Evening star., 1914-04-24
SENATE PASSES
VOLUNTEER BILL
Measure Puts Disposition of
Militia Strictly in Hands
of the President.

The Senate today. without debate.
passed the volunteer army bill as
agreed to by the conferees Of the
House and Senate.
Although administration senators
said that there was no pressing need
for the passage Of the bill. it was ad-
mitted that President Wilson was anx-
ious that It become law as soon as pos
sible in order that there might be no
delay in raising volunteers in case of
actual war.
The bill was designed to cure defects
in the existing law relating to volunteer
forces. and It is relied upon to put these
forces upon a wartime footing almost
similar to the regular army. Except for
the fact that this army shall be dis
banded Immediately by presidential ac-
ton. at the close Of hostilities which have
led to its organization, there will be but
little difference between 1t and the stand
ing army.
Enlistments to Be Proportioned.
The army is to be raised when wap
exists or while war is imminent but
only after Congress has given the Presi-
dent authority. The President shall call
for volunteers by proclamation and shall
make the necessary regulations for re-
ceiving them into service. Enli2ments
shall be apportioned among the states
according to population.
The President shall appoint officers in
stead Of the governors of the states and
ne shall have absolute authority to
organize brigades and divisions without
regard to state lines. provision ex-
pected to lead to a rapid absorption Of
the volunteers into the regular forces.
The enlistment period shall be four
years. the same as that for the regular
army. instead Of two years as at pres
when war or the danger Of 1t is over.
Volunteer organizations recruited to
three-fourths Of their strength shall be
given opportunity for service before the
der existing law. It makes It possible,
also, for a unit as small as a company.
troop or battery to enter the service
without waiting for the organization Of
a larger military unit, and. taken In con-
junction with the power to organize
without regard to state lines. will tend
to strengthen the army and loosen ties
Of purely state pride.
Provision for omcers.
Onlcers shall be appointed not for par
ticular organizations. but subject to
proper assignment by the War Depart
ment but no officers above the rank Of
colonel shall be named and only one staff
officer shall be named for each 200 en-
listed men One chaplain may be named
for each regiment and to each shall be
assigned one surgeon and two assistant
surgeons.
In making appointments the President
shall give preference to men with hon
orable discharges from the regular army,
or militia, to graduates OF military
schools and may accept the recommenda-
tons Of governors.
He may take officers from the regular
state militia lists and appointments shall
be made on a population basis. and, so
far as possible, from localities where the
troops to be commanded by the ap-
pointees come from.
Only four regular army officers shall
serve In any one volunteer regiment at
the same time and temporary vacancies
shall be filled by promotions from lower
ment Of recruiting stations and the ap-
pointment of volunteer recruiting officers
The President Is given full authority for
the organization Of coast defenses, ma
chine gu detachments, remount depots,
military trains. secret service agencies,
military prisons. lines OF communication.
and supply depots and "other adjuncts
that may be necessary in the prosecution
of war and the organization Of which Is
not otherwise provided by law
LONDON PRESS IR0NICAL.