Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-12-16
MILITARY AND NAVAL coNDl-
TIoNs BEING DISCUSSED IN
cLoAkRooMs OF CAPITOL.
GENERAL OVERLAPPING OF
LAWS QUITE PROBABLE
Legislation Certain at Next Session Of
Congress il European War Continues
Nothing sDfinits As Yet Evolved
From Numerous Bills introduced and
Suggestions So Far Made.
Especial Correspondence

II lSpeClal Correspondence
i Washington, Dec 16.-Whether con-
gress takes any action on the Gardiner
Lodge resolution for a commission to
investigate the preparedness of this
| country to defend itself or to conduct
war, the discussion of preparedness has
\ greatly qufckened interest in the sub
ject in congress.
Already, there are evidences of wide
spread public discussion of the state
Of the national defense This is re-
fiected in both house and senate and
many members Of those bodies are
pouring over army and navy problems
to an extent never known at the ca pi-
tol since the days Of the Spanish war.
The result already has been to de-
velop consideration among members,
in informal ways, Of various methods
of strengthening the American military
system, along with the naval forces.
Laws May Be OverhauIed.
That there will result complete
overhauling Of the legislation with re-
spect to army and navy rather with
| respect to the whole broad problem of
national defense. is possibility fore
seen by some members Of congress.
Not that such result is yet in sight
1t would be impossible to bring it
about this winter in any event. But
If the European war continues and the
world keeps on evincng the same en-
ergy in war preparations that it is
now evincing: if there is no end to the
European conflict when the next con-
o.
year from this winter, it is easy to
foresee that discussion of this countrys
defense system will be accentuated to
a degree much greater than now.
Already, a number of bills relative
to the military and naval situation have
been introduced These in general look
to strengthening the preparedness Of
the country in greater or less extent.
No little sentiment exists in congress,
as a matter Of fact, for a system of
CONSUMPTION under which young men
would serve for q short time with the
colors, acquire training. and then go
back to civil life. Talk of this sort,
however Is as q rule confined to private
discussion and talk in the cloakrooms,
for the politicians think it unpopular
to advocate policy and most Of them
prefer to advocate some form of MILL
tary preparation which will continue
to be based Of the volunteer system.
Want Militia Strengthened.
A great deal Of sentiment exists in
congress for legislation, such as the
federal pay bill, to strengthen the ma
tional guard. The view is held by
numerous members that reserve can
be built up through the national guard.
Passage Of a federal pay bill. If not
this winter. then at the next long ses-
sion, seems likely.
The bill introduced by Senator
Chamberlain for council Of national
defense, the plan Of Secretary Garri-
son to add $4,000 men to the regular
army and provide for a thousand more
army officers, the proposal of Senator
Weeks to shorten the enlistment term
to two years and build up reserve
Of trained men who would receive small
annual sums Of pay, the Gardner-Lodge