New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-12
| ST|MSON SEEKS HARMONY
Trying to Bring Army Officers
and Lawmakers Together.
PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
Conferences Expected to Result
in Progress Toward Salts
factory Reorganization.
- 90 Trlhunn Enreau. ]

WASHINGTON, July 1.-THE conferences In
stituted by the Secretary OF War with a
view to securing the adoption Of co-ordi-
mated plan Of army reorganization continue
to attract the most favorable attention
among army officers and those members
of Congress who are especially interested
in the military establishment.
The primary purpose. of these confer
ences, as has been told in these dispatches
is to harmonic military sentiment first
and legislative sentiment secondarily' to
the end that all legislation affecting the
army may be IN harmony with basic pol
Icy which shall have the cordial approval
OF all army officers and the sympathy and
support Of an members Of Congress. The
"sumson kindergarten Of military AFFAIRS
is being conducted to that end.
One OF the most serious obstacles which
every Secretary Of War has had 10 en-
counter has been the wide diversity oil
opinion among army officers, which has
enabled chalrrnen Of the military commit
tees hostile to any plan 10 secure expert
testimony" In opposition to the aims OF
the Secretary MIR. Stimson believes that
by means Of these conferences, at when
will be thoroughly digested and discussed
and at which every officer who desires VIII
be afforded an opportunity to express MS
views, the army sentiment will be co-ordi-
mated. BY inviting members OF Congress 70
be present the Secretary hopes to gain
the benefit OF their advice and TO enlist
their sympathy for the broad policy which
has as the result OF more than a year $
work by the War College, been laid down
as a basis for the proposed reorganization.
. There is no expectation that any general
scheme OF legislat ton embodylng the feat
ures Of this plan will be enacted at TINS
session of Congress. On the other hand. II
If desired that in framing this year ) army
bill members OF Congress shall have the
proposed plan in mind, and shall so far ap-
prove II as 20 restrain from embodying IN
that bin anything at variance Herewith.
II Mr.. stimson can once effect harmony
OF view between the military authorities
and those charged with the responsibility
OF legislat!ng for the army he VIII nave
ACCOMPLISHED wonders, and after that each
succeeding army bill will embody some
steps toward the broad end to be achieved
one of the features Of the plan which Is
now criticised at the Capitol IS the expert
mental organization Of q supply corps, 10 be
ronposed OF the quartermaster. subsistence
and nay departments. That IS provision
on a permanent basis IN the pending army
hill and Il is believed Il will he enacted
unless the President again yetoes tho army
apnropriation bill The new proposition ~
N have this corps established on A tenn
rora-v basis for two years. This rs not
favored by members Of the House and Sen
ate Military committees. who think the
plan impractcabIe.
Another feature which is criticised IS me
nroyision FOR p reserve force. Senator ~
POINT. chairman ~ the Senate Military Com
r7ittae. Vas present at the War Depart
nent conference on Tuesday and announced
that ne did not approve the scheme oil
short enllstments and the maintenance OF
a reserve force which pays members so
much a month and holds them subject ~
call n tho colors. There is. generally
speaking. however. surprising DIM
mutton Of the opposition 70 the plan. Sen
ator du POINT believes res"rvists should re-
csiyN no psy until they return 20 the ser
vice and are accepted, when they would re-
ceIve bonus equal 20 2 monthly compen-
saticn Tor the period they have been out OF
the service. not exceeding $500 IN each casa
nv this means Il would be possible 20 tegu-
late psvuent for the reservis-s who are
available for duty and who present them
selves. The plan would also save the war
Department tho trouble Of keeping track ot
members ~ r. reserve corps
These two features may he somewhat
modified TO meet Congress criticism. There
is little in the plan, however. which Is not
subject 70 modification n some better meth
"a cen be suggested.