New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-04
METHODS ASSAILED
BY CHAMBERLAIN
Committee Chairman Threatens
to Ask Inquiry Into "Per-
nicious Activity"

national guard officers on the General
STAFF Of the army. This amendment to
the army reorganization bill, ohered ny
Senator Cummins, Of Iowa, one OF the
most active candidates for the RepuDh-
can nomination for the Presidency, was
adopted. after long discussion, by
vote of 35 to 80
Fresh from this victory, Senator'S
who are accused Of caring more about
the votes the guard represents than
for the expert advice Of high army Oh
fcers, began an attack on the Voiuh-
teer system, which they regard as en-
croaching on the national guards pri-
vate domain. This amendment ohered
by Senator Blair Lee, Of Maryland pro-
vided not only for striking out the
proposed volunteer army, but Tor IN
creasine the limit Of the national guard
from two hundred men for each Con
srsssional district to three hundred
and fifty men.
In vigorous terms Senator Chamber
,sir denounced the national guard
icbbv He also asserted that oihcers OF
Tho regular army were not blameless IN
irving TO influence legislation, adding
that he contemplated complaint 10
the War Department about this.
National Guard Interference.
81 want TO express very great re
cret" said Senator chamberlain, tha1
the national guard OF the several states,
rnrrpnQIIN NCAT0
,brouqh its representative officers by
Tho committees Of the House and Sen
ATE and after a most painstakinG hear
ir0 on the part of the Senate commit
zee. has seen fit TO inject itself INTO the
halls of Congress, until now IL Ioohs
very much as though II were a hght
between the regular forces ralhel'
those who believe in maintaining the
regular establishment for detence-and
the national guard as 20 when Is 70 De
considered in legislation when anec's
the whole country.
al am not going TO limit that criu-
clsm TO the national guard. want my
nosi.ion ia be fully understood about
MS matter. ! have devoted nearly
tSree months OF my time TO working
iust "a hard as know how. and TINS
III "a have explained heretofore, has
,un the gamut of the department, IN
aimdine III General staff, the War Col
80 md All the other military bodies
~ the government. We have had the
,.iaua If representative men OF those
o,gsnizntions. and after we have under
tsken TO formulate bill which seemed,
in the committee at least, to meet pref
~ generally the approval OF the au
thorities, we find not only the nalloha'
guard end its oificers-and / sometime
fear q lobby is being maintained ioF
r.Sat Durpose-but we ind oihcers OF
~ srmv around the halls of the Sen
ate and House interfering Win inns
Incubation through different Senators,
instead of leaving the matter to the
renresentatives who have had II IN
hand and are respons bic for the legls-
lation affecting the army, until IL is
Felion on Ossa.
"The work Of the committee OF TINS
Congress will amount TO notnIng u
men representing the national guard
and men representing me o'H
branches Of the army as well, are TO be
permitted 20 come here and interfere
with the course of legislation.
II do not mean TO say that n - an
unfair interference. but IT certainly IS
impeding and interfering with lesisla
tion. because. while we all like 70 near
these discussions, they have got the
MANNERS of the committee confused as
70 what the national guard ought TO
have. ,...
~ regret very much that condition OF
thjnrs. have sometimes felt ! ought
20 call the attention Of the war De-
partment 10 the conditions mere ana
may do So.
Gone the Limit for the Guard.
IN attacking the proposed repre-
sentation for the National Guard on
n. General staff, Senator ChamDer-
lain said the amendment ought nov 20
he adopted until the status OF the
guard IS determined
"The committee said the senator,
feeling friendly 20 the national
ou.yd has gone the limit and J some.
go fesr mas trod on the heels Of
he constitution undertaking 10
mako il a federalized force. We have
no, only undertaken 10 make H.
federalized force, but we have under-
.sken TO limit the power OF appoint
uer. Of officers BY the governors OF
states, requiring that selection lor
annointment shall be made under
~ntes determining the capacity OF
.hose men. Whether that can be done
or not / DO not pretend 10 say Du'
We have tried IT,
Senator du Pont. ranking Republican
Of the Military Affairs COMMITTEE
asked II Major General O'kyan, com,
,oander OF the New York National
G~ard had not recommended prac-
.icaily all the provisions OF the Diil
nth respcct 10 the national guard.
senator Chamberlain admitted that
mis- was true, but said the militia
wanted even more more ihan the
safety Of the country would Warrant
Congress in giving them. lie added
that there had been scandals con
nected with the handling Of govern
ment property turned over 20 the
guard.
at has been charged" Mr. Cham
beriain continued, that uniforms con-
deemed by officers Of The national
other countries. ! am not impeacn-
ing the general personnel Of the ma
tional guard. but ! am calling stten-
ton 10 the conditions which have
grown out OF the policy Of handling the
national guard; yet IL IL proposed 20
transfer these patriotic and dis
tinguifhed gentlemen from places
vi re there have been abuses 20
n higher places where still other greater
and higher trusts might be abused
Militia Never Efficient.
Senator Weeks. % Ma sachusetts
5eclared tha. friends ~ the militia
could not ray that the militia Away
y rad been an efficient body. or even
mat IL had ever been an efficient
force.
~ think the militia b. more efficient
Than 10 has over been before" raid
MT. Week, but think wc can OBJ
tain the greatest efficiency b. keep.