Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1916-02-12
CONGRESS NOW
UNITED ON ALL
DEFENSE PLANS
Resignation of Secretary of War
Brings About Better Feeling
Between Houses.
CONFIDENCE OF PRESIDENT
IN NATIONAL BODY SHOWN
General Belief Is That Continent
al Army Scheme Will Be
Dropped.

Washington, Feb. 11.-A new note
on economy and cooperation Of ma,
tiOnal defense problems was struck
in the house military committee to-
day as a direct result of the resigna'
ton of Secretary Garrison Of the
war department II found expression
in the document declaring the com
mittec's appreciation OF the conf.
dence President Wilson reposed in il,
and in the senate committee as dis
closed in his correspondence with
Mr.. Garrison.
The nonpartisan character Of the
feeling was emphasized by the fact
that the resolution was offered by
Representative Kahn Of California,
ranking republican member Of the
committee.
Clears Atmosphere.
Members Of both the congressional
committees declared that the war
secretarys withdrawal had brought
out sharply the presidents desire that
the congrcssS should work out the
army problem in its own best judg-
ment. The net result, they agreed,
was a. Qualification Of the congress.
sional atmosphere and assurance of
the SUPPORT for the bill that will be
drafted Nfrom elements of both the
democratic and republican sides, that
had heretofore been counted against
the measure.
In substance, it is believed, the
bills will represent an effort to make
effective virtually all of the plans
of the war department, with the ex-
ception that liberalization of the Ma
tional Guard will be sought as sub.
stitute for the continental army plan.
Drafting Bills.
Final steps toward beginning the
drafting of the measures were taken.
today by both the house and senate
committees
The house bill, it is expected, will
provide for payment of National
Guardsmen who comply with all reg.
lllations laid down by congress on a
basis sufficiently liberal to insure the
recruiting of approximately 100000
men, the ultimate size Of the propos.
ed continental army. 70 make Ger.
tain the availability for federal use
in time Of war or great emergency Of
all men who participate in this pay
ment, the!aplan contemplates author
izing the; president to draft them into
volunteer army.
Buy @Lower California. a*p
IA resolutfon1to to authorize President
Wilson to- negotiate with Mexico for
the purchase of Lower California was
presented to the house today by Rep
tot tixyn 0f ro1i
President Wins Fight.
President Wilson practically won
his fight for ratification of the Nicara.
guam treaty in executive session of
the senate today. Some Of it's most
vigorous opponents said the admins
! tration had won enough votes to gain
the two-thirds required and predicted
its ratification tomorrow.
The administrations opponents,
while they conceded they expected
the Nicaragua convention would 20
through, reiterated they would pre-.
vent ratification of the Colombian
treaty to pay an indemnity and ex.
press regrets for the partition of
The Nicaraguan treaty proposed to
pay Nicaragua $3,00O,OOO for inter-
oceanic canal rights and naval bases
in the Bay of Fonseca.
Assurances to Costa Rica, Saliva
dora and Honduras that none of their
rights will be violated by the United
States acquiring naval base in the
Bay of Fonseca, will be incorporated
in the ratification resolution on the
Nicaraguan treaty.