The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-21
Hay Says y. S. Can't Recruit
Regular Army OF 10000
Men in Time of Peace
LEAVES ARMY AT
l40, 900 MEN MAXIMUM
Republican Leader Mann Wig
orously Assails Measure.
Calling Attention to PIesi-
dent Recent lea

Washington. March 2U.--Pre-
parcdness. so far a. the army Is
concerned, received lis death blow
today, according TO so-caIled ''big
army men, when the House re-
iected the kaln amendment to
the Hay ARMY hill. Thc amend
nient provided that the maximum
peace strength Of the regular
asmy should he raised to 220.-
900 men. The House voted 1873
To 1875 against it. leaving the maxi
mum peace strength of the army
in the Hay bill AT 10000.
The first vote on the amendment
was rising one. Representative Gar
rett of I. snHessee, who presided
counted i5S member opposed to the
amendment aud eighty-two in favor
of IT, Representative Kahn demanded
vote by teiiers A roll cali was
impossible under the rules as the
bill is being considered lin committee
of the whole,
In order 80 prevent an early vote
on the amendment today when few
mer ,bers were present, REPRESENTA-
tive Gardner. OF Massa chusetts de-
manded 10 know IL the army bill had
precedence over the regular Monday
business Chairman HAY and Mr.
Kahn agreed upon allowing two hours
and half de bate on the latters pro-
posed amendment Mr.. Gardner then
WIS satisfied NOT 70 press his point,
Manns Strong Attack.
Representative Mann. of Illinois,
made another attack on the bill and
strong plea for favorable considera-
ton for the Kahn amendment In
part. the Republican leader said:
Never have | addressed the HeAse
before under greater sense ef re-
sponsibihty to my country than | feel
now. What is the situation A year
age last December. after the Euro
pean war had been progress for
some months, the President informed
Congress thai n-his -npinlnn- at-Lhat
time there was no practical need of an
increase in the regular army Last
fall he announced publicly that he
thought there should be an increase
He invited the leaders OF the opposi-'
Iion in the House and in the Senate
to conference expressing the hope
that the question Of preparedness of
this country might be considered as
an emergency matter free from par
tisanship. In Janua. y he made a
tour of the country urging it to get
in better position OF prepa redness
for International troubles. This hill
authorized the increase in the regular
army of 10000 in the next ffteen
months. The President was asking
preparation as an emergency meas
ure in view Of the complications
which might and proba bly, would arise.
Does anybod, call that prepars
tion? The amendment Of the gentle
man from California pc 'mits the Pres
ident at his discretion 10 add so. 900
more men, n | had nay way about tt.
/ would make it requirement at this
time to drill these boys now SO that
IL danger should arise they win have
been drilled in. advance,
remember when gentlemen on the
floor said at the time we had a regu-
lar army Of only $4,000 that YOU could
not increase because Won could not
get the men to enlist. We have never
failed to keep the regular army mp TO
the highest point allowed by the Pres
ident under his orders. To say that we
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