Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1916-04-20
REORGANIzING THE NAVY

Although almost no one in either
house of congress. is willing to admit
that he is opposed to legislation for ma
tlonal preparedness. there are wide
differences of opinion on the subject
among the senators and representa-
tives. The army bill that passed the
house, although denounced as miser-
ably inadequate by some extremists,
was declared by other members, who
admit the need of preparation, to be
sufficient; yet members who are avow-
ed 'paciiists'' helped to pass it. In
such circumstances it is difficult to de.
termine how well it meets the demands
of the time.
In the event of war, It is certain that
we should not have enough officers.
Therefore the government has already
doubled the number of naval cadets at
Annapolis, and bill to double the nun.
ber of cadets at West Point has al
ready passed the house. and is sure to
become law. The same bill provides
for training officers by introducing mill.
tary instruction, with government help,
at every college in the country chat
will accept the plan.
The official plan for increasing the
navy will be ready by the time the
army bill is out of the way. The SEN
ate has already authorized the estab-
lishment of a government armor. plate
factory. 1t was opposed on the ground
that it would probably bring about the
closing of the private factories that now
furnish armor and so diminish the
amount that could be got in an emer-
gency,
There are wide differences between
the army bill that passed the house
and that which the senate is consider
ing. The house bill proposes regular
army of little more than one hundred
and forty thousand the senate bill pro-
vldes for one of one hundred and ninety-
five thousand. The house bill puts the
militia of the states under national con-
troll. The senate bill gives the general
government less authority over the
militia, but it creates territorial vol
unteer force TO be under the direct con-
troll of the president Both schemes
permit the furloughing of soldiers into
the reserve, and the filling of their
places by the enlistment Of fresh re-
cruits. In that way there would al
ways be more trained men available in
the event OF w than the actual enlist
ed force.
The matter of "federalizing' the
militia raises some interesting constitu-
tional questions. 1t has heretofore
been held that the general government
has no power over that force in time of
peace, although it can prescribe its
organization and its discipline. More
over, the theory has been that when
called into the service of the United
Statea it was still militia, that its Off
GERS should be appointed by state gov
ernors, and that it could be employed
only for the duties specified in the con-
StiIulioil W execute IHS laws, 10 sup.
press insurrection and to repel invasion.
The house bill virtually overrides every
one of those restrictions. 1t places the
militia under the control of Washington
in time of peace; transforms it from a
state into national force whenever it is
taken into the national service; renders
it liable to service abroad, and even gives
the President power to appoint officers to
fill vacancies.
After the senate has acted, the whole
matter will be thrown into conference,
and no one can yet tell what will be the
provisions of the bill that will finally re-
ceive the signature of the President.
Aberdeen Democrat.