The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-04-19
Measure Provides for Regu- lar Army and Reserve Forces Aggregating One Million Men-Is Passed Without Record Vote COMPLETION OF THE
 BILL FASTENED BY
 IMPENDING ISSUES
All Amendments Tending to Reduce Proposed Increase of Army Repeatedly Re- jected Amid Scenes of Excitement

EXc1LemenL
 Washington, April 18.--An army reorganization bill that would produce regular army and reserve military forces in the United States aggregating a million men was passed by the Senate tonight without 8 record vote.
 On the eve of g. special joint session of the houses of Congress to hear message from the President on grave in- ternational issues, the Senate hastened completion of the bill amid scenes Of excitement, re- peatedly rejecting all amend ments tending to reduce the strengthening of the army.
 In the closing hours of debate the Senate made provision for regular standing army with a peace strength of 250,000 men as compared with 40, ,00O in the Hay bill, which passed the House, retained after close fight the plan for federal volunteer army reserve force calculated to aggregate 261 ,000 men and federalized the Na- tional Guard forces of the states at aa es'sinate,' strength of 2S0,O00.
 HARDWICK'S AMENDMENT CREATES MILITARY SCHOOL In addition to this combined regu- lar and reserve force of 100000 men. an amendment by Senator Hardwicic
 was passed to create school and co'- lege youths reserve corps in times of war or threatened war which would recruit a force of trained young men. schooled by officers of the regular army. the estimated strength of which is estimated anywhere from 100000 to 100000.
 We are creating here tonight peace army of 100000 men," declared
 Senator Myers in supporting an amend- ment of Senator Reed to make the regular army 100000. The Senate had agreed previously by a vote of A to 1 37 to an amendment by Senator Bran- degee increasing 1t from the proposed strength of 1S0.O00 to 25o.o0o Tho Reed reduction proposal was rejected AZ to 31, after brief speech by Sen ator Williams. in which he referred to
 the solemnity Of the occasion which would confront Congress tomorrow. Are we or are we not threatened with war;" asked Senator Williams.
 Are we or are we not threatened with war from Mexico? Are we or are we not threatened with war over the subma- rine controversy. Have we not been called to assemble in joint session to-
 morrow, the solemn purpose of which we do not, ourselves. definitely under stand?
 If the army cannot exceed cer- tain number except in state of threatened war we are now in state of threatened war if the President of the United States thinks so. For myself IT think we are pretty seriously threatened with international difficult ties both from the east and the south.' VOLUNTEER ARMY
 l PROVISION STANDS
 1 The apparently grave developments of the few hours preceding the pas | sage of the bill also probably served | to save the volunteer army provision. Champions of the National Guard fought it bitterly in the committee of
 the whole, and it was retained by a vote of 34 to S2. Tonight Senator
 Lewis again moved to strike out the | section. It was saved this time by a
 vote of 40 to ST.
 | Other important provisions of the Senate bill not in the House measure | include the following:
 l Appropriation of Sl5,000,000 for construction of government plants for production of nitrates to be used in manufacture of munitions.
 l Provisions for vocational education of enlisted men of the regular army. compelling instruction either in agri- culture or the mechanical arts. Creation of National Guard section in the general staff of the army and requiring all officers and enlisted men of the National Guard to subscribe to
 an oath to support the United States
 as we'll as the respective states.
 FEDERAL PAY FOR
 1 NATIONAL GUARD OFFICERS i Provision for federal pay for all Ma tional Guard officers above the rank
 of captain.
 Because of the radical differences 1t l is expected that the House will at
 once ask for conference. and that
 work of perfecting the final form of new army measure will begin within 1 a few days. One feature of the Senate bill that even its most ardent cham pions fear may be sacrificed in the leg
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