Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-05-27
WOOD ITEM STANDS
Conferees Report Army Bill to
Senate and House.
WOULD GUST STAFF CHIEF
Provides Commission to Locate All
Military Posts.
NEITHER CHAMBER ACTS TODAY
Sharp Conflict Over the More I'M
portant Amendments Is
Anticipated.
WOULD GUST STAFF CHIEF
NEITHER CHAMBER ACTS TODAY

The army appropriation bill was report
ed back to the Senate and House today
by the conferees with anti-administra-
ton amendments which would legislate
Maj Gen. Wood out of Office as chief of
STAN and would leave the location and
dlstribution of military posts to a COM
mission Of retired army officers and two
members each Of the Senate and House
committee on military affairs.
The commission would consist of Lieut..
Gems. Samuel B. NJ. Young and Arthur
Macarthur, retired. and Maj; Gems;
George M. Randall, jesse M. Lee and
Charles F. Humphrey, retired, and two
members each of the Senate and House
military committees. They are to report
recommendations to the Senate and
House by January i next, upon the loca-
ton and distribution of military posts
required within the continental limits of
the United States for the proper accom-
modation. instruction and training of the
army, but not including coast artillery
posts and troops.
Of the existing posts shall be retained or
abandoned, or extent of enlargement ne
cessary. The commission Is to consider
the proper distribution of the various
arms OF the service. as determined by
strategic, sanitary and economical con-
siderations, and by the relations between
the regular army, the militia and the
public, and taking into consideration the
number of troops which may be stationed
in Hawaii and the Canal Zone. The COM
mission would meet at the earliest prac-
ticable date, the Secretary Of War, mean
time, to maintain a status quo as to all
present or proposed posts.
Neither House Acts Today.
The conference report, which proposes
other important changes in military ad-
ministration, was not acted upon in either
house today. A sharp conflict over the
more important amendments is antfci-
pated. Senators Curtis and Smoot block
ed Immediate action in the Senate by in
sisting on time to study the changes
The amendment striking at the present
general staff scheme would make the
chief Of staff ineligible for further serv-
service In that Office until after at least
two years in the line. 1t would bar any
officer, after March next, from being
chief OF stan except after at least ten
years. service as q commissioned line Of
hcer In grades below q brigadier general,
consist OF two general officers. one Of
whom would be chief of staff: three col
onels, four lieutenant colonels, eight
majors and ten captains or first lieuten-
ants. all detailed from the army at large,
all details to the general staff corps. ex-
ject to an act of 1901 increasing the ef-
ficiency Of the permanent military estab-
Iishment
1t would provide four-year details Of
officers in the staff corps, departments
and general staff corps, who then would
be Ineligible for further service until
after at least two years service with the
branch of the army in which they are
commissioned. This is subject to excep-
tions in war emergencies.