Fergus County Democrat. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1904-1919, 1916-02-10

Army Bils-confers With Leaders.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 8. - With
President Wilson urging both demo-
cratic and republican members Of the
house military committee to hasten
preparation of bills to carry out the
army's part in the national prepared
ness scheme, indications tonight were
that the measures might be ready for
the house within two weeks.
Hearings will come to close to-
morrow or next day and it is under
stood the main features of the bills
already have been whipped into shape
in which they will receive virtually
the unanimous approval of the COM
mittee.
The senate committee already has
concluded it's hearings on army bills
and will take up the work of drafting
its proposals for the senate early next
week.
The bills of the two houses, it is ex-
pected, will differ radically and the
final legislation will be worked out as
compromise in conference.
Progress was made today on navy
legislation, the measures paving the
way for construction Of battleships
43 and "A at navy yards and provid-
ing for 300 additional midshipmen in
the July class at Annapolis, being
passed by the senate. They passed
the house today and now lack only
the presidents signature to become
law. Speaker Clark, in line with his
recent speech in the house advocating
that the personnel at both Annapolis
and West Point be doubled, introduced
bill today to make such an increase
in the number of cadets at the mill
tary academy.
Chairman Hay OF the house military
committee, and several of his demo-
cratic colleagues, discussed army plans
with President Wilson during the day
at the presidents suggestion. Tomor-
row Representative Kahn, ranking re-
publican member, and others of the
minority will go to the White House
on the same rand.
1t was evident in later proceedings
of the committee that Representative
Hay had not been swayed from his op-
position to Secretary Garrison's pro-
nosal for q continental army, which
the president advocated during his
recent preparedness campaign trip to
the middle west. A witness before
the committee said he was opposed to
the continental plan.
$50 am H. Mr.. Hay interjected. 1--WE
all are"
Democrats and republicans of the
committee agreed tonight in saying
that an army bill would be written
quickly, although there might be
minor details which would take con-
siderable debate to settle. The fea-
ture of the house bill, it was said.
will be. liberalization of the national
guard through pay bill carrying limi-
tations designed to give the war de-
partment peace time conrtol of train
ing and differing of the national
guard.
Adjutant General Foster of the Flor
ida guard, chairman of the executive
committee of the National Guard asso-
citation. again was in Washington to-
night and it was understood he would
be further consulted in order that the
bill might be made acceptable to the
state troops.
Coupled with the pay feature of the
bill probably will be Chairman Hays
plan to authorize the president to
draft national guardsmen into the fed.
eral service Immediately in time of
war. This is designed to settle any
conflict of authority which might
arise and also to insure the whole
membership of the guard will be
available for federal uses. the mum.
ber not being dependent as now upon
how many volunteers.
For the regular army the bill prob.
ably will provide the 10000 additional
men asked for by Secretary Garrison,
although the committee is said to be