Evening journal., 1916-03-06
SENATE ARMY BILL
Gives 17S.OOO MEN
Force Would Be Increased
to 100000 in Time
of War
MORE ATTENTION TO
NATIONAL GUARD

WASHINGTON, d. c., March 6.-As
the first concrete evidence OF the inten-
tion of Congress to enact legislation
carrying out the Presidents recommen-
dations in respect to national prepared
ness, Senator Chamberlain, of Oregon,
chairman of the committee ON military
affairs. has introduced in the Senate the
greater army bill. The committee, OF
which Senator Henry A. dupont. OF
Delaware. is the ranking Republican
member. has been at work ON the meas
ure for nearly three months more than
one-half of the time having been de-
voted to hearings
Under its terms the expansive princi-
pie of army organization is continued.
The peace strength Of the armed force
is raised 10 $4,000 men. while on a war
footing the country will have about
100000 regulars at its command.
In addition to the regular mill
tary establishment and in lieu OF
the continental army, provision is
made for the organization of vol
unteer forces in each of the Con-
gressional districts Of the States
This body is TO be strictly a fed
cral force. and will not be under
the jurisdiction or authority Of
the Governors of the States, as is
the National Guard. The latter is
to be continued with more liberal
appropriations, and is to be more
affected by the exercise of federal
powers which have heretofore
never been applied with respect
to it.
Aside from its proposal virtually to
double the regular army and National
Guard, the Senate bill has four strik-
ing features. They are:
Authorization of a purely federal
volunteer force in peace times.
Authorization for a definitely en-
listed reserve in peace times among
men of every profession or calling
whose training fits them for specia
duty either with troops. on lines o.
communication or supply. or in ma
chine shops and munition plants.
LIBERALIZATION Of the NatiOna
Guard under a pay provision designed
to bring this force Immediately int,
such relations with the federal gov
ernment that its training. equipmen
and personnel will be under super
vision of the War Department.
Authorization for an officers re
serve and a reserve officers training
corps, which would take in gradu
ates from military schools and col
leges and provide for their further de
velopment to command
] Pay for Reseryists.
Ef,1fctr,,rnf ies gxnI uN garrrTa rran -
| four with the cOlors and three in re
serve. At the end of one year OF ser
vice efficient men may be discharge
| into the reserve on recommendation
of their commanders, and at the en-
of two years at their own reques
! if approved. Reservists would re
ceive a minimum pay of S24 a yea
and the President would have auth
ority to mobilize the reserve in tim
Of actual or threatened hostilities.
As an additional iHducement for
recruits, provision is made that
men who have completed six
years service in, the army may be
examined by a board of officers to
determine the civil occupations
for which they are qualified and
they would be eligible to ap-
pOintment to civil service posi-
tiOns Of that nature without a
civil service examination. The
President also would have power
to appoint one man from each
regiment to the Military Aca-
denny.
Pay During Training.
The federal volunteer force is PR
vided for in general language, lea
ing the whole question of enlistmen
training. reserve and the like to Il
discretion Of the President TT
clause is an amendment of the Vo
unteer act to permit organization
such a force in peace times as We
as war. The only restriction in nur
) bers is that the force shall not e
ceed an average Of 600 for each Co
gressional district. approximate
25O.OOO men in all. Regular army pi
would Ne provided for both Office
and men during periods Of training
For liberalization of the Ma
tional Guard the bill adopts,
with numerous notifications, the
: scheme proposed by the National
r 0udiu AS0OtldllOh. ne rate VI
! pay for officers, however. was set
at $500 a year for all of the rank
Of captain or above, $500 for first
lieutenants and certain specified
staff officers and $3.50 for sec
I ond lieuienants. The association
I scheme proposes higher pay for
I general officers.
! Enlisted men would receive pay
h the basis of one-fourth of the regul
! army pay, and would contract on {
/ listment to serve the United Stat
/ in time of war. The enlistment pl
iod is fixed at six years. three wi
the colors and three in reserve, a
organization of the regular army
prescribed. Provision is made al
for examination of all officers appoi
y ed by the State authorities and
~ the inclusion of officers of the Matte
u al Guard in the personnel of the /
<. litia division Of the War Departme