New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-03-02
House Committee Pro
poses to Enlist Many In
duStrial Workers.
REGULAR FORCES
MAY BE DOUBLED
Promotion of Navy OFFICERS by
Selection Provided in New
Bill Offered.

Washingt N. March The frame
work for far-reaching industrial and
technical reserve 70 support the ma
tons fighting lines in war time was
sketched into the House Military Com
rlittee's programme to-day. II was
suggested By Representative Kahn, Of
California. as an amendment TO the
PROVISION in the army increase bill for
quartermaster's corps reserve and
was adopted without objection.
The plan contemplates not only an
effort 10 enlist in the reserve in peace
times team sters, mechanics, railroad
men, chaufours and other non-com
latant forces necessary 70 an army, but
extends the scope Of the reserve system
10 include civilian avistors. ordnance
engineers. workers in munition plants,
telephone snd telegraph operators and
mechanics, civil engineers, electrical
engineers and members OF every other
civil profession or occupation tho ser
vices of which would be useful 10 the
army in war.
The committee worked all day on Us
bill. which. il is expected, will be COM
pletcd tomorrow. A new effort to in
crease tho proposed strength Of the
regular army will precede the vote.
The bill now provides q minimum
strength OF 10000 men in peace times.
Ii will be proposed to make the maxi
mum peace strength 100000 men just
double the present authorized arm~
Under this plan the President is 70
have authority to bring the army up
TO full authorized strength al any time
without specific act OF Congress. This
would permit the President. IN the
event OF international complications. 20
build up the army 10 the full 10000
without attracting attention or IN
luencinG any diplomatic negotiations
that nigh be involved
Major General Barnet. commander.
Of the Marine Corps, told the House
Naval Committee TO-DAY that the ma
rine transport authorized three years
ago was only so per cent complete. The
present navy transports, he said, were
all converted merchantmen. united for
the work. He recommended that large
calibre howitzers be substituted for D.
inch direct fire rifles IN the marine ad-
vance base equipment al Philadelphia
and san Francisco. and urged that the
personnel Of the corps be so increased
that an advance base regiment Tor each
coast could be maintained under train
ing at ell times. without being liable
for expcditionary duty such as that IN
Hayti.
Chairman Padgett introduced in the
Uo-ss to-day the separate personnel
h. a
board after two years study of promo
ton problems. The principle set down
in the bill is that superior officers
sdCuld recon mend officers under them,
and only officers thus recommended
should be promoted. The measure es-
tablishes a reserve corps of naval Off
GERS, reestablishes the grade Of commo-
dore and establishes the grade OF brig
adler general in the Marine Corps.
To clear the ranks Of men unable 20
keep themselves a. a high state OF efh-
cheney for naval service, the bill pro-
vides for an examination three years
after graduation from Annapolis. Men
who fail TO pass this examination are
TO be dropped with years pay. After
eight years more the grade of lieutcn-
ant is to be reached. From then on
officers may expect examinations every
five years and must serve five years IN
each grade, o. which three years must
be at sea, before they can be candi-
dates for promotion. Captains and
commodores must have six years ex-
perience in those two grades, two years
being at sea. before they can be pro-
NOTED. A commodore 70 become a rear
admiral must be under ffty-seyen years
OF age. 49,.
The bill provides for an elimination
Of many older officers in 1921. to give
younger men ar opportunity TO serve
in responsible positions. All ofhcers
thus retired go 20 the reserve corps.
officers who wish TO enter private life
are expected 70 become d part OF the
reserve. and must have two months
practice each year.
The War Department asked Congress
to-day TO appropriate $4,000 for land
defences in Hawaii, including the IN
stallation of searchlights and acquisi-
ton of rights OF way.