Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1916-01-30
Senate Committee Is Framing
Measure Providing for 1907
600 More Men Than War
Department ContemplateS,
BIGGER NAVY ALSO Is
NOW THOUGHT LIKELY
Several Statesmen Hope to
Have Government NUM-
tions Factory Established 10
Curb Cupidy Of Corporations
tsy po.s,ne Joura.l SPECIAL LEASED WRIT

| Washington, Jan. 29.--While Presi-
dent Wilson is carrying to the country
his appeal for adequate national de-
fense, one of the vital elements of the
program he has recommended TO con-
gress--the continental army--faces
serious opposition in both the senate
and house military committees.
Such an army, described by Secre-
tary Garrison as embodying the most
attractive scheme that could be de-
vised to give a final test of the prob
lem of training an adequate number
of federal volunteers in peace times,
would be expected to provide 100000
men of the total Of approximately L.
600, 600 which the entire plan is cal
culated to make it available.
Big Increase In Army.
Present indications are that the
continental proposal in some form viii
be written into the army increase bill
being prepared by the senate military
committee. although that measure VIII
be devoted mainly to a complete re-
organization of the regular army on
a basis of approximately $4,000 men
with the colors. increasing Secretary
Garrisons proposals in that respect by
nearly 100000 men.
Senator Chamberlain, chairman of
the senate military committee. said to-
night he was confident his committee
would turn out without great delay a
well rounded bin providing for al the
elements of national army of a mil
lion or more men. He thought pro-
posals for compulsory service or uni-
versai training in the schools would
be presented as separate bills, as faw
nd, f,f ttniNpFcnI carNipp EVE-
ten had been able to satisfy them
selves that either congress or the
country was prepared for such radi-
cal change in policy.
Munitions Question Up.
Some members of the house milf
tary committee are expected to make
vigorous efforts to couple government
production of war materials with any
army increase program that may be
recommended. Just what form this
proposal will take is unsettled. but its
advocates apparently are acting on
the theory that some such provision
is advisable to meet the war scareS
and armament movements for selfish
reasons.
So far as the navy is concerned,
there has been little on which to
judge the feeling Of the house COM
mittee, but it seems evident that q
considerable increased building pro-
gram for 1917 will be favored. In
general discussion among members of
both houses the prevailing opinion
seems to be that Secretary Daniels
five-year program finally will go
through and possibly be AUGMENTED
in some particulars.
Plan TO Train Engineers.
Before the senate military commit
tee, the only one to hold hearings to-
day on the preparedness plans, Will
liam Barclay Parsons, of New York,
representing American engineering
societies In all lines, advocated enact
ment of the war department scheme
for a reserve officers corps The
plan calls for five-year. renewable en-
listments requiring two weeks work
with troops each year. The number
has not been limited.
In recommending also the enlist
ment of mechanics. railroad employees
and specially trained workers of all
kinds in a reserve corps. Mr.. Parsons
said that necessary legislation for
mastering volunteer engineers for the
Spanish war had been enacted In
April, 1899, but it had taken until
July to organize a regiment and give
ii enough rudimentary drill to enable
Ii to march. The war was over by
that time, he said, but the regiment
did good service later during the oc-
cupation of cuba.