Evening star., 1912-06-17
Contrary to Enlightened Policy.

"Fourth-The second section Of the hill
lengthens the term of enlistment from
three to four years. This change has been
opposed by the recommendations of the
President. the Secretary of War and the
general staff of the army. 1t will tend
to make difficult or impossible the cstab-
Iishment of a proper reserve by which the
regular army could, in time of emergency.
he brought up to its full strength. In
my opinion. it is a step contrary 10 en-
lightened military policy.
'.Fifth-The provision appointing the
commission above mentioned to report as
to the policy OF army posts seeks to de-
prive the regularly constituted authori-
ties of our military establishment OF
all voice in the formulation of one or the
most important policies now confronting
the nation in the maintenance OF It's
regular army 1t devolves the leadership
in that matter upon a number OF officers
now retired. and who are no longer re-
sponsible in any way for the army OF
it's maintenance The very fact that they
are selected In the manner of the war
Department tends inevitably to create a
lack Of cooperation between them ana
the war Department. i believe that the
provision will obstruct rather than further
the solution of a most important and
difficult problem.
"Sixth-It is urged that great saw
ings In expenditures are erected py
the bill / have examined carefully ITS
provisions and believe this contention
to be unfounded. Thus an eXamina-
tion of the bill in comparison with the
estimates shows that there will be a
deficit in the pay of the army alone or
s2.262s37 also find that the amount
appropriated for the subsistence or the
army is $191.7S7 below the amount
and over 100000 below the amount
which, owing to the subsequent rise In
the cost of the ration. and other causes.
will actually be necessary. This simply
means that to that extent the alleged
economy is arrived at by failure TO
appropriate over s3,0O0.000. which Will
become necessary to pay and support
the army before the end of the coming
year
again. the appropriations for the quar-
termaster's department fall short OF the
estimates by 81 ,:33S, ,319. l find by inquiry
that only a portion of this can be met by
enfofced economy. AS to the remainder.
the quartennaster general must eltner
fall back upon his supply of reserve
stores or incur a deficiency.
1.-The foregoing enumeration sufhciently
sets out some of the grave objections TO
this bill and sufficiently indicates the rea-
sons which make this method of leglsia-
ton unwise and dangerous. The army OF
the United States is far too vital an IN
stitution to the people of this country TO
be made the victim Of hasty or imper-
feet theories of legislation. As was point
ed out by the chairman of the Senate
military committee in the passage quoted
above, 1t is well known that the war col
lege and the general staff have been for
many months engaged upon a compre-
hensive plan OF army reorganization. Al
the present time, therefore. it is especial
Iy inappropriate, in my opinion. to force
upon the statute books legislation enacted
without the usual deliberation and care.
l cannot conscientiously surrender the re-
sponsibility in shaping such laws with
which I am vested under the Constitu-
tion.
Il therefore return to your honorable
body without my approval the said bill.
(Signed) WM. III. TAFT,
"The White House, June IL. 1912.