Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-09-21
WILL STAND BY PRESIDENT
Representative Hay viii Be Guided
by Executive in Matter of Defense

l
by Executive in Matter of Defense
All doubt as to whether Rcpresen,
entative James Hay OF Virginia
| chairman of the House military affairs
/, committee, will stand by the admins
traton on national defense questions
was dispelled yesterday when Mr..
Hay, in an authorized interview, de,
clared he would be guided largely by
the recommendation which President
Wilson will submit to Congress.
Mr.. Hay has been regarded as a
"small army" and "small navy" man;
1t was thought hi would join forces
with Representative Kitchin, of North
Carolina, the new House leader, who
recently announced he would oppose
any plan for radical defense appro-
priations.
The chairman of the military affairs
committee said he believed the devel-
opment of the national guard into an
effective reserve force was the wis
est and most logical means of improv-
ing conditions. He advocated pay for
guardsmen of at least $50 a year
each out of the Federal Treasury.
Mr.. Hay said:
"As the President will have mis- rec
concentrations to submit to Congress,
after full conference with. the heads
of the Army and Navy departments.
and as the question Of fFacting upon
these recommendations r,,ilphave to be
decided by the -. ,..:neI PRESS, have
refr";''.Es.' ry o.S.aErhg any public
stat 3a!ss to my individual views
On the national defense.
Il shall be guided in large measure
by the Presidents views, because |
believe he is broad enough to consid-,
er the interests of the entire people
and wise enough to submit plans
which will be efficient without adding
too largely to our burGen of taxation.
"In Congress therr viii be many
different views which must be harm
onized, because the Democratic ma
jority is only 80, 1t will be necessary,
+ho,oforo ! n ,yo;+ ,,p+;1 ~, nnp
give full consideration to matters con-
nected with national defense after it
assemblies instead of predicting now
what ought to be or what will be done
81 heartily agree with the Presi
dent that our citizen soldiery should
be given more attention. 1t might be
proper, for instance, to encourage en-
listment in the national guard by pay
ing its members 25 per cent. of the
amount paid to regular soldiers
which would be $50 l. year, and which
would probably cost for the first year
SS,OO0,O0O additional to the present
army cost.
at might be wise also to increase
the field artillery, now consisting OF
six regiments, to twice that number
as the war in Europe has demonstrat
ed that this is a most potent arm OF
the service, 1t should he known, how,
ever, that in the past four years more
money has been appropriated for field
artillery and field artillery ammunI-
ton than the previons ten years, and
this artillery and ammunition are in
reserve.
GAS for officers, it should be known
that there are 175 military schools ir
this country which are turning out
10000 students each year. many OF
whom would make good officers.
81 feel that the question is too
important to assume an individual at
titude, because my own views will be
subject to the views Of the President.
the members Of the committee and
the members of Congress, who, after
all, have the principal part to play
in the solution of the solution of the
question"
Representative Hays statement in
dicates that the advocates of prepar-
edness probably will secure an in
crease of 10000 in the regular army,
which is the figure named in a let
ter recent written to the National
Security League by Senator Cham
berlain, of Oregon, chairman Of the
Senate committee on military Affairs.
BOY KILLS PLAYMATE