The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1916-04-09
Every Day unil April 18 Except
Monday and Tuesday Will
Be Devoted to the Bill.
FINAL FORM is UNKNOWN
Some Senator's Hope Volunteer
Plan Can Be Traded Out in
the Joint Conference.

tsr AssoetATtp ratssl
WASHINGTON. April S.-.With a
final army organization bill assured
In the Senate on April IS. there still
is much speculation as to the final
form In which the national prepar-
cdness measures will go to the Joint
conference committee Of the Senate
and House. t1
The Senate agreed today to devote
to the army bill all It's sessions be-
tween now and April IS, with the ex-
ceptlon OF next Monday and Tuesday.
which were reserved for discussion Of
the free sugar repeal bill. The agree
ment contemplates Anal disposition
OF the army bill before adjournment
April 18. .as t
To Increase Strength.
Some senators anticipate that a
considerable increase will be made
by the Senate over the committees
proposal to fix the peace, strength of
the standing army at 100000 enlist
ed men. Both Republican and Demo-
cratic members have declared on the
floor that they would support amend
ments for great figure. some ad-
yocating as great force as 400, 900.
Senator Chamberlain, chairman Of
the military committee, originally
proposed a peace strength OF t220,-
900. 1871 5Es
During the week of discussion on
the bill there has been nothing to in
dicate the position OF the majority Of
the senators. II has been noticeable.
however. that there have been no
proposals to reduce the committees
figures. The bill passed BY the
House provides for a. peace strength
of 100000. and the struggle to come
in the conference committee. is ex-
pccted to be sharply outlined.
Battle TO Haye Bearing.
There are indications that the re-
cent battle in the Senate over the
volunteer army plan will have. an i'm
portant bearing in the conference
committee.
The continental army project of
the administration was particularly
repugnant to the members OF the
House military committee, The Sem
ate's volunteer army proposal, re-
tained in the bill by q close vote. isi
miniature reproduction OF the
abandoned continental army scheme.
One representative, who Is virtually
certain to be one Of the three House
members on the conference commit
tee, Is known to favor a much larger
regular army than provided for by
the House bill. and also to lean to-
ward the volunteer plan.
With these elements to consider.
many senators believeit possible that
the volunteer plan can be traded out
in conference for an increase over the
House regular army ifigures, the au-
thorization for ,cltizen's training
camps being retained byladopting the
House provision In that regard.
Nitrate Plan Projects.
Debate in the Senate today was
confined to the government nitrate
plant projects. None Of the pending
amendments was voted on. Senator
Kenyon declared himself In favor OF
the plan offered by Senator Smith, OF
South Caroline, for appropriation OF
SIS, 100000 for a nitrate plante. site
and process to be determined by the
war department. The Iowa senator
said Senator Underwood's proposal
for an investigation to determine the
best site was so framed that 1t might
as well direct specifically that the
plan for a plant at Muscle Shoal, Ala,
be carried out. n
Z Senator Smith, Of Georgia. who IA
yors the Underwood amendment. an
swered Senator Kenyon, declaring 1t
mattered nothing to him where the
site was located or what process was
used, but that he was quite certain
any board Of engineers which passed
fairly on the project would select
Muscle Shoals as the best site east
I the Mississippi,
I Lewis Talks. M
Senator Lewis took the floor to ask
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