The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-01-29
ASKS GARRISON TO
DRAFT ARMY BILL
Senator Chamberlain Calls for
"Definitc Policy" to stop
Patchwork.
STAFF REPORT AS BASIS

WAsHrNoroN. Jan. Ex-senator Cham
berlaln, chairman OF the Senate Military
Affairs Committee, called on tho War
/ Department to-day for a complete plan Of
, Increasing the army to meet the needs
OF the national defence. lie expressed
his dislike FOR "piccemcal legislation"
such as Is embodied In the several bills
now before the Military Affairs Commit
tee and which have come TO be known
as the Garrison bills"
The Senator said he was anxious TO
have the responsibility placed where 1t
belonged and he called on Mr. Garrison
for a bill proposing complete pro-
gramme. "a definite army policy" He
I referred to the work OF the General stan
and It's recommendations embodied in a
recent report az the basis for the new
general bill The Senator called for the
bill with the expressed intention OF in
Producing II and having II considered at
this session Of Congress
L. his letter Senator Chamberlain SAYS !:
w. my opinion the time has come
whcn debate ARMY policy should
he adopted
Congress aud the executive branch
~ tn Governments have at various
times been blamed for neglect Of the
couutry's defence. In order. there
foe. 20 put the responsibility Just
whore it belongs, ! am going to ask
you TO send mo bill based upon
the report / have mentioned.
do not think thai Congress should
Doe asked for what the War Depart
meat thinks 10 can get. but for what
o., country actually needs. This
done the War Department Will have
placed the responsibility upon Con-
gtcss and that body must stand pre-
pared 90 assume the same. As chair
man of the Military Affairs Commit
tee Of the Senate am ready to do
my part ia making adequate pro-
vision for uatio9al defence based on
tn. recommendations Of the General
S;an
Heretofore not only has it been
the policy both OF ths War Depart
ineut and OF Congress TO attempt
only to secure what seemed possible
Of accomplishment Ia the particular
emergency. but such legislation has
usually been obtained by placing 81 as
riders on appropriation bills from
time to time 80 that there Is a lack
Of CONSISTENCY IN much Of the legis-
lttIou that has been enacted In tho
Interests OF a comparatively small
hut an efficient war establishment
"This letter" said Senator Chamber
LAIN. represents no difference ~ opinions
or friction between the chairman OF the
committee and the War department. II
is evident that the bills reported out
from our CommittCe--thG piccOmeal bills
cannot hc passed at this session They
will have to De considered at a future
probably eNtra-sessiou. Under such cir
| cumstunccs We might as well have the
entire subject matter before us"
The document to which Senator Cham
! bcr'ain refers il a comprehensive state
/ ment of what the army itself thinks it
I ought 10 bc, Its conclusions are based
upon the military history OF the United
| states, the national policies Of this Gov
orameut and tho problems the United
! states would have to solve in case OF
! war
! The report proscrlhes what are regarded
| a. the minimum garrisons for the ade-
Quatr defence OF our possess ous. II de-
/ sCribcS skeleton organization for tho
army In time OF peace which would best
! permit of expansion to meet the needs
! OF a war. Proper proportions between
the various arms Of the service and de-
tails OF organization OF the forces into
. proper divisions are set forth
/ \ feature OF tho report Is its recon-
/ incubation for the creation OF q reserve
! by using tn" regular army as a sChoo
! ~ wuch cluIchs are 10 SelN" only >,
| long as Is necessary 10 make them prof.
cient soldiers, the rest Of their enlist.
ment period To- be spent in the reserve
Problems regarding the relations between
| the regular army aud the militia ant
contemplated volunteer forces are thor.
| oughly worked out
1t is understood that the War Colleg,
h. prepared to respond quickly to Senator
Chamherla!u.s request provided Secretary
Garrison agrees that such "A stem shoiIlf
bc taken At this time.