Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-02-10
Hearings Closing

Hearings viii come to a close to-
stood the main features of the bills
already have been whipped into shape
in which ii is expected they will re-
ceIVe virtually the unanimous APP
proNal of the committee.
The Serate committee already has
toncludcd its hearings on army bills
and will take no the work of drafting
its proposals for the Senate early next
week. There also the general outline
of the plan t" be recommended has
crystalized in the minds OF the MEM
bers.
The bills of the two houses. it is cx-
pected, Will differ radically and tho
final legislation will be worked out as
a compromise in conference.
Navy Legislation
Progress also Was made TO-DAY on
navy legislation. the measures paving
the way FOR construction of battle
ships As ana ~ at navy yards ANA
providing for zoo additional midship-
men in the July class at Annapolis
being passed hA tho Senate The
PASSED the House yesterday and lack
only the Presidents signature to be-
come law. Speaker Clark, in line with
his recent speech IN ,he House aGvo-
eating that the personnel at both An
napolis and West Point be doubled IN
PRODUCED q bill today to make such an
increase in the number OF cadets at
the Military Academy.
Conferences
Chairman Hay of the House military COM
mittee and several OF his Democratic col
leagues discussed army plans with Presi-
| dent Wilson during the day at the Presi-
dents suggestion.
Tomorrow Rep Kahn. ranking Republican
member and others of the minority will go
10 the White House on the same GRAND
! 1t is understood the President was pleased
| with the report on progress Chairman Hay
j was able to give him
| 1t was evident. however in later proceed
| ings Of the committee that Rep Hay had
! not beep swayed from his opposition to Sec
rotary GarrsonS proposal for a continen-
tai army which the President warmly ad-
| vocated during his recent preparedness
campaign trip to the Middle West. wit
ness before the committee said ne was OPP
| posed to the continental plan.
| so am l." interjected Mr.. Hay. I'VE
all are"
| Democrats and Republicans of the COM
mittee agreed tonight in saying that an
| army bill would be quickly written. al
| though there might be minor details which
| would take considerable debate to settle
| The feature of the House bill, it was said
| would be liberalization of the militia
| through a pay bill carrying limitations de-
| signed to give the department peace
! time control of training and offering of
! the National Guard.
| Coupled with the pay feature of the bill
| probably will be Chairman Hays plan to
authorize the President to draft national
guardsmen into the federal service imme-
diately in time of war. This is designed
| to settle any conflict of authority that
might arise and also TO insure that the
whole membership of the guard will be
available for federal uses. the number not
being dependent, as now upon how many
volunteer.
For the regular army bill probably
| will provide the 10000 additional men
asked for by Secretary Garrison. al
though the committee is said to be
about equally divided on the Hay and
pldHS 1oL lIldhluS lHS III.
crease. Representative Hay proposes
to fill existing regiments up to full
war strength and increase only the
number of artillery regiments, while
Secretary Garrison has asked for ad-
ditional skeleton regiments of infan-
try and artillery to make up tactical
divisions.
An element of the committee favors
continuance of the practice of govern
ment manufacture of army munitions
and on this aspect of the plans, the
committee will face a struggle within
its own ranks. Some members believe
that those favoring the war depart
ment's attitude of providing work
enough for private plants to insure
big war time production capacity
have votes enough to secure this end
in the bill. The House naval commit
tee continued its struggle today over
details Of naval personnel problems,
with Rear Admiral Blue. chief of the
bureau of navigation, still on the
stand. Admiral Blue presented the de-
rartment's proposals for re-draeting
Of the naval reserve law worked out
in elaborate Setail ard the subject was
under debate all day.