Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-02-22
AGREES ON PLAN
FOR FEDERAL|Z|NG
NATIONAL GUARD
House Committee Substi-
tutcS This for Proposed
COntinentals.
IN PRACTICAL ACCORD
ON ARMY BILL OUTLINE
Grants Virtually Entire Program
Mapped Out by Former
Secretary Garrison.
Hay is TO FRAME MEASURE
White House Informed That Members
Are Unit in Supporting
Compromise.


WhSIliNGTo% -. G.. February I'll
:'a'ional preparedness legislation took
y Tong step forward III Congress to-
hay. wien tho House Military Com
nAittcc reached practical agreement
on III" outline OF the army bill it
viii unanimously prcacnt for passage.
Chairman Hay was authorized to frame
the measure. which is a compromise
for the continental army plan advo-
Gated by former Secretary Garrison and
President Wilson.
Complete liberalization of the Ma
tional Guard will bc substituted for the
roposcd continentals and the White
House was informed during the day
that tho committee was unit in sup
porting the plan The measure will
Erant virtually the entire program
mapped out by Secretary Garrison for
Tho regular army, and 70 even farther
'han he recommended il providing for
rcscrv" military supplies. \ total
peace strength Of $4,000 men in the
standing army and tho guard combined
would be provided for, with reserve
systems to more than double the forcc
in The expense for tho whole
establishment this yea. is roughly esti-
mated at SlTt. 600 600. This is eXclu-
sivc OF Panama Canal dcfcnscs, pro-
poSals for additional military schools
in ALI states, carried in the Mcclellan
bill. favorably reported to-day. with an
appropriation OF S3.Si0,00O. and what
ever sum may later be decided upon to
foster ono tiNation of atmospheric
nitrogen III the United States. and give
this country its own supply of inEredi-
ents for explosives. The first year ot
Al
for a total expenditure of $lSc. oO0o 600.
THINKS PLAN WILL OVERRIDE
EVERY OBJECTION
Whether the now bill Will he ac-
ccptablc to President Wilson has not
been Indicated but the committee be-
licvcs it's plan will override every OBJ
lection To the substitution of the Ma
tionai Guard for the contincutals. and
that Congress has full legal authority
for its accomplishment
To complete the comm,tcc's COM
promise with the President OH the con-
tincntal army. the bill will authorize
he increase OF the regular army to Il
total peace strength of Ia. 900. by add
ing ten res Simcnts of infantry, four
regiments of field artillery, ffty-two
companies Of coast artillery. fifteen
companies OF engineers. aud four aero
Squadrons. This is the exact regular
army program mapped out by former
Secretary Garrison before the unfavor-
able reception of the continental army
scheme led TO his resignation. 1t
represents also concession by Chair
man Hay. who urged previously reach
ing the same total strength by recruit
ing present regiments up to full war
strength and adding TO the field artil-
lery arm
Under the tentative bill, the regular
army would have AN organization
capable OF being expanded to a750o0
men in war time. and Il reserve pro-
vision will be included designed to pro-
duce annually $1,000 rescrvists obli-
gated To return TO the colors under call.
II Will provide also for ,ioublin,, tho
cadet corps at West Point. and creation
of thirty cadet companies to be at
;achcd to regular regiments to be
trained for entry into an officers re-
serve corps.
SENATE: COMMITTEES
WORKING ON PROPOSALS
While tho House committee was busy
with THIS plan the Senate Military
Committee was working on its pro-
posais for the regular army framing
ITS measure Oh the basis of the Cham
bcr!ain bii!, which provides for AN
army OF approximately 100000 men on
the basis oc the War College plan OF
! 1912. It is understood the commlttce
plans to make it's bill authorize :.
thorough reorganization Of the army
with Il peace strength OF from 10000
TO 100000 men. II is understood that
tho House committee viii accept the
larger regular army plan OF the senate,
provided its scheme for fcderalizing tho
National Guard is adopted hy the vpper
house. The House measure will under
take the task of liberalization on the
unanimous opinion OF the committee
that Congress has power under the
Constitution to take full control of the
National Guard in peace as well as war.
Cndcr that authority, the hill will au-
thorilc a maximum strength for the
National Guard OF $4,000. on Il basis
of 500 men for each member OF Con-
GrcSs. VIII specifically prohibit the dis
banding OF amy organization hy tho
state organization, and remove present
limitations on the use OF the force
outside the country.
The National Guard Associations
tentative bill proposed only 5000 men
to - district. The House committee bill
viii add provision Tor II National Guard
reserve, and tor recruiting regiments
sent 10 the front, and wiz Hx the peace
pay OF rrivatcs at SIS year; second
iicutcmnnts, $50: tirat liculcn"uts, $500:
captains, $500, aud higher officers in
proportion.
Members OF tbs committee believe
that appointment of officers is virtually
the only power In respect 10 the Ma
tional Guard vested in tho Sta,os by tho
Constitution, and argue that with tho
Federal government holding the purse