New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-28
ST|MSON AIDS WOOD IN
FIGHT ON ARMY BILL
Conference Report, with Clause
Aimed at the Chief of Staff.
Reaches Congress.
MAY ABOLISH N. 7. POSTS
Fort Jay, Governors Island, Is
Marked for Possible Abandon
ment-Joint Commission
to Tnauire.
LFron the Tribune Bureau J

Washington, May 27.-The contest over
the army appropriation bill was put up TO
Congress to-day By the report OF the CON
ferrees. which was presented IN both
branches Some Of the more revolutionary
legislative provisions OF the House BILL snch
g. the reduction Of the cavalry arm by I'VE
regiments have been dropped; others have
been modified BY a Compromi 2, and the
clause aimed 10 cut snort the career OF
General Wood as chief Of STAFF has been
inserted This clause was condemned to-
day by Secretary stimson Of the War De
psrtment
The provision for the organization Of the
ousrternaster corps is retained The
House proposal that nothing in the bill
should be construed 10 separate any officer
from tho army or diminish his rank was
eliminated The conference agreed that en-
listed men hereafter should not he allowed
double time for foreign service in comput-
ing retirement credit but provided for an
additional 10 per cent increase in pay OF
officers on foreign service and an additional
.o per cent IN the pay % enlisted men on
foreign service, not including the Panama
Canal Zone.
The bill as agreed upon provides for the
appointment Of a commission, composed OF
high officers of the amy and members OF
Congress 10 look into the question Of aban-
doning posts selling the property Of such
reservations and establishing large stations
for the concentration Of troops. This com
promise probably will he approved
New York Posts May Go.
The head Of the commission VIII be Lieu
tenant General S IS. ". Young, the senior
army officer. He and his associates-L,ou-
tenant General Arthur Macarthur and Ma
DOR Generals :. " Randall J. NJ. Lee and
c. + Bumphrev-with Senators Warren
nnd Foster AMI Representative Sleyder
and Anthony, probably viii meet in Wash
sngton next month for preliminary work
This viii be followed b. q tour % the
country and the personal inspection Of con
6itions prevailing 81 the posts which have
been marked for abandonment. In New
York those so indicated are Fort jay. Mad
,son Barracks. Fort Niagara, Fc'1 Ontario
and Plattsburg Barracks.
The commission viii determine whether
It will be profitable for the government T.
dispose of these places as suggested by
the War Department. To that end the
auartermaster general has furnished 2
maximum and minimum valuation Ct land
buildings and water supply. The Least
amounts which, it has been estimated
could he derived from public sale follow
Fort Jay. 100000: Madison Barracks,
SlGi go; Fort Niagara. $50 so; Fort Ontario
5000; Plsttsburg Barracks. Nl5,N4
II the maximum amounts we're obtained
the returns would be something Ike this
"a aOlr
c1o. Fort Niagara, Sl4T5u0; Fort Ontario
$500; Plattshurg Barracks, $4,000.
There has been much discussion as TO The
real value Of Fort JAY, winch is located
on Governors Island and some OF the
estimates OF returns from the sale OF that
property have gone as high as $20o0ooto.
The commission will make its report -
Congress by the time 1t meets next De
,ember. with recommendation which will
take the place OF those made by the War
Department.