Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-11
SHAPING A PROGRAM OPPOSES PAY BILL
Progressive National Commit New Militia Measure Not d
tee Planning Party Future. Have Easy Sailing. "a
At WORK on A PLATFORM WOULD COST TOO MUCH
Tranactng the Concrete Business Of Sayd Subm n
the Chicago Conference nority Report to the HousA
MAY FINISH THIS AFTERNOON FEARS GUARDsMETs POWER
Another Of
From Roosevelt Luncheon Subsidy" Dangerous
to Leaders the
WOULD COST TOO MUCH
FEARS GUARDSMETS POWER
Calls It "Hotbed Method Of Federal
Subsidy" and Dangerous IN
the Extreme.n

Determined opposition to the militia gay
bill by which every mfiitiaman In the
United States would receive added an
nual pay from the United States Treas
ury has developed In the House OF Rep
resentatives. and is typifled In the mr.
nority report submitted today by Rep
resentative Slayden OF Texas. The militia
pay bill. introduced last session by Rep
resentative Pepper OF Iowa. II Il should
be brought up for debate at this session.
promises a good fight on the floor OF the
House. from men who will oppose tt for
a variety OF reasons.
The strongest reason advanced by Rep
resentative Slayden Is that IT will cost
the government too much and will foster
spirit OF greed In the organised militia.
and also will make OF the citizen-soldiery
q powerful political organization that
would be able TO eat Congress alive Il the
greed for pay and the hunger for power
Is not checked. The bill Is ''hothouse
method OF federal subsidy" and dan
gerous In the extreme. says Represent
alive Slayden. and he warns Congress
that the passage OF this measure win be
equivalent to dumping the United States
Treasury out on the sidewalk and letting
everybody take a handful of coin undis-
turbed.
Amounts Under Proposed Bill.
The report explains:
THE proponents OF the measure esti-
mate that the amounts to be paid un-
der 1t annually to each militiaman will
range from 500 to $500 for officers.
and from $45 to $225 for enlisted men:
also that. with existing militia organ
cations recruited only to the minimum
prescribed strength. the total annual
S9.234.729. which. added to the more
than $5.000.O00 that the advocates or
the measure say is the present annual
cost Of the militia to the United States.
will entail upon the general govern
ment a total annual expenditure OF be-
tween $14.000.00O and $15.000.000 for
militia purposes. And this will be the
cost at the very beginning OF the OPP
GRAFTON of the proposed law. and IL af-
fords no indication as to the enormous
by reason OF the increase In militia
strength which IL Is the plain purpose
Of the pending measure TO bring about.
and which can and will be brought
about without any additional legisla
ton whatever by Congress IL this bill
shall pass.
Congress is warned against the militia
because of its voting and political
strength. Furthermore the report states
that this Congress IL pledged to economy:
il is pledged to a reduction OF taxes III
this measure is enacted into law there
will not only be no permanent reduction
in customs or other taxes. but the logisla-
tive body will be forced to find new
sources Of revenue.
Would Influence Legislation.
LAS the militia increases In numer5ua1
strength, so also will increase its power
to influence the policy and legislation OF
the various states as well as Of the nA-
ton. 1t may be confidently expectsd
that after 1t has been found that the
general government can be induced to
bear an additional share OF the burden
of supporting the militia the states VIII
not only shape their policy and legisla-
ton with a view to inducing or compel.
ling the United States to shoulder more
and more of that burden. but will actively
support their militiamen in concerted ef-
forts to obtain for themselves, at the ex-
pense OF the general government. more
and more benefits in the shape OF pay.
allowances, quarters. retired pay and
pensions, all gradually approaching and
perhaps finally equaling those allowed TO
officers and enlisted men OF the regular
army"