Arizona republican., 1916-12-22
CONGRESS WILL l. CONSIDER PLAN FOR TRAINING
tFepubIican A. p. Leased wire]

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2l.-A definite plan for universal military training will be laid before congress next month in the shape of a bill formulated by the general staff of the army accom- panied by complete estimates of cost as compared with the voluntary sys- tenn. Major General Hugh L. Scott
 chief of staff told the house military committee today that the work was in
 progress and would require about q month to complete. Chairman Dent said the committee would be glad to
 see the. bill.
 In response to a laughing question as to who would introduce it in the
 house, Representative Kahn of Cali fOrnia said:
 q would be glad to have the honor
 to introduce it."
 General Scott was subjected to sharp cross examination today on his reiter- ated expression of universal measure based in part on the voluntary system
 as shown in the mobilization of the National Guard for border service Five of the twenty-five members of the committee took occasion to assure their belief in the theory of universal
 service, while two emphatically de clared against such a system. Those favoring were Representatives Kahn. Greene of Vermont and Tilson of Con- necticut, republicans; and Olney of Massachusetts and Farley of New York, democrats; while those opposed were Representatives McKellar of Tennessee and Representative Quinn,
 of Mississippi, democrats.
 Many of the guardsmen who come back from the border are in favor | of universal service" declared the chief of staff
 T agree with you" said Represent ative Tilson. that voluntary military service is not an adequate system and probably would break down in time of
 war as it has done before. The na- tional guard system in particular is economically unwise because of the dual control over the forces by the federal government and the state" Taking up the report on the mobili- ration of the guard which General Scott presented to support his ar raignment of any volunteer system, Representative Tilson continued: But do you think it is quite fair to the national guard?"
 Tn what respect" asked General Scott
 Don't you think. General. that in ! view Of the enormously greater task | of the regular service as the agent I1ODlllZailON. regular army fell down harder in preparedness than the national guard ?'' We make many criticisms of our | selves" General Scott said, adding | that report on the army as his share | in the mobilization already had been | asked for and would be presented. ''Th1t is what l want to appear in | this secord," said Representative Til- son, because l want to show that no 1 set df officers, no matter how well
 trained, could make this national guard | system work"
 Representative McKellar declared
 he was one American who does not
 wish to follow the example of Germany
 and France in raising and training
 armies When Representative Quinn | put question to the witness on the 1 assumption that congress might pass
 such a bill, Representative McKellar | interjected: You need not fear II l will not
 l It won't except over my vote" ad- | ded Representative Quinn.
 The probable nature of the bill now
 being drafted by a committeo
 general staff was not disclosed by | General Scott, who also refused to
 estimate the cost of such a system
 except to say that propOrtionate il | would be much less than the eXpense | of volunteer method of training troops
 II is known, however, that the pos
 sibility of welding into the new pro- iects the various sections of the de
 fense act dealing with industrial or l sanitation for war purposes, the righ 1 to take over and operate nanufac- l turing plants, railways, and othel | peace time agencies. is under con- 1 sideration. Secretary Baker told tn,
 committee recently he was undecidef
 as between universal military servict | and a system of selective conscription the latter plan being understood to in (Coptinued On Page Two)