The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-07

Henry S. Breckenridge.
with respect to the regular army. . lie
provides the short enlistment agains,
which Mr.. Hay has fought all through
his service with the Military Affairs
Committee OF the House. Happy TO say
Mr., Hay was defeated IN his own House
with respect to the short enlistment
problem and an amendment providing
the SAINT sort OF a provision rs the
Senate provision was inserted in the
House bill. So IL seems tina finally we
VIII get a system Of enlistment that will
attract more good men to the army on
account OF the provision that will make
possible passing into the reserve AT the
end OF one year. The bill provides "A
seven ear enlistment-four years with
the colors and three with the reserve.
But at the end of one year "a soldier, II
proficient. can be passed into the reserve.
Another splendid item Of the Chamber
lain bill is the provision that IL made
Tor sending one enlisted man from each
regiment to West Point. This is also
an Involvement TO "A high class young
man to enter the regular army. Pro-
vision Is made for paying the reserve.
which should make it must easier to
keep track Of the reserve and insure
Its availability for war service.s
There is good provision for building up
an officers reserve corps OF $4,000 men
through the fundamentally of summer
training camps and military instruction
In the universities and colleges of the
country. Ar excellent scheme for having
young reserve officers serve AZ temporary
second licutenants for six months with
the regular army il embodied.
A. 10 the Bill's Faults.
There are certain i'll advised provisions
in the bill affecting the regular army.
II Is provided. for instance, that general
officers must be selected from the colo
nels OF the army. This is bad. The
only place where the principle of promo
ton by selection now operates IL in the
selection of general officers. Through
out all ranks below that promotion is
by seniority. or, AS some wag has put IL.
by senility. This obsolete system. dis
carded in every other army of the
world. must go by the board in our own
army II We are TO lave real efficiency.
Limiting the selection OF generals to
the colonels Is a step in the wrong di.
~rection.
An unfortunate provision excludes
the Chief OF Stan from membership on
boards selecting General stan officers.
This is an undignited little crack at the
Chief OF STAFF. what's tho use Of cloth
Ing a man with the high position and
immense responsibility of Chicf of star
OF the army n then try to hamstring
him III the selection Of the General stan
through which lie must supervise the
army?
The provisions respecting the militia
are unfortunate, though preferable to
the Hay bill. The Chamberlain bill
coiIteinplates a militia of about 25O. 900
men. which is certainly tn" extreme
limit that can he expected. even with the
generous pay features IN tine hill. But
even the senate committee was carried
by the militia Acknowledgement lobby
into Incorporating AN absolutely impossi-
ble military and legal theory into the
bill. Though counting on only one-half
as many militianen IN the National
''uard, nevertheless the Senate commit
tee follows the lead Of the House in try
Ing 10 accomplish the impossibIe-"the
Federalizatio of the state militia"
Acknowledgement Lobby.
IL is purport"h 10 give the President a
power denied TO him 10y the ,onstitu-
ton. to Wit. u control over the .,ppojut-
ucnt Of officers Of the militia, TN.
President can't apI.,int officers to ON
mdiId the militia In time Of peace. The
me ''hlian hand of the states Adjutants-
iF WI VI lllt Shftlbtl l1St IIp-
'ides for Uncle Sam paying over to OIL
c'rs who under the terms of the bill
may he state Acknowledgement sum,
varying from q few hundred dollars I'D
TO 5000 "A year for disbursing United
States FUNDS 10 tho militia. These tidy
little payments will help 10 exc out tho
salaries paid by the States. Thus h.A
tho Adiutalts-Gener,l lobby fcatliered
us nest. II Is mot just to includ. all
the state Adiutants-irneral in such "A
statement. Many Of them not included
IN the Junta that has been operating al
Washington have no other motive or
purpose than the good At their country
the militia are to take an oath 10
defend the Constitution and obey the
President. by living up to such AN
oath they would disregard the Consti-
tuition, because. AS | have said. the
President IN time of peace cant give
the militia one legitimate In
section 70 Of the bill II is provided
that ON enlistment "A militiaman viii
waive his constitutional right not to he
Sent out OF the country. OF course sucn
"A waiver has no effect. Section ~
attempts to put regular army officers
on boards to examine militia officers.
Section rs makes AN unconstitutional at.
tempt to have the President appoint all
militia officers In time OF war. More
Jobs for the deserving are manufactured
ny the provision for putting three, mill
tia officers In the division of militia af-
fairs In tho War Department. And al
together there is too much yielding 10
the personal interests OF the militia.
But the result IL 50 much less oil.
noxious than the provisions of the HAY
bill that the defects can bc tolerated
with equanimity II the benefits OF tho
bill can be obtained.
h probability is that the Chamber.
lain bill will pass the Senate. Tho Hay
bill has already passed the House. Then
the two bills will 20 IN conference. The
OF meeting OF the conference com. |
mittees OF the two houses will furnish
the real crisis In army legislation. I'm
douDietiy Nd. Hay. wise Ii, IMAM, wears
OF experience In all the arts of parlia- |
mc1ltary tactics. will strive against the
substantial enactments OF the Senate |
With particular vehemcnce
will lie contend against the fundamental
and inestimable reform embodied in the |
provision for a national volunteer |
army. He will endeavor to make the
and the country believe that
his miserable bill makes Of the forty |
eight State militia armies a national |
for defence. II he is To he
fOiled the public opinion of tho country !
must br brought sluarcly behind the |
conference ~ AS to insure the final
of the senate measure. our |
hnlie rnr INV slsgauf I,rnyiGlnn Pom l