Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-19
lPLAN BETTER ARMY|MORE MONEY ADDED
Wood and Hay Are Unable Senate Tacks 1921 371 to
| Agree as to System. Urgent Deficiency Bill.
lSTiMS0h TAKES HAND lDURAND GETS ALL HE ASKS
Supports the Plan Advocated by His Appropriation for Director
! Chief Of STAFF Increased o Million.
CHARGE INCONSISTENCY PROVISION FOR MEMORIAL
House Military Chairman
Originally Endorsed Idea Of the yelling Defeating
| Statue.
Wood and Hay Are Unable to
Agree as to System.
.STlMS0N TAKES A HAND
Supports the Plan Advocated by His
Chief of Staff.
CHARGE OF INCONSISTENCY
House Military Chairman Says Wood
Originally Endorsed idea of the
Ainsworth Project.

The Secretary Of War will present
to this session of Congress a plan OF
of the United States army
in few military reservations and the
abandonment Of many military posts.
Maj. Gen. Leonard Wood, chief OF
stan. making this statement before the
House committee on military affairs
today. said the concentration of the
troops would promote economy and eff
f1ciency. The department is at work
on the scheme, said Gen. Wood. but
the Endorsement of Congress is neces-
sary to relieve the pressure brought to
bear on the department.
where does this pressure come
FROM" asked Chairman Hay.
Put It Up to House.
"F'rom all sides. When we recommend
a change or the abandonment o. site
we have to contend with some representa-
tive In Congress. 1t means much to the
representative, sometimes two or three
hundred votes
IF you present such a program we
will put 1t UP to the House." said Mr..
Hay.
Chairman Hay agrees with Adjt. Gen.
Ainsworth's plans for the army, which
are at variance with Gen. Woods, but
there was nothing but cordiality of feel
ing shown at today's hearing.
Chairman Hay and Gen. Wood agreed
that the controversy over the reorganiza-
ton OF the army should go over until
after the holidays. January 3 the COM
mittee will hear Secretary of War Slim
son and Gen. Wood, who will meantime
biii. - ' WV
Plan Of Reorganization.
The Secretary OF War and the general
STAFF will submit a bill for the reorganiza-
ton of the army to provide for two divi-
stOns Of troops In the Philippines and
Panama and four in the United States,
with such q plan of concentration of
troops and abandonment Of posts as is
deemed advisable.
On the questions involved in the bill the
increase in the term of enlistment from
three to i've years, the prohibition Of a
change in the uniform Of the army with
out the authority of Congress, the aboli-
ton Of increased pay for foreign service.
the consolidation Of the pay department,
quartermaster's department and commits
sary department into the bureau of sup
plies and the transfer of authority of the
Inspector generals office and the ,adjutant
Gen. Wood and Secretary Stimson dis
agree with the Hay bill, which is ap-
proved by Adjt Gen. Ainsworth.
Views Honestly Differ.
Gen. Wood intimated that there was an
honest difference OF opinion over these
proposed changes. He said &c wanted all
viewpoin and many army officers will
be Called as witnesses in January.
Gen. Wood declared that the newly es-
tablished post at Whipple barracks, Ari-
zona. had no military reason for its ex-
istence" and that he did not know how it
happened to be built.
That Gen. Wood has changed front on
the Hay bill, and that the bill will not
be sent to the War Department for study
before 1t is introduced in the House,
were the rather warm declarations made
yesterday by Chairman Hay.
Says Wood Endorsed Bill.
Representative Hay declared that last
summer Maj. Gen. Wood stated. at a
hearing before the House committee,
that he believed the Hay bill was a good
one; that he believed it would promote
both economy and efficiency: that the
economy would be very apparent In time
of peace, while the efficiency would be
equally manifest In time Of war. The
statements credited to the head of the
army were backed with extracts from
the report Of the hearings, and showed.
Mr.. Hay commended. that Gen. Wood was
either laboring under Misrepresentation
on May 4. 1911. when he made the state
ments, or that he has undergone a COM
plete change of spirit since that time
The present controversy between the
head OK the army and the chairman Of
the military affairs committee OF the
House was precipitated by the publica-
ton yesterday of Gen. Woods annual re-
port which contains attacks upon the
Hay bill.
It is understood that the general staff
has prepared for a contingency such as
the one which arose yesterday by pre-
pairing q substitute for the Hay bill. 1t
is stated that Representative Hobson has
prepared the substitute bill, which is to
be presented to the House when the Hay
bill is introduced. The latter measure
will be presented with the army appro-
priation bill.
un1rSr ASKS EOp Fats