The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-07

direction for tn. aseertainmont Of the cost
OF f' tho tarin. The tariff board thus ap.
pointed e a,spa 1na 1 issesl ie4 i hss n ssss as'sf In.
vestigations.. The hope OF those who hay9
purposes Is that the question or the rate
business question and less OF a political
question. to be entertained by experts o.
fonr training and accurate knowledge. The
halt in business and the shock to business;
bill is to ho prepared and put In opera.
ton, Will DO avoided by treating ths
schedules, Que by one. as occasion sha
arise for a change in the rates Of each.
and only after a report upon the schedule
by the tariff board competant TO make
such report. It to not likoly that the
Ing the present session OF Congress or any
OF tho schedules. because q proper exami.
nation involves an enormous amount o.
detail. and q great deal OF care; but ]
Congress, or at beast during the session
OF that Congress to bring to Its atten.
ton the facts in regard to those schedules
need amendment. The carrying out Of this
plan, OF course. involves the full co-opera-
ton OF Congress In limiting tho considers
lion In tartN matters 10 one bcneduIe III
a time. because II a proposed amendment
to a tariff bill IL to involve a complete
consideration Of all the schedules and an
other revision. then VIC shall only re.
this country has In times past suffered
most grievously by stagnation and uncer-
tainty, pending a resettiement OF q law
affecting all business directly or indirect.
mess man would ignore In new projects
and new Investments. cannot too much
emphasize the importance and benefit Of
the plan above proposed for the treatment
of the tarin. II facilitates the removal OF
noteworthy defects in an important law
without a disturbance OF business pros.
perity, which IL even moro important tc
the happiness and the comfort OF the peo.
pie than the elimination OF Instances Of
injustice In the tariff.
Whether or not the protective policy is ,e
be continued, and the degree of protection
to be accorded TO our home industries. are
questions which the people must decide
through their chosen representatives. but
whatever policy is adopted. It is clear that
tho necessary legislation should be based
on an Impartial. thorough and continuous.
study OF the facts.
Banking and Currency Reform.
The method OF impartial scientific study
by experts as a preliminary 10 legisiation,
which hope to sec ultimately adopted as
our fixed national policy with respect 10
the tarlG. rivers and harbors. waterways
and public buildings, is also being p,irsued
by the non-partisan monetary commission
of Congress. An exhaustive and most
valuable study OF the banking and currency
systems OF foreign countries has been com
pietcd.
a comparison OF the business methods and
institutions of our powerful and successful
commercial rivals With our own is sure TO
be of immense value. ] urge upon Con-
Sress the Importance OF a non-partisan and
disinterested study and consideration Of
our banking and currency system. 1t 10
idle to dream OF commercial expansion. md
OF the GeSnlDDmen f NJ ntIr N attpra 4 = ralnE 49,,
a scale that measures up 10 our matchiess
opportunities. unless VIC can lay a solid
foundation in a sound and enduring bank
ing and currency system. rho problem Ia
not partisan, Is not sec;Ional-it is ma.
tIonal.
War Department.
me War Department has within It's juris.
aiction the management or the army. and,
in connection herewith, tht coast defense.;
the government of the dependencies OF the
philippines and OF Porto Rico; the recon-
harbors and waterways. and their execu.
ton when adopted: and. by virtue OF al
executive order. the supervision OF the
construction OF the Panama Canal.
The army OF the Un!ted States is a small
BODY compared with the total number of
people. for the preservation of whose peace
and good order II is a last recourse. The
army now numbers about 5000 men. 81
whom about 1900 are engaged In the coas.
ARTILLERY. and detailed to the management,
and use OF the guns in the forts and bat
NAol 4 u COasls
The general plan for an army OF the
United States at peace should be that OF
a skeleton organization with an excess OF
trained officers and thus capable OF rapid
enlargement BY e~nllstments, 10 be supple
mented in emergency by the national milf
tia and a volunteer force.
The militia system. for which Congress,
by the Constitution. is authorized 10 provide,
was developed BY the so-called Dick law,
under which the discipline, the tactics, the
drill. the rank. the uniform and the va
Jnng N IN n - IN - n Y the q 80 n.-l ~
lated 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 militia Officers. but.
by appropriations from Congress, states have
been induced to comply with the rules of
assimilation between the regular army and
the efficiency OF which differs In dlTeren;
States. which could be incorporated under
a single omman with the regular army,
and which for some time each year re-
under conditions approximating actual mil
itary service. under the supervision of reg
ular army officers.
There Is now pending In Congress a bill
making provision for the organization Of
volunteer forces in time OF war. which is
admirably adapted to meet the exigencies
which would be then presented. The pas
sage OF the bill would not entail a dollars
expense upon the government at this time,
or In the future. until war comes. but when
war does come to the methods therein d.
rected are in accordance with the best mill
tary judgment as to what they ought TO
be. and the act would prevent the neces-
sity for the discussion of new legislation
and the delays incident to its considera-
tion and adoption. l earnestly urge the
passage of this volunteer bill.
/ further recommend that Congress es-
tablish a commission to determine as early
as practicable a comprehensive policy for
the organization. modification and admin
istration of the regular army, the organ
lied militia and the volunteer forces in the
event OF war.
Need for Additional OGlcers.
One OF the great difficulties In the prompt
organization and mobilization of militia
and volunteer forces Is the absence of COM
petent officers of the rank of captain to
teach the new army. by the unit Of the
company, the business of being soldiers and
OF taking care OF themselves SO as to rem
der effective service.
In order that the militia of each State
should be properly drilled and made more
like the regular army, regular army officers
should be detailed to assist the Adjutant-
of each State in the supervision OF
tho State militia: but this Is impossible.
unless provision Ia made by Congress for
a very considerable increase In the num-
Der of company and field officers OF the
army. a bill was pending in the sast scs-
sion Of Congress for this purpose. and l
earnestly hope that. in the interest of the
proper development Sof a republican army,
an army small In the time of peace, but
H.-~- A 80 ,rN "a M 1-l IT, - II -r,,p - 49, I - c-NH