The Washington herald., 1916-02-11
Hy L.. n. JOHNS.

| The failure of Secretary OF War Gar
rison. to deliver a speech before the
| Gambler OF Commerce OF the United
States yesterday was taken in some
quarters as foreshsdowing his resisne-
ton which was later announced ana
plainly indicates that the administration
leaders had not agreed upon a legislative
progrum for the National Guard. From
the beginning the Secretary and Chair
man Hay have disagreed on the prcpo-
sition to pay the militia from the Fed
cral Treasury. and as far as could be
learned the President had not indicated
whether he would support the Secretary
or the chairman OF the military COM
mittee.
! In the hearings Chairman Hay and
the members of the House Committee on
Military Affairs asked Maj. Gen. Hugh
! L. Scott. chief of stsf. to submit to
Congress a plan for the liberalization Of
the militia Chairman Hay stated frank
ily that he was opposed to the continental
army and that legislation for it could
! not be reported out OF the committee
| What the committee desired was the
report from the War Department on some
plan by which the National Guard could
be substituted for the continental army
! in the adminstration's program.
| 1t was expected that the Secretary of
War in his speech yesterday before the
Chamber of Commerce would answer the
military committee. The Secretary had
| prepared a speech and informed the Of
| ficials of the Chamber of Commerce that
he would address the convention at e:3o
At 1880 1t WAS announced at the War De-
partment that the Secretary had been
called out of the city and would not de-
! liver the address
! In absence OF any other explanation it
] Ind tn hn nf l,os
| Indicated to the Secretary of War that
| he was desirious of hsrmonizlng II pos
! sible the views OF the Secretary and
| Chairman Hay before any further state
ments were given out by representatives
of the administration. No one could ex
press himself more strongly opposed to
| dual control of the militia than Score
tary Garrison. 1t is commonly under
stood he would never consent to the pay
| of any force Of troops not entirely under
the control of the Federal government
and Chairman Hay was equally insistent
that the Nationsl Guard remain in its
| present status with the obligation to
come into the service of the Federal gov
ernment In the event OF war.
After a lengthy session with the coun-
| Gil of aids yesterday, the Secretary Of
the Navy laid over the report of the
| Roosevelt personnel board for further
! consideration. The advocates OF national
defense are becoming deeply interested In
the subject of personnel legislation for
the navy and are urging the Secretary
! to send his recommended ton to the Cap
tol at the earliest possible date.
| over a year ago, when Congress enact
ed the legislation aboiishing the pluck
| ing board, the navy personnel board was
created. of which the Assistant Secre-
| tary was made chairman. Since that
! time the board has been attempting to
| formulate q plan for the reorganization
/ of the personnel OF the navy. Yet 1t was
stated yesterday that there was serious
! objection to the report of the Roosevelt
personnel board. 1t can be stated that
| If the Secretary waits until all Of the Of
| ficers are agreed upon personnel bill he
| will never send one to Congress. Per-
sonnel legislation Is one Of the most in
! tricate subjects that has ever been be-
! fore Congress and one on which there
is wide difference Of opinion among
naval officers.
! The Assistant secretary of the Navy
in working out the problem has taken
under consideration a plan which would
furnish an adequate number of officers
for the five-year program Of the admins
! tration. He has also introduced in the
bill the principle of promotion by selec-
! ton. The Secretary OF the Navy in
tdorsed this idea IN his annual report and
will doubtless insist upon its being In
the bill wnen IL Is sent to Congress. The
bill also revives the grade Of commodore
and has number OF other radical fea-
lures.
Maj. Charles Gerhardt, infantry; Capt.
Frank T. Hines, c. a. c.; Lieut.. W. II.
Neill. cavalry. and Second Lieut.. James
p. Young reported at the War Depart
ment yesterday.