The Johnson City comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1916-1917, 1916-05-25
100000 MEN
FOR j. s. ARMY
BILL ADOPTED BY CONGRESS- is
SENT TO PRESIDENT.
NATIONAL GUARD0F 100000
BILL ALSO CARRIES PROVISION
FOR NITRATE PLANT.

| WASHINGTON, D. c., May 20
Congress today completed its part of
the enactment of the first of the ad-
Iministration preparedness measures,
the army reorganization bill, and
sent the measure up to President VIII
son for his approval
II was approved with only 20 dis
sentlng votes, the conference report
on the army measure. already accept
ed by the Senate. 1t provides for a
regular army with peace strength
of more than 100000 men, backed by
federalzed National Guard of more
than 100000, and carries many reor-
ganizing features worked out by War
Department officials to make the Ma
tons fighting arm more efficient.
Naval Bill Yet to Pass.
To complete the mail elements of
the program of preparedness on
which the administration plans to
spend more than a billion dollars
within the next five years, Congress
still has to perfect and pass the ma
val bill. embodying the navy increase,
and the fortifcations bill, which in
cludes provision for most of equip
ment for the increased army.
Estimates vary as to the actual
number of men the army will pro-
vide, the maximum to be enlisted un-
der it depending on the Interpretation
placed on some sections by War De-
partment officials. AS construed by
Chairman Chamberlain of the Senate
military committee, it provides for
regular establishment of 211,000 at
peace strength and $4,000 at war
strength with a National Guard Of
900. The peace strength of the
regulars under an Interpretation Civ
en- the House today by Chairman Hay
of the House military committee,
would be 100000.
Besides the personnel increases the
measure provides for government
nitrate plant to cost not more than
S20,000 for establishment of a sys-
TEN of military training camps for
civilians paid for out of the Federal
Treasury; for a board to investigate
the adviSability of establishing a
government munitions plant and for
vocational education in the army.
To Federalize the National Guard
would be accomplished through Fed
eral pay and through a requirement
making the Guardsmen subject to
the orders of the President.
Opposition Vote.
Eighteen Republicans, five Demo
Gratis, one Progressive and one So
cialist voted against adoption of the
conference report. Republican Lead
er Mann, who believes the measure
was one of those voting
in the negative,
The adoption of the conference re-
port was urged by Chairman Hay, of
the military committee, who told the
House the bill was not intended as an
measure, but simply as
peace measure of preparedness. He
assailed ignorant newspaper editors"
for criticism of the bill
Representative Coady, of Maryland,
asked Mr.. Hay if there was any
truth in the published report that
proviso in the bill had been inserted
for the specific purpose of providing
a place for Judge A. c. Carson, of
the Supreme Court of the Philippine
Islands and a native of Virginia, as
civilian judge advocate in the army,
and asked if Judge Carson was not
the only person who could qualify
for that office under the bill.
Yes" retorted Mr.. Hay, "if that
will give you any satisfaction"