The Washington herald., 1916-01-31
BY r., II. JOHNS.

Not until the Conference Committee re-
port on army legislation is adopted by
the Senate and House will II be known
| just what army legislation will be en-
acted during this session OF Congress.
Neither Of the military committees has
| progressed to that point in the Considera-
ton of the bill before them when it
! can be approximated what will be re.
ported out to the Senate and House.
II is not believed that Chairman Hay
can prevent his committee from increas-
ing the number OF organizations that are
provided for in the bill as II is pending
before the committee. In all probability
there will be a vote on every provision
| for new legisla ton and the indications
are that some of the Democrats will sup
port the Republicans in voting increases
over the bill in its present form.
Although 1t is too early to say just
what the Senate committee will do, it
| is apparent that Chairman Chamberlain
| in his fight for an adequate army is max
ing his influence felt. He is ably sup
ported by Senator Warren. the former
chairman of the committee, and most of
the Democrats are apparently giving more
serious consideration to the military
| necessities of the country than their
COLES gues in the House committee.
While the Secretary of War presented
| the merits of his continental army In a
ma sterly manner before both OF the com
| mittees, it does not appear at this time
| that he has mustered sufficient strength
! to put it through However, 1t is gen.
orally conceded that he has gained con-
siderable ground and won number of
converts to his propaganda.
| At the request of Chairman Chamber
lain the Secretary OF War has submitted
! the continental army idea in another
! form. The substitute for the continental
army as originally presented consists OF
three sections and confers upon the
President wider scope OF authority in
bringing the proposed army into exist
| ence.
Although there was still strong SEN
timent in both the Senate and House in
| favor of the passage OF the militia pay
| bill during the past week, considerable
| opposition developed to pay for militia
without complete liberalization. The sit
| uation in the House is more favorable to
| the militia pay bill than in the Senate.
There Ia scarcely any doubt that the
militia pay bill will come out of the
| House committee with a favorable re-
! port and be passed by the House. The
senate committee will probably report
favorably upon II, but any bill which
| does not turn the militia over to the Fed
! eraI goeernment will meet with consid-
| cradle opposition on the floor of the Sem
ate. Some of the most influential men,
| bers of the Senate have declared en-
phsticslly that they will oppose to the
bitter end any pay bill which does not
| federalize the militia.
The Secretary of the Navy will today
attempt to unravel a complication result
ing from spirited contest between
Grace e. Co. and John Rothschild for the
purchase Of the collier Justine. In San
Francisco Grace q Co. were the highest
bidders when the envelopes containing
the bids were opened, but before the
time expired for offering bids John
Rothschild wired second and higher
bid of 100000 1t was impossible for
Rothschi!d to file the proper bond for
| the second bid, but the Secretary of the
Navy was assured that the bonds would