The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-12-07

must decide through their chosen repre- sentatives; but whatever policy is adopt ed it is clear that. the necessary legisla- ton should be based sn an impartial, thorough and continuous study of the facts.
 Banking and Currency Reform
 Tie method of impartial scientific study by experts as a preliminary to legisla- ton, which I hope to see ultimately adopted as our fixed national policy with respect to the tariff, rivers and harbors, waterways and public puildings' is also being pursued by the non-nartisan monetary commission of C,ngress. An exhaustive and most valuable study ol the banking and currency systems of foreign countries has been completed.
 A comparison of the business methods and institutions of our powerful and suc- cessful commercial rivals with our own is sure to be of immense value. l urge upon Congress the importance of a non- partisan and disinterested stOdy and con- sideration of our banking and currency system. It is idle to dream of commer' cial expansion and of the development of our national trade on a scale that measures up to our matchless opportuni- ties unless we can lay a solid founda- tion in a sound and enduring banking and currency system. The problem is not partisan, is not sectional, but is na tional.
 WAR DEPARTMENT
 The war department has within US Jurisdiction the management of the army, and, in connection herewith. the coast defenses; the government of the depen- dencies of the Philippines and Of Porto Rico: the recommendation or plans for the improvement of harbors and water ways. and their execution wien adopted; and. bv virtue of an executive order, the supervision of the construction of the Panama canal
 The army of the United States is a small body compared with the total mum Der of people for the preservation ol whose peace and good order it is a last recocrse. The army now numbers about S0OOO men, of whom about 1S,000 are en- gagged in the coast artillery and detailed to the management and use Of the guns in the forts and batteries that protect our coasts. The rest of the army, or about 60Oo0 is the mobile part of our na- tional forces and Is divided Into S1 regi- ments of infantry, including the Porto Rican regiment, 15 regiments of cavalry, six regiments of field artillery, corps of ordnance, of engineers, and of signal, auartermaster's department, com missary department, and medical corps.
 The general plan for an army of the United States at peace should be that or a skeleton organization with an excess of trained officers and thus capable of rapid enlargement by enlistnents, to be supplemented in emergency by the na- tional militia and a volunteer force. In some measure this plan has been adopted m the very large proportion of Cayalry and field artillery as compared with in- fantry in the present army and on a peace basis An infantry ;,rce can be trained in six months; a cavalry or a light artillery force not unSer one and one-half or two years; hence the import nnce of having ready larger number of the more skilled soldiers.
 The militia system, for whi' il Congress by the constitution is author ized to pro- vide. was developed by the so called Dick law. under which the discipline. the tac- t,cs. the drill, the rank, tle uniform, and the various branches of the militia are assimilated as far as possible to those of the regular army. Under the militia law, as the constitution provides, the governors of the states appoint the mi litia officers, but, by appropriations from Congress, states have been induced to comply with the rules Of assimilation be tween the regular army and the militia, SO that now there is a force, the eff ciency of which differs in different states, which could be incorporated under a single command with the regular army, and which for some time each year re- ceives the benefit of drill and maneuvers under conditions approximating actual military service, under the supervision of regular army officers.
 In the army of the United States, in addition to the regular forces and the militia forces which may bo summoned to inc defense of the nation by the Pres ident. there is also the volunteer force, which made up a very large part of the army in the civil war, and which in any war of long continuance would become is most important constituent. There is nm act which dates from the civil war. known as the volunteer act, which makes provision for the enlistment of volunteers in the army of the United States in time of war. This was found to be so defec- tive in the Philippine war that a special act for the organization of volunteer regiments to take part in that war was adopted, and 1t was much be ter adapted to the necessities of the cast. There is now pending in Congress bill repeating inc present volunteer act and making provision for the organization of volun- teer forces in time of war, which is ad- r1irably adapted to meet tha exigencies which would be then presented. The pas sage of the bill would not entail dol lars expense upon the government at this time, or in the future until war comes, but when war does come he methods therein directed. are in accordance with the best military judgment as to what they ought to be, and the act would pre- vent the necessity for the hscussion of new legislation and the delays incident to it's consideration and adoption. earnestly urge the passage of this volun- teer bill.
 I further recommend that Congress es tabljsh a commission to determine as early as practicable comprehensive policy for the organization, mobilization and administration of the rg1lar army .he organized militia, and the volunteer forces in the event of war.
 Need for Additional Officers
 One of the great difficulties in the prompt organization and mobilization of militia and volunteer forces is the ab- sence of competent officers of he rank os captain to teach the new army, by the unit of the company. the business of