The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-22
HOUSE PROVIDES 10000
RESERVES IN HAY BILL
Adopts 8 Amendments Broadening Scope; Gives Presi'
dent More Authorty-Plan Creates $4,000
Officers Trained in Schools.

WAsHINGToN. March 21.-The House
to-day ~broadened the scope of the Hay
army bill by ampiifying the reserve fea.
lures and increasing the authority Of
the President in the preparation Of in
dus,rial plants for the uses Of Wal.
Three amendments we're adopted
two with the consent Of Chairman Hay
Of the Military Affairs Committee-de-
signed to enlarge the reserves both Of
Officers and men who ma be drawn
upon In case Of war. and giving the
President more direct authority owe the
regular reserves.
Another amendment, offered BY Rep
rcsentative rilson Of Connecticut and
modified by Representative Good of
Iowa, authorizes the Secretary Of War
to prepare plans for the conversion OF
industrial plants into munitions and sup
pl. factories In case Of war. and to pro-
cure the mechanical fixtures and appli-
ances necessary for this purpose.
In the adoption Of ar amendment Of
fered by Representative Gardner of
Massachusetts, authorizing the Secre-
30 W "ot W sOoRh W NV -
serves enlisted men Of the army who
have had a years service with the
colors Representative Hay met with
his first defeat.
tirst Defeat for Hay.
The chairman OF the Military Affairs
Committee insisted that the modification
would stand in the way OF the increase
OF the regular army. which could not
be recruited rapidly enough to I'LL the
gaps made BY transfer OF men to the
reserves. Nevertheless. he was de-
feated by a vote Of I?S to ~. the
House recording itself In favor OF the
amendment.
The same amendment was hrst Of
fered by Representative Kahn with the
additional provision that enlisted men
might be transferred to the reserves
after two years service upon their own
initiative. This plan the House re elected
by a narrow margin. wher Mr.. Gard
ner proposed the amendment without the
two year provision II was adopted.
The House not only approved this
step To build up rapidly the trained
reserve as an element OF national de-
fence brit decided 10 place this reserve.
which az the end of four years will
amount TO 10000 men. according 10 co.
Inmates on which the Hay bill is based.
directly under the President by authorize
ing him to cali Il into service without
previously obtaining the consent OF Con-
gress.
The c important step taken by
the Hous. in the direction NJ providing
reserve forces was the adoption Of an
amendment offered by Representative
Gard OF Ohio. the purpose OF which 10
the creation of a corps OF $4,000 re-
serve officers to he trained in the schools
and colleges OF the country. The Gard
plan. with the assent Of Chairman Hay,
was substituted for the plan embodied
h. the House bin providing for the es-
tablishfnent Of a corps Of cadet officers
in the regular army.
Debate Amid shells.
At the clsse o. to-day's dsba.s the
House had assumed the appearance OF
\ deliberat.ve military body. On a
table at the FOOT uf the Speakers ros-
trum lay a three inch shell. a sh-apnel
shell and other implements OF warfare.
which members OF the House handled
ginRerly. They were provided rs an
ocular demonstration OF the necessity OF
providing special appliances and tools
for the manufacture OF war munitions
in industrial plants
In the hope Of disposing OF the army
bill tomorrow Chairman Hay obtained
unanimous consent TO depart from the
regular order which calls for the con-
slderat.on OF calendar bills on Wrines-