to
Germany as the military ridden coun-
try.
The active skrmish in the House
over the army bill was with reference
to the high rank of lieutenant general.
Last year the House tried to prevent
the nomination of more lieutenant gem
erals. Those officers at the apex of
military rank are becoming numerous
They are a burden upon the retired
list, already loaded down with a null
titude of retired major generals and
brigadiers, promoted at the eleventh
hour so that they may draw a compen,
sat'on from the government for the
remainder of their days equal to the
pay they have been drawing on active
duty. during the last decade or two OF
their active service.
Representative Prince, of Illinois, q
champion of army reform, proposed
last year to cut off the rank of lieuten-
ant general but that fine old apostle
of favoritism, Representative Charles
H. Grosvenor, of Ohio, began to agi-
tate against it that his friend, Gen.
Henry C. Corbin, who did lot of val
liable office work during the Spanish
war, might have the benefit of a promo
ton before his retirement. Then there
were the friends of Gen. Mac Arth-
ur, who said that he ought not to be
cut off. There was an effort to abolish
the grade at date, which would pre-
very any officer after Gen. Mac Arthur's
retirement from profiting by II. The
House was almost unanimously in fav-
or of such legislation but it was not
made effective last year and the MIL
itary Committee tried to make 1t effec-
tive this year. There We're scheming
men, however, who tried to thwart 1t
by parliamentary tactics. The House
rose up In its might and declared thn'
the provision should remain in the bill.
Unless the Senate succeeds In undoIng
this work, there will be no lieutenant
general OF the army after 1903, when
Gen. Mac Arthur retires.
There was "a niger in the woodpile.."
1t was Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood the
Presidents personal friend and an of
fifer who has been the subject or more
bitter contention in the army and in
Congress than any other officer during
the last twenty years Gen. Wood has
been In command In the Philippines
but tine President, 1t fs understood, will
SOON bring him to the mainland for the
choice Station of commander OF the de-
psrtment of the East. As Gen. Mac
Arthur Win retire a little before Pres
ident Roosevelt goes out 'uf office, 1t Is
believed tine President w0uld nominate
Gen. Wood for lieutenant general. He
wonld then be assured or that exalted
ramk for about IL years. Congress Is
tiring Of Gen. Wood. However meri-
torious and efficient his army record
may have been, the assaults upon him
have made some impression. Congress
apparently wants 40 preclude the pos
sibility of his becoming n lieutenant
for a loEg period OF years
Congress will have it's way.
A very brisk exchange occurred over
the appropriation of $750,t00 for bar
racks for Beacoast artillery. The army
are clamoring fer more men
to serve the seacoHsst guns. The Mill
tary Committee, which is usually less
than the Appropriations
brought in an appropria-
ion of s750.0O0 for new seacoast bar
acks. The House d4cided Ia wrest the |
making of Guch appropriations from |
he Military Committee ana to place |
with the Appropriations Committee. |
hartman Hml is inclined TO do as the
Var Department wants him Ia do about
rmy appropriations; CairmaE Tawney
# the Appropriations Committee, is
none independent and conservative He
ecries the increasing military ex-
enses. Furthermore a subcommittee
Z hfs committee had teen preparing
he Notifications bill and he claimed 1t
8 the right of that subcommittee to
ass upon items for barracks for sea-
oast artillery.
Following closely upon the heeas of
he army appropriation BIN, which has
ow gone to the Senate for action
nere. came the foriiflcations appro-
Ration bill. 1t carried $5,400.0O0 for
,rtifcations and other works OF de-