The Washington times., 1914-02-17
HOUSE COMMITTEE
SLASHES ARMY BILL
Denies That Country Is in
Jeopardy Because Of Small
! Army Appropriation.

Denial Of alarming statements" that
he army is unprepared for war is made
4 the report of the House Military
iffairs Committee on the army apPro-
nriation bill. which will be considered
n the House, following the passage of
he Indian budget.
In rejecting the estimates of Secretary
'Iarrison for an increased army. the
louise committee says that 'we felt
obliged to keep down expenditures: and
IN so doing, we have not imperled the
.gountry' For, notwithstanding the
alarming statements which have been
made and which seem to be always
uoincident with the consideration of the
army bill. we have in reserve large sup
plies of ammunition, stores and equip
ment, and the army has never been
more efficient than it is today
The committee report. filed by Chair
man Hay, of the House committee, says
that no good reason has been ad-
vanced for the increase of the army
over what it was last year"
In consequence, tho army bill provides
appropriations for 100 men, exclusive
of the Philippine Scouts. the Hospital
Coxps, and the Guartermaster s corps.
The estimates OF the Secretary of War,
which were badly slashed. called for
an army of $500 men, exclusive of these
branches.
More Than Billion.
Chairman Hay. speaking for the COM
rrittee, says that more than a billion
dollars has been spent on the army IN
the last decade. The current bill pro-
erxN ~ ,t,r, he L..
mates Of the War Department have
been pared more than ten million dol
lars. Defending the failure to increase
The army the committee says:
The committee recommends that the
same number of men be appropriated
[or. From reports of the adjutant gen
cral it appears the average strength Of
the army for the last ten years, eNclu-
isive of the Philippine Scouts, the Hos
pital Corps and the QuartermaSter g
Corps, has been 500. The bill there
fore, provides for nearly 0.00o men more
than the average for the above period.
Moreover, the Secretary of War said he
proposed to place on the canal zone
S.So5 men and in the Hawaiian Islands
l5,665 men
Ample Amy, 1t Says.
THE adjutant general of the army
states that there are i, 209 men in the
Philippine Islands Thus, there will be
out Of the country 3S,179 men, leaving
n this country 42.s21 men an ample
number to deal with any normal condi-
lion that may arise.
IF for any reason more men are
needed. either at home OF abroad. il
is assumed by the committee that Con-
Eress will grant the necessary money
to pay, subsist and equip any number
of men which may be called for by the
President
IT may be pointed out that, besides
the troops in the Philippine Islands we
constantly maintain a body of Phil |
lppine Scouts of more than 5000 men. |
The committee has prepared a table |
showing the amount Of money appro- .
oria:ed for the military establishment
IN the last ten years This shows an |
expendituTe of sl,0O, 40, ,270.4S for that
beriod.
1T is unnecessary to comment upon |
! ne expenditure of this enormous sum |
II money.
Keep Down Expenses.
IN view of all the facts, the COM
'.ittee felt obliged to keep down eH-
pendjtures; nor in doing so have the
interests of the country been imperiled. |
For, notwithstanding the alarming |
statements which have been made and |
which seem to be always coincident |
With the consideration of the Army bill |
Te have in reserve large supplies of |
ammunition, stores and equipment, nor \
las the army ever been more efficient
rhsn 1t is today.
Besides having the regular army |
thoroughly equipped with guns, ammu-
Gttton and supplies of all kinds, We have
1ur milition, so far as il is organized,
equipped in the same way a body of |
1900 able soldiers, equal TO any emer-
sency and ready to respond to any call
~ duty. Beyond all this, We have in
eserve 20c,0to, 600 rounds of small reserve ,
: mInuuition. 10000 rifles and large re-
ierve supply Of clothing and equjpaEe."