Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-18
SENATES ARMY PLAN,
FOR 100000 MEN, FAR
FROM WLSON-HAY IDEA
H ouse Military Committee
Chairman Says His Bill Is
Favored by the
President
CLARK TO TAKE FLOOR

| WASHINGTON, March 1S.-Congress
| today got some inklng of the fierce and
| confused struggle II has entered upon in
| framing preparedness legislation. In
| dorsement by the President Of the Hay
bin was announced by the author from
/ the floor Of the House.
| TITS HIS bill" said Hay. At about the
same moment the Senate Military Affairs
Committee O. KID and reported to the
| Senate the Chamberlain bill. utterly diff
ferent from Hay's-different in principle
as we'll as form.
And Republican Leader Mann, taking
the floor in the House. sounded radical
| objections to the Presidents plan, fore
/ casting as he did so the minority partys
opposition
| Congress learned something of the cost
/ of preparedness today, it being estimated
that the Chamberlain bill would require
Sl97S96.751 to be provided the first year,
the figures for latoF-years going as high
as $3.50, 100000.
S00,OOO-BIGGEST TALK.
An army with war strength of almost
100000 men today was recommended to
| the Senate in committee report on the
modified Chamberlain bill. This is the
| largest force that has been suggested in
| any proposed legislation
With the report Chairman Chamberlain
announced he would ask the Senate Mon.
day to lay aside all pending business and
clear the way for his bill. Senator My
ers in charge of the pending water power
bill, indicated he would agree to this pro-
posal.
Indications are that the Senate by n
large majority will pass the Chamberlain
bill: that the House will pass the Hay bill,
drafted on radically different lines, and
that the conference of the two houses will
settle the final form md size of the army.
t- fv, to ,f,r,
son and Secretary Bakers views will have
most influence.
Chamberlain's bill provides:
regular standing army. with maxi.
mum strength of $4,000, federalized ma
tional guard of 100000 aud federal re.
serve-eX-Secretary Garrison's old Contl-
mental army renamed-of 26l,000.
WHERE BILLS DIFFER.
It is in the Continental army and ma
tional guard provisions that the Chamber
lain bill differs most radically from the
Hay measure. Hay opposes the Federal
reserve. wishing to "federalize" the ma
tiOnal guard.
Chamberlain insists on the Federal re-
serve and subjects the national guard to
severe Federal discipline and inspection.
For instance officers after appointment by
the Governors Of the various States, must
prove their military fitness by passing an
examination conducted by the regular Of
ficers. Unless the States agree to this,
Congressional appropriations are cut Off.
Chamberlan's bill enlists regulars for
six years. But at the end of one year. and
each year thereafter, a soldier may be
examined, and If found efficient, may re-
turn to civil life as a reservist for the
rest of his enlistment term. He would
be subject to call only in time of war.
Aero squadrons, machine guns. equip
ment and personnel and the field artillery
-,
fantry Is increased almost in proportion
and cavalry in less proportion, on the
opinion of army experts that airships are
replacing cavalry with its purely scouting
duty
The cost for all forces under the Cham
berlain bill for the first year is estimated
| at S197. 7.s96,75l; S22l,l5O,127 for the sec
ond year; s231.439595 for the third year;
| S26O,742,561 for the fourth year; $780,
5i9,Sl9 for the fifth year; S246,250,S22
anr ally thereafter. For the first year
S1i GO2,Ol3 would go to the regulars;
S4$ 49,S00 to the National Guard; S24,-
944,938 to the volunteer army.
When the House debate on Hays bill
opened Representative Moore asked Hay
II, in the view of Secretary Bakers letter,
the Hay bill had White House approval.
HAY BILL is WILSON'S.
"I am authorized to state by the Presi-
dent that the bill has his approval" Hay
answered. ut is his bill, 1t embodies
the Administrations ideas and goes a lit
tie farther.
THE President thinks that as this bill
is drawn it makes the National Guard an
efficient force in time of war.
1T Is the Presidents bill and he thor
oughly approves It. The Secretary of War
agrees with the President"
Hay said the President was willing to
abandon the Garrison continental army
plan, believing the scheme of federalizing
the National Guard met the situation.
Then this is an Administration bill, and
any one voting for it would vote for the
Administration plan?" Moore asked.
THAT is correct" said Hay.
1.-The bill falls far short of what ought
to be provided at this time" said Mr..
Mann. After having troops on the bor-