Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-07-02
100000 militia
RELIEF GETS VOTE
Houses Approval, by 279 to 2,
Given After Brief Debate
on Hay Bill Provisions.
SOLE RESPONSIBILITY PUT
UPON SECRETARY OF WAR
Provides Official Shall Designate De-
pendent Families of National
Guardsmen to Receive Aid.

F., sentative James of Michigan and Rep
resentative Small of North Carolina.
| The measure puts the sole response
bilfty for the fund and its administra-
| ton in the hands of the Secretary OF
War. He will designate what families
shall receive this aid. and from his de-
cision there shall be no appeal. The
bill specified a maximum of $50 a
month for each family.
Before the bill was taken up for con-
sideration Representative Garland Du-
pre- endeavored to swing the parlia
| mentary situation in such a way that
| a separate vote might be taken on the
proposition to excuse from service
guardsmen whose families needed them
The New Orleans representative was
unsuccessful in this, but managed to
express himself forcibly in favor of
writing into the bill some method by
which guardsmen whose families suf-
Ter because of their service in the regu-
lar forces could retire from the sery-
Ice AS the matter now stands, ac-
cording to letter received by Repre-
sentative Dupre from Adjt. Cen Nc
Cain. there is no way for guardsmen to
get out of the service. The exemption
proposition was introduced in the Sem
ate. out was never before the House.
Two Members Clash.
The debate on the Hay bill was brief
and unimpcrtant except for the clash
between two members of the. North
Carolina delegation, Representatives
Stedman and Small The latter mem
Der. one of the two voting against the
measure, made vigorous speech
against it. saying in part:
Now mat We have this question con-
.TetelS presented in a separate bill I
1eel free to voice my opposition to it
and to express the reasons which actu-
ate me- ! realize full well the fine
Sentlment behind the members Of this
iize the force of their appeal to
patriotism; but ] insist, whether / am
right or wrong, that we should also
appeal to the cool. sober Judgment OF
ourselves and of the American people.
and, thatgthis bill is not in the interest
of real patriotism.
This bill involves an unwarranted
and unnecessary expenditure. No man
can prophesy the amount that will be
ultimately involved in it, even as an
piicable to the National Guard. In the
debate at the other end of the CAPITOL
1t was said that from 10 to 25 per
cent of the members of the guard would
make application under such a law for
the support of their families. IF You
pay 10 per cent, 10000 out of the 100, 900
men that it is supposed the National
Guard will furnish, you have $4,000. 900
annually required for the support of
their families under the provisions of
such law. When the bill was orig
inally here, 100000 was sought to be
appropriated. Now, for some reason
not explained by the committee, 1t has
all sincerity, why has it been in
creased? What is the basis upon which
the increase is made? And can any
member say that the amount named in
this bill is sufficient for the purpose ?"
Speaks for Regular Army.
Chairman Hay of the military affairs
committee said that $4,000. 900 would be
sufficient until the next session of Con-
gress. Representative Small then call
ed attention to the fact that no similar
legislation has been considered for the
regular army:
The result Of any such legislation
at this time said Mr.. Small. would
be the generalization and disorganiza-
tion of the regular army. Some weeks
ago we passed a bill increasing the
regular army by 10000 men, calling
for volunteers TO enlist. 1t has been
stated that up to this time less than
II. 900 of the 10000 men asked for have
have been made to secure them. Why
was it? ! insist that such legislation
as this viii not have a tendency to
create an attitude of mind upon the
part Of our citizens to enlist in the
regular army and that it will increase
many fold the difficulties of securing
sufficient enlistment to make up the
larger army which has been authorized
in the national guard defense act.
This bill. does not provide for volun-
teers. Gentlemen may say IL volun-
teers are necessary. we Will meet that
question when we reach it. but l con-
.end that it ought TO be reached now,
that this is the time to perfect such
legislation as will be applicable to
every phase of this necessity which is
said to exist. and which undoubtedly in
time Of war will exist"
Calls Law Inconsistent.
Here Is another illustration Of the
Inconsistency of this proposed law:
II a member of the guard surrenders
his life in the service Of his country
then they are relegated to the general
| pension law. and 1 understand the
maximum amount which the family
can receive under such circumstances
! Is s12 per month
This legislation has not been re-
! ouested By the National Guard. al
I though the National Guard have been
| neither timid nor modest in asking for
| legislation which they desired Of Con-
! gress They were In evidence when
| we were framing the national defense
| act, and / was in sympathy with them
, but they made known their wishes at
| that time. and I take ii If any such
| exigency existed as would make the
| law necessary members would have
| been besieged and there would have
| been evidence that some demand ex-
! listed on the part of the National Guard
| for legislation such as this.
| The theory of this bill is based on
! cornpensation for service. l say de-
; Iiberately, based on the glorious his
| tory of our past and of every other
| country who has stood by the nag OF
| that country. that compensation and
] patriotism do not go together. In the
/ great civil war. SO far as the south
was concerned. men upon both sides
bound to the highest principles which
actuated the soldier Of the south, men
| on both sides admit the high patriot
/ ism which actuated those who fought
| for the preservation OF the Union
That was patriotism with no thought
| Of compensation behind 1t. In every
| war which We have fought the men
who stood by the nag and who exem-
plifcd the courage and high type oil
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